Anonymous wrote:Any sweet red wines to try?

Sarah's Patio Red by Chrysalis. It's a local wine too (Middleburg, VA)

Drink it chilled. I've seen it for sale at Wegmans, Harris Teeter, and Total Wine for around $15 or slightly higher.

I also agree with a pp that the Lambrusco they sell at Trader Joe's is pretty good if you like sweet red wine---it's actually almost like alcoholic soda.

Or, instead of looking for sweet red, maybe you should be drinking Rose.
If you can afford $17, you can afford one of the classic French roses out there--Tavel. For a little less, if you can find it, "Cigar Gris" from Bonny Doon (Santa Barbara County, CA) is also very good.
But really, there are a million of them out there, not all that different. Ask at a wine shop, and try any of them. With the abundance of roses in the $9 to $15 range, there's not really a reason to spend more unless you develop a real discerning taste for them.

When November comes, try the Beaujoulais Nouveau. That stuff is sweet. It's the first new French red of the year, not aged -- so this November the vintage of it will be 2013. It always becomes available the third week in November, I think.

Sorry OP, we were all with you right up until you said "sweet red." Some things just shouldn't be done. (I'm pretty sure "Ex" really meant "Ew.")

Now, that's just my opinion and the opinion of most wine snobs. It so happens there's a red hybrid grape called Chambourcin that is usually made in a sweeter style. Hard to find at wine shops but a lot of Virginia and Maryland wineries make it. Hybrid grapes like Chambourcin are easier to get started with than the "noble" grapes that you know (Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot, etc.), so a lot of small local wineries get started with it before they figure out how to grow the good stuff.

I can think of one Virginia winery that produces excellent wine and also makes some reds for those with sweeter tastes. Narmada, in Amissville (www.narmadawinery.com). Not all of their wine is sweet--their dry reds (Tannat, Malbec, Cab Franc, and a merlot blend) are outstanding, as is their Viognier. They have a sweet-ish white called "MOM" that you would also like.

IMO, the only red that should be sweet is ruby Port.

Ex

Any sweet red wines to try?

Anonymous wrote:I think you'd like Vinho Verde - sweet, but not sugary sweet. Hints of apple and pear, that make it a good summer & autumn white wine.

Another vote for Vinho Verde -- and it's like $4.99 at Trader Joe's!

I also like Starborough, Matua, and Kim Crawford sauvignon blancs. Between $11 and $15 a bottle.

A lot of the Safeways around here stock "Dr. L" riesling, which is the table wine riesling of Dr Loosen a quite good German vineyard. It's usually under $12. I'd give it a try. Probably well-chilled.