

Tenuta Sant’ Antonio Valpolicella Image used with permission by copyright holder Notes: Cranberry, floral elements, wild cherry.It’s best to drink young and fresh, and it tastes accordingly, fruit-driven and very, very juicy. Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau Image used with permission by copyright holderīeaujolais Nouveau is wonderful stuff, with bright cranberry flavors and nice acid that greet turkey and other dishes with wide-open arms. Notes: Red fruit, black fruit, wild berries, balsamic.This one tends to garner acclaim from the critics despite the modest price point, no matter the vintage. Granted, there are some reserve options worth shelling out for but a lot of great liquid comes in just below the $20 mark. The ultimate dinner wine can also be an everyday wine if you find the right label. Your table is incomplete without a Chianti.


And if you don’t want to drink them now, hold on to them, as the higher tannin and alcohol quantity in red wines means they’ll age longer (yes, even the cheaper ones). They can be great sippers over some games and chit-chat or work in utter harmony with hearty winter meals. But there’s undoubtedly something a little more comforting about a full-bodied red this time of year. Here at The Manual, we don’t exactly assign certain drinks to certain seasons. Image used with permission by copyright holder And they come from all over, from the countryside of Italy to Sonoma County and Washington State. In the red category, there’s an ocean of riches to enjoy, from food-friendly Chianti to winter-ready Cabernet Franc. The American wine scene is as vibrant as ever, and with that comes a whole host of options, from bottom shelf to high-end collector’s items. Can you do the same here? The answer is yes, if you know what to look for. Anybody who’s been abroad knows you can drink great wine on the cheap.
