Good red wine for an alcohol noob

[Chaotic42]

So long story short I have very high blood pressure. Like 160/115 and above high. I went to the doctor and was given some medicine and was told that some components of red wine can have heart healthy benefits.

The heart problem is apparently very serious (I tend to downplay these things, but the doctor was insistent), so I'll do my part. Aside from daily medicine, an absolutely spartan diet, and exercise, I'll try the wine thing.

I've only ever drank sips of alcohol before. Probably something on the order of a total of 1oz of beer/wine ever. I bought a Shiraz wine at the recommendation of a friend, and it tastes pretty bad. It's very acidic, but I managed to sip 4oz and slam 4oz down. I don't want to drink this wine regularly. It was warm and stingy.

Edit:

Sweet Jesus. I finished my 8oz at 845 and it's now 915:

845: 156/103
915: 140/89

So what cheap red wine is good for someone whose strongest drink until today was Country Time lemonade with an extra spoonful of power?

 

[HateMeAlways]

Maybe a nice chianti or a zin

 

[zinfamous]

damn, I was going to recommend a shiraz/syrah....maybe you got a bad one?

they can be quite robust and usually have great fruit taste.

do you like a dry red? something like Chianti or a Cab.

...it could also be that your palate is so unaccustomed to wine, that most will taste bad to you for some time.

but I always recommend this on these pages. can be found at Safeway between $5-$9 a bottle (sorry, the pic is so huge this is the petite syrah, but they have vintner's blend of cab, zinfandel, syrah, pretty much all blends):

 

[mizzou]

merlot is my favorite

find out if you like dry semi dry semi sweet or sweet and go from there

wineries will let you taste everything they have in stock for free

 

[Squisher]

I am also no expert, but you don't want to start with a Shiraz. A Pinot Noir, a red Zinfindel (not the blush), or even some Merlots would be pretty easy on your palate and a good place to start.

 

[Chaotic42]

merlot is my favorite

find out if you like dry semi dry semi sweet or sweet and go from there

wineries will let you taste everything they have in stock for free

Surprisingly Mississippi is apparently home to a kind of wine that is supposed to be high in heart healthy stuff. Muscadine wine.

Other than that, there aren't any wineries around, but there are tons of wine shops (I live right outside of New Orleans close to the MS/LA border), so I'll do some checking.

It could just be that any alcohol will taste terrible for a few days until I get used to it.

 

[sandorski]

Pinot Noir

 

[mizzou]

it is possible to get a rancid bottle of wine, it tastes like vinegar. they happen because air gets in passed the wood cork, that's why you see alot of bottles w/ screw caps on now, theres less loss

 

[sandorski]

Drinking it with a Meal is a good idea. Although how enjoyable it is depends largely on what you are eating.

 

[sjwaste]

You have 160 systolic with a beta blocker/diuretic? Looks like the wine had a very positive effect. Part of it could be that you're just more relaxed.

Start with Chianti.

After that, look for a label called Forestville, it's a California wine. I really like their Cabernet Sauvignon, and to a lesser degree, their Merlot. It's going to be an acquired taste for you, since it's probably fuller-bodied than you're after. But it tastes good, and your palate will eventually get used to the slight alcohol burn. Most straight booze is going to do that, but you eventually get used to it, and it's part of the character of whatever you're drinking. You'll start picking wines you like based on that.

Mind you, everything you drink right now is going to burn a little, and will be a little bit bitter. Alcohol and tannins do that. If you like the Cab but its a little too harsh, back off a little to a Pinot Noir.

Outside of those, if you can find a Cabernet Franc from Chile, that might suit you very well. Actually, I find most Chilean labels to be a little bit easier on the palate. A Spanish Rioja might work too.

I'm Italian, so I salute your lifestyle change that incorporates more wine. Best of luck.

 

[vi edit]

Another vote for Pinot Noir. Rex Goliath can be found at most grocery stores for $6-$8 a bottle. It's pretty mild red that's easy on the palate and the wallet.

 

[yllus]

Pinot Noir generally has the lightest "body" (click that link) of all red wines, so that's often a good starting place for people unfamiliar with reds. Syrah/Shiraz have the heaviest body, so that's probably not going to be your thing right off the bat.

 

[Chaotic42]

You have 160 systolic with a beta blocker/diuretic? Looks like the wine had a very positive effect. Part of it could be that you're just more relaxed.

I haven't taken the first pill yet. I wanted to see if there was any truth to the "wine lowers blood pressure" thing.

I'm Italian, so I salute your lifestyle change that incorporates more wine. Best of luck.

Yeah, I'm part French. My family just drinks beer. I was raised to never drink, and since I'm pretty much immune to peer pressure, I never drank before. It had a stigma or something. Upon reaching adulthood, I got over that craziness.

 

[IronWing]

Cheerwine

 

[LordMorpheus]

I've always like Gnarly Head Vineyard's Old Vine Zin.

Cheap, too.

 

[Matthiasa]

Or you could just take the meds you were given to begin with.

Oh and given how high it was, did he happen to list the reason for it?

Mines been that high before and well turned out stuff was wrong *pokes at his kidneys*...

 

[sjwaste]

The meds work but they make you tired. I'm on them now, temporarily I hope, until I lose some weight. My doc ran a lot of tests and basically told me there's no real reason, not even my weight (I'm not huge), to have the BP that I do at my age (28). Last check was 155/90 so he put me on meds. All diagnostics came back fine - liver, heart, kidneys, blood sugar.

I'm going to lose about 20 lbs and see what happens, basically what he told me to do. My diet isn't restricted yet since my doc figured the best course is weight loss if my BP comes down with my weight. The only reason I'm a bit fat right now is from my last year of law school anyway, and I've otherwise always been on the thin side, so hopefully it isn't too hard to get back.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've seen this at Costco for less than $10 a bottle and it is quite good for the money.

http://www.cheapowino.com/wp/2009/02/7-deadly-zins-michael-david-phillips-zinfandel/

 

[Gooberlx2]

Chianti, Merlot, CabernetSauvignon

 

[CRXican]

Trader Joes "Two buck chuck" Merlot

 

[spaceman]

 

[KeithTalent]

Pinot Noir

This. Great red for a noob; usually very mild and mellow, yet often delicious.

KT

 

[ElFenix]

damn, I was going to recommend a shiraz/syrah....maybe you got a bad one?

they can be quite robust and usually have great fruit taste.

do you like a dry red? something like Chianti or a Cab.

...it could also be that your palate is so unaccustomed to wine, that most will taste bad to you for some time.

but I always recommend this on these pages. can be found at Safeway between $5-$9 a bottle (sorry, the pic is so huge this is the petite syrah, but they have vintner's blend of cab, zinfandel, syrah, pretty much all blends):

could you find a bigger pic?

 

[herm0016]

klinker brick is pretty good.
i really like wines made from the garnacha grape also, though they can be a bit more expensive.

 

[thegimp03]

Fred Cline's reds are all pretty good and most of the ones you'd find in the store are $10-$15 a bottle.