There’s a lot to know about the world of wine — so much that simply going wine shopping can feel overwhelming! If you haven’t taken part in any wine tastings and tours, you might not know what kinds of wine you’ll prefer. New wine drinkers don’t yet have a distinguished wine tasting palette, so it’s worth your time to try multiple options until you find a bottle of wine you like. But where should you start? Here are some of the best wines for beginners, according to wine lovers.

Red vs. White: What’s the Difference?

Before you learn about the best wines for beginners, you might be curious about the difference between red and white wine. They’re both made from grapes, right? Well, yes, but types of wine are more complicated than that.

Red wine is made using black or red grapes. White wine is made from white grapes. Red wine is also made using the skins and seeds of grapes, while these are not present in white wine. If you enjoy bitter flavors, chances are you'll find yourself more attracted to red wines. If you are more interested in sweet wine or enjoy fruity or floral notes, you should try some white wines. Try out several reds and whites to see what you might enjoy if you aren't sure.

Red Wine: Best Wines for Beginners

Cabernet Sauvignon

A full-bodied, herbal-tasting red wine made from one of the world's most popular red wine grape varieties.

Merlot

A fruity, somewhat spicy red wine that has been enjoyed for centuries. 

Shiraz 

Shiraz is also called Syrah (they’re the same grape). Australian Shiraz, in particular, is known for its dark, fruity colors and smoky taste.

Pinot Noir

Pinot noir is consistently ranked as one of the best wines for beginners because it has a fresh, delicate taste with balanced tannins, meaning it's not too bitter but still maintains the structure of red wine. (Tannins are one of the factors that make red wine more bitter than white wine. A wine with high tannins is more bitter than a wine with low tannins.)

Zinfandel 

Zinfandels often have a high alcohol content and are known for their zesty taste and structured tannins.

Beaujolais Nouveau 

A crisp red wine with hints of tropical fruits such as bananas. This type of wine is often referred to as Gamay wine.

White Wine: Best Wines for Beginners

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is beloved by many white wine drinkers. It has a fruity, buttery, and smooth taste and texture and pairs well with delicate seafood and chicken dishes.

Pinot Grigio

Much like pinot noir, pinot grigio is enjoyed for its crisp and delicate taste. However, it has a more fruity flavor and is less acidic than pinot noir. Pinot noir tastes more like black cherry, while pinot grigio has notes of apple and lemon.

Moscato

Moscato often gets a reputation for being excessively fruity and sweet, but this reputation is somewhat untrue. While most Moscato is quite fruity, it can range in sweetness from sugar-sweet to relatively dry.

Sauvignon Blanc

If you like to cook, the name "sauvignon blanc" might remind you of shrimp scampi or chicken piccata. This tart, acidic, and dry wine is popular in cooking because it brings complex notes of tropical fruit to the relatively mild tastes of chicken and seafood.

Riesling

Riesling is a sweet and intensely fruity German white wine that has been gaining popularity in the past few years. Historians have found mention of it as far back as the 1400s.

Prosecco

If you enjoy carbonation, you might like this sparkling wine that is mildly sweet and very crisp. Prosecco is also a very old wine, with mentions in literature from 1593!

Other Wines for Beginners

Some of the other best wines for beginners include wines that are either made in a different way than standard reds and whites or are a mixture of reds and whites. Here are a few:

Pink Moscato

Pink Moscato combines white grapes with a splash of red Merlot. It is a sweet wine often served with desserts.

Rosé

This trendy wine is sort of a red wine because it’s made with red grapes. However, the process is slightly different as the skins and seeds are removed after contact with the wine for a specific period of time, leaving the color — and name — “pink” rather than red. Rosé is typically on the sweeter side with a summery taste and a light, refreshing mouthfeel.

White Zinfandel

White Zinfandel is technically a type of rosé wine, but it is typically sweeter than the average rosé, and sugar is added during the winemaking process at a different time than it is added to rosé.

Start Your Wine Journey

If this list of the best wines for beginners leaves you wanting to try every wine you can get your hands on, we recommend trying out these and more wines at one of our CT winery events! Wine tasting can be an intimate and enjoyable experience that is fun rather than intimidating. Get in touch with Jonathan Edwards Winery today and experience all the joy that wine has to offer!

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What are the best wines for beginners? Learn some wine vocabulary and decide what you want to try as you develop your wine know-how — and personal wine palette.