I was recently pouring sparkling wines at the posh and pricey Grand Tasting evening of the Grand Wine & Food Affair in Houston. I had a table of six very nice wines — three from Champagne and three from the U.S. More about those wines in a future post…

Not a few attendees, when holding out their glasses for a pour of bubbly, asked for something sweet — or at least, not too dry. Just came right out with it. No pretense. No apologies.

Everything I had was technically Brut, so… fairly dry. One of the domestic bubblies seemed to offer enough ripe red berry character to satisfy, but the requests made an impression on me.

I frequently bemoan the idea that many wineries make sweeter versions of their wines for the U.S. market. (And they do.) Both because that doesn’t suit my palate, and because I hate the idea that we seem like a bunch of soda-swilling, artificial sweetener-loving, sugar-addled hicks. Even our everyday candy bars are sweeter than the European versions. Have you tasted a Kit Kat in Europe? It’s so much better than the U.S. version. (Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the greatest example of my oh-so-sophisticated palate, but you get my point…)

Apparently we just like our sugar here in the good ole’ USA. And I’ve always said that people should drink what they like, without listening to the wine snobs and writers (ahem) who tell them they’re wrong.

That being said — and mostly meant sincerely – I bring you the Ballatore Rosso Red Spumante. Which, especially in light of the event the other night, pleasantly surprised me. (As an aside, I first tasted the Ballatore Gran Spumante — the white version — and absolutely hated it. It tasted, I swear, exactly like Juicy Fruit Gum in liquid form.)

But the Rosso was kinda tasty, particularly if you’re looking for something sweet. And for about eight bucks a bottle, it’s certainly a bargain!

Ballatore NV Rosso Red Spumante California ($8). Red cherry and berry aromas and flavors are rich, sweet and frothy. If you like ‘em sweet, try it with spicy food. Or, better yet, pair with brownies for dessert. Ready to drink now. Locate this wine online or in your area.