A Wine for all Occasions- Newbie or Leap Year Party and everything in between

  Looking for a wine to give to a wine newbie? Someone just looking for something sweet and fun?  Searching for a wine to celebrate the Leap Year?
  May I suggest you try Stella Rosa. When I first decided I wanted to try new wines I joined a wine club. I figured it would be the best way to try various wines. I hadn't worked up the nerve to talk to anyone at my local wine shop (I found out it's not all that scary after all) and I wanted a variety. After doing some searching I found Vinesse's wine clubs. One of their clubs seemed perfect for me, Light and Sweet Wine Club. The first shipment contained what would soon be one of my favorites, Stella Rosa. According to their website, "Stella Rosa comes from a little town in Northern Italy where delicious sparkling wines are very common. Everyone drinks them. They knew this little secret for years and told no one. Originally, Stella was a red blend. Stella came to America a few years ago and everyone fell in love with this racy semi sweet Italian red wine"
  It's sweet, crisp and tastes of fresh strawberries! It's a sparkling wine and every party I've taken it to it has been a hit. I think it's perfect for a mixed crowd. Sparkling, sweet, light and red...what more could you ask for?

Erath Pinot Noir 2009

A couple weeks ago I took part in #winechat on Twitter. You can learn more about it, via this link. After hearing about so many great wines from Oregon I decided to pick up a bottle. I checked my shopping list and low behold I had an Oregon wine on my list, Erath Pinot Noir.

First, I was surprised to see it was another screw top. With my recent success with screw tops I didn't let that phase me. Many pinot noir's that I've had the p leasure of tasting up until this point have been very dark in color. So the first thing I noticed was the lighter color of this wine. I'll be honest, first glass went fast. I was watching television and talking to friends. Before I knew it, my glass was empty! Since I wanted to review it, I was obligated to pour another glass. With the second glass I took my time and thought about what I was drinking. I found it soft, light, not overpowering with just a hint of spice. I would not classify this as sweet or dry. If you like sweet wines, I would not recommend this. But if you are up for something new, a slightly richer wine than your sweet, I give this two thumbs up. It really is an easy wine to get lost in thought and conversation with. It goes down easily and went over well with a mixed group of wine drinkers, from newbies like myself to self proclaimed sommeliers. You
can pick up a bottle for under $20, grab one and share your thoughts.

Francis Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon

Before I began my wine ventures when I heard the name Francis Coppola my first thought would go to The Godfather. I can't recall where I first learned about the wine, but somewhere in my readings I learned that nifty fact. This trip to the wine store I decided to pick up a bottle of Francis Coppola's 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon.

It was yummy. I'm not sure if it falls on my love list (coming soon), but I definitely like it. It begins fruity and smooth and ends with a slight kick of spice. I read a few reviews that called it dry, I didn't think it was. Not being one for food pairings, according to Coppola's site this wine pairs best with beef, Chinese take out or Jarlsberg cheese. I had my glass with leftover spaghetti (made with ground turkey), still enjoyed it quite a bit. Looking for a wine to take to a friend's house for dinner, yes, this would work. I paid $16.99 for it, perfect to bring to a party, not too expensive and versatile.
Have a glass, let me know your thoughts.