Want to buy wine but are intimidated by the task of choosing one that fits your taste palate? Don’t worry!
We understand starting in the world of wine can be bewildering. That is why wine education is very important, especially for beginners. Considering this thing in mind, we have shortlisted the best wines for beginners, keeping everyone’s taste on a note.
While there are as many tastes and preferences in the world as there are people, a few basic guidelines will help ensure that you get a bottle of wine that suits you.
That’s why we have come up with a list of the 10 best-handpicked wines that taste good so that you won’t have to worry about anything.
So, grab a cup of coffee and sit tight because this blog is going to take a while to read!
Table of Contents
Getting Started With Wine
It’s true that there is no one kind of wine that every beginner will love. Most beginners prefer to start with the most approachable wines they can find.
People who enjoy studying the intricacies of wine will enjoy exploring different types – but others are overwhelmed when they walk into a wine shop. Some even prefer going to the best pubs to drink wine with uplifting background music.
There are many flavorful wines for the budding wine enthusiast to try. However, many factors affect a good wine for beginners enjoyment!
What Are The Four Key Wines for Beginners Descriptors?
Taste
Wine is the world’s oldest and most popular alcoholic beverage. In its simplest form, it is a blend of fermented grape juice and water, but what gives the wine its body, aroma, and taste is a combination of factors including the blend of grapes used to make the wine, the vintner’s expertise, and how the wine is aged.
For beginners, it is best to start with simple and, less complex wines. Simple best-tasting wines for beginners include unoaked single-varietal wines such as Pinot Grigio or Barbera.
There are many flavors in wine, depending on region, age, temperature, grape type, etc. For example, red wines often have flavors such as dark fruits, leather, tobacco, and berries. White wines may have flavors such as toast, spice, citrus fruits, apples, and pears among others.
Viscosity/Body
When wine lovers talk about the “mouth feels” of a wine, they’re referring to the viscosity—how heavy or light the wine feels in your mouth.
It’s often the case that inexperienced wine drinkers prefer lighter wines, including Beaujolais Nouveau and Sauvignon Blanc.
Aromatics
For people who are interested in delving into the world of wine, an understanding of aromatics is key. Those who want to become experts must learn to differentiate the subtle aromatic notes present in any type of wine.
If you’re just looking to understand a bit more about wine, you might enjoy learning the basics. Aromatics depend on many factors including the grapes, the terroir (where the wine is grown), and how the wine is aged. Viognier and Grenache are very aromatic wines.
Sweetness
Many inexperienced wine drinkers prefer wines with a little sweetness to them. These wines don’t need to be sugary-sweet, just not so dry they make your mouth pucker. That is why it is important to know the some of the best-tasting sweet wines for a beginner’s journey.
Beginners might find that off-dry wines such as Moscato d’Asti and Pinot Noir show them the world of wine. However, winemakers produce wines in a variety of sweet and dry styles, depending on the varietal, harvested time, the alcohol content, and the type of grapes used. Whites and reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay can range from very dry to very sweet; dessert-style wines such as Port can also be produced.
Best White Wine for Beginners
People generally choose whether to start with red wine or white wine, but it’s important, to begin with whites. White wines are lighter-bodied and easier on the palate than reds – and they can be mellow enough not to overwhelm a novice taster. Beginners should try these:
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a versatile grape, with flavors that range from flinty, minerally to tropical, says Conner. People often think they don’t like Chardonnay because their only experience has been with oak-bomb, buttery Chardonnays of the 1990s, However, nowadays you can find more balanced Chardonnays that have less oak and more fruit. If you want to taste a spectacular unoaked Chardonnay, try Chablis from France.
Sauvignon Blanc
Conner says Sauvignon Blanc is all about fruit. The Sauvignon Blanc grape has two main styles: the super-intense version with passion fruit aromas coming out of New Zealand, and the more restrained, grassy French style from Sancerre. There are great Sauvignon Blancs from Chile and the USA too.
Pinot Grigio
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio is a user-friendly white wine that’s light-bodied and crisp, with a refreshing finish and pleasant flavor characteristics.
Riesling
White grapes tend to be easier to grow in cooler climates, and the Riesling grapes from Germany are a prime example. Because of its versatility, Riesling can be made into several kinds of wine, including still wine, sparkling wine, and dessert wine. The fruity and floral flavors of this particular grape work well with white meat, fish dishes, and spicy foods.
Best Red Wine for Beginners
Just as with your favorite white wines, you can start out with lighter red wines – then move on to bolder reds if you’re so inclined. You may start with milder red wines and work your way up to stronger reds if you’d like, just like you can with your favorite white wines. The best sweet red wines to drink for beginners are listed below as follows:
Merlot
Merlot is a red grape grown throughout the world. According to Ilana Conner, “some of the greatest wines in the world” are Merlots. The wine is plummy and juicy, and a bit softer than Cabernet Sauvignon, which it often gets blended with. It tastes delicious besides perfect charcuterie boards, roasted vegetables, and even cheeseburgers.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Just like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon can be produced in a wide range of regions, so it’s easy to find at most wine shops. As for taste, it is full-bodied and dry. Conner says, “Cabernet Sauvignon is ‘bigger’ than Merlot, and it has lots of tannins, which are those chewy, drying particles in reds. It’s wildly popular and you can find stunning examples all over the world.”
Pinot Noir
Even red wine newcomers might fall in love with Pinot Noir because of its light to medium body and food-friendliness. Want some recommendations? Try McMurray Ranch Pinot Noir, Tamar Ridge’s Devil’s Corner, or Lindeman’s Bin.
Syrah
Shiraz, an Australian grape, and Syrah are identical. Shirazes from Australia often have a peppery flavor, whilst Syrahs typically have a fruitier flavor. Grab a bottle of Penfold’s or d’Arenberg Shiraz. Try a bottle of Qupe Central Coast Syrah for the Syrahs.
Finding Wines That You Love!
You are supposed to appreciate wine. The easiest approach to becoming familiar with a certain sort of wine is to taste several distinct bottles of it, whether you follow our advice and sample a red or white bottle or go on your own.
Ask the proprietor of a nearby wine shop for recommendations on wines for various palates. They will undoubtedly be able to recommend several wines that will become your new favorites. Once you know your taste, you can incorporate the wine culture into your surprise birthday party ideas for couples.
Thank you for reading! We hope you found the best wines to drink for beginners like you.
Share your story in the comments below. What was the first bottle of wine that you ever purchased? Tell us how you came across it!
