Here’s a list of some red wines from 3 very different wine regions I have enjoyed lately…

Haywire Syrah 2012 – dry yet juicy with medium body and tannins, with red fruits, and a hint of the farmyard (don’t let that scare you, think hay, earth, and well…farmyard smells!). It had an essence of old world, yet grown in the ‘new world’. Visit the Winery in Summerland, BC or check out a Private or VQA Wine Store to buy.

Anciano Tempranillo Gran Reserva 2006 –  What a deliciously smooth Tempranillo! Expect stewed ripe red fruits with a hint of vanilla. It’s medium body wine with soft medium tannins. And the price is under $15, available at BC Liquor Stores.

Vista Del Rey Zinfandel 2012 – from the ‘other’ wine region of California…Paso Robles. This Zinfandel is exactly what you are NOT expecting! I tasted stewed red fruits, prunes, a bit of earthiness with a dose of high alcohol. If you don’t like Zinfandel because it’s too “fruity” , you need to try OTHER Zin’s, because they are not all the same. If you can’t make it to the winery in Paso, visit PasosBestWines to buy.