Wine that will make you switch teams

Do you only drink white wine? Love reds, but despise that chardonnay stuff? Fair enough, but wine isn’t always what it appears to be. Some white wines hold the same flavors and textures as reds and vice versa. Known as transitional wines, these wines will sway you from one color to another. Get ready to cross over to the other side.

White wines for red wine lovers

2012 Domaine de la Croix Senaillet Mâcon-Davayé
This crisp chardonnay is guaranteed to please the pinot noir crowd. Grown on vines planted on limestone, the rich, clean texture and mineral notes shine through, reminding you that good wine is all about place.
$18. Starrs, 1135 S. Big Bend Blvd., Richmond Heights, 314.781.2345

2012 Calera Central Coast Chardonnay
This unsung California wine is big and oaky – perfect for a cabernet sauvignon drinker who enjoys a touch of vanilla, wood notes, hazelnuts and a pear finish. Pick up a case: This is a wine you can cellar for some years.
$18. The Wine Merchant, 20 S. Hanley Road, Clayton, 314.863.6282 

2011 Pheasant’s Tears Chinuri
The extended contact of the grape skins with the juice during fermentation results in an amber wine with the mouth feel, tannins and structure of a red. If you like big red wines with wild flavors, you’ve got to try this one from the Republic of Georgia.
$22. Parker’s Table, 7118 Oakland Ave., Richmond Heights, 314.645.2050

Red wines for white wine lovers

2012 Villa Jolanda Brachetto
Moscato fans will applaud this traditional wine from Italy’s Piedmont region. Sweet, slightly fizzy and full of berries, it’s pure refreshment. Try it with dark chocolate.
$17. Lucky’s Market, 15830 Fountain Plaza Drive, Ellisville, 636.220.1223

2011 Famille Peillot Bugey Mondeuse
Sauvignon blanc drinkers, prepare to be impressed by this beautiful wine made from mondeuse, a grape native to the lesser-known Bugey region in eastern France. The stunning red fruit flavor with a touch of black pepper pairs perfectly with roast chicken or simple pork dishes.
$20. The Wine & Cheese Place, 7435 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314.727.8788

2011 Laurel Glen Counterpoint Cabernet Sauvignon
Those who like an oak-aged chardonnay will enjoy this cabernet. It’s a big, smooth wine with a clear oak flavor and just enough cherries and blackberries to round it out.
$25. The Wine & Cheese Place, 14748 Clayton Road, Ballwin, 636.527.1144