VinoDuo is Lisa & Gary. Engaged in Sonoma. Honeymooned in Napa. Vacationed in
Temecula (CA), Woodinville (WA), and other off the beaten path wine regions. We’ve married our love of wine with our passion for travel, visiting lesser-known wine regions throughout the United
States. We’ve got strong opinions about the pros and cons of each wine region and this is our forum for airing and sharing them.
Pizza Wine Cheapo Challenge
Our favorite pizza wine Bastardo (from Trader Joe's) had lost its charm as it reached the 2002 vintage. So we went in search of the next contender for the best red to consume with Gary's fantastic homemade pizza. What makes a great pizza wine? Well it's red, of course. Fruity, not too acidic, reasonably priced, and eminently drinkable. Must go well with mozzarella, mushrooms, and eggplant.
The Contenders
Red
One of St. Francis Winery's "hip" brands, Red is better known for its designer label than its wine. It's a blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, and Grenache. They say: Full bodied and full flavored, with ripe red fruit character and spicy aromas. We say: what a loverly bunch of coconuts! That's the overwhelming aroma—coconut. Go figure. It was a tasty wine but reminded both of us of suntan lotion.
Red Truck The Winner!
Produced by Cline, maker of one of our favorite old vine Zins, Red Truck drove away with the Cheapo Challenge prize. Cherries on the nose and a full and fruity berry taste. It's a blend of Syrah, Petite Syrah, Cab Franc, and Mourvedre. We wouldn't run out to buy another bottle for anything other than pizza or pasta, but it's nice to find a reliable, drinkable red for every-night occasions.
Castello
The deck may have been stacked against this Italian red. It's a serious wine, more sophisticated than Red and Red Truck. But it was sitting in the wine cellar (aka the crawl space in the basement) for 5 years and was ready to drink. So we did. Anise and dark cherries on the nose. The fruit was somewhat flat; the flavor dry. More appropriate for a veal entree or comparable entree. Too complicated for pizza.
The Contenders
- Red, St. Franics Winery, 2002 $12.00
- Red Truck, Cline, 2004 $ 9.00
- Castello di Salle Reserva, 1999 $14.00
Red
One of St. Francis Winery's "hip" brands, Red is better known for its designer label than its wine. It's a blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, and Grenache. They say: Full bodied and full flavored, with ripe red fruit character and spicy aromas. We say: what a loverly bunch of coconuts! That's the overwhelming aroma—coconut. Go figure. It was a tasty wine but reminded both of us of suntan lotion.
Red Truck The Winner!
Produced by Cline, maker of one of our favorite old vine Zins, Red Truck drove away with the Cheapo Challenge prize. Cherries on the nose and a full and fruity berry taste. It's a blend of Syrah, Petite Syrah, Cab Franc, and Mourvedre. We wouldn't run out to buy another bottle for anything other than pizza or pasta, but it's nice to find a reliable, drinkable red for every-night occasions.
Castello
The deck may have been stacked against this Italian red. It's a serious wine, more sophisticated than Red and Red Truck. But it was sitting in the wine cellar (aka the crawl space in the basement) for 5 years and was ready to drink. So we did. Anise and dark cherries on the nose. The fruit was somewhat flat; the flavor dry. More appropriate for a veal entree or comparable entree. Too complicated for pizza.
What?! You didn't like RED? I had it with my famous Hawaian Pizza and it is the best wine I've tried in a long time. As a matter of fact, I had this wine by itself and I thought that it tasted like adventure, like sex on a hot day, like a triathalon! But I understand, some people don't like triathalons - that is what makes us unique. I'll tell you what, I am just going to get some of that Red Truck and tell you more later.
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Well, maybe Hawaiian pizza makes sense since Gary and I both found it "tropical." But yes, some people don't like triathalons and some people don't like wine that tastes like a pina colada! Keep posting, Raul. I'm sure we'll love one of the other wines you recommend.
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Very much enjoyed this very readable info about wines ---
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I love articles like this, I find them helpful and now I need to go out and find Red Truck!
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On a gamble I bought a bottle of Red Truck. I usually go into the grocery or wine shop with a list or note I've made after reading reviews and spend $25+ per bottle. I decided to stick with the "end cap" choices (usually on sale for $10.99 range) I wanted to fine a bargin I could be happy with. Both my wife and I agreed we could drink the Red Truck and be happy most of the time, especially if not spending $100.00 on a fancy meal. I did a yahoo search and saw this review and was happy that you at least found it the lesser of a few evils.
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Now I feel like a knowledgeable wine drinker. I bought Red Truck for making a Tomato sauce, of course we had to drink the rest of the bottle with the meal. The sauce came out great and the wine was good also.
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