Tony's Red
by Anthony Road Wine Company
Summer is coming and the warm weather has pushed my taste buds away from the thick, peppery reds. "Give me cool whites! Gewurtztraminer!" my mouth and belly cry.

It would be a mistake, though, to pass up this red wine just because the mercury is rising. Tony's Red is bright ruby colored wine that comes from Anthony Road Wine Company in Penn Yan, New York- which is way up north in the Finger Lakes region.

Tony's Red is about as viscose as the dark pink rose wines you find in grocery stores, only unlike the vast majority of them, it tastes good and costs only $6.50 or so. In fact, I brought Tony's Red to gathering the other night and it scored well with the guests. Usually, whenever I bring a bottle to a gathering, at least one of the people who try it say "It's not for me," or condemn the bottle outright. So it is living in New York City, where being brutally frank is considered the only decent behavior.

So I was ready to hear a gripe or two when I began dishing out Tony's Red. Not a grouse was heard. Those who tasted Tony's Red finished their glasses and a couple of them poured more, downing it as an accompaniment to bratwurst and burgers. All four of those who tried it said that they enjoyed its sweet strawberry and blackberry tastes and its lightness.

"It's like Kool-Aid," tooted one lass, grinning wide. "They should put the big Kool-Aid smile on it because that's how it makes me feel."

Well, who can argue with that? Certainly not I, seeing as I hope to snatch another bottle up soon.
(Rating ***3/4 our of 5 stars)