Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir, a light-bodied red wine that is not too strong and has soft tannins, is the best for beginners. These wines have a dry, earthy taste with notes of raspberry and cherry.
Pinot Noir is used for making both varietal and red blend wines.
Duck, chicken, pork and mushrooms are excellent wines to pair with Pinot Noir.
Zinfandel
Although Zinfandel is medium to full-bodied, it’s more of a fruit-forward wine, making it a fantastic choice for new wine enthusiasts.
Its sweet blackberry, strawberry and baking spice aroma makes it an ideal match for barbeque dishes.
You’ll also find pink wines made with the white Zinfandel grape varietal.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is a medium to full-bodied wine with relatively high tannins and acidity. Still, its fruity notes of plum, blackberry, and black pepper make it a good wine for beginners.
This wine is best paired with steaks, hamburgers, and braised short ribs.
Malbec
Malbec is a rich, dry wine with complex flavours. It bursts with juicy black cherry, pomegranate, raspberry, and raisin balanced beautifully with coffee, cocoa, and vanilla notes.
Malbec is delicious with lean meats, mushrooms and blue cheese.
Petite Sirah
Not the same as Syrah wines, Petite Sirah is a full-bodied red wine with a distinct flavour profile of dark chocolate, blueberry, and black tea – mainly due to its high tannin content.
This wine can be paired with richer, fatty foods such as beef burgers and fresh mozzarella.
Other easy red wines include Beaujolais Nouveau, a Gamay red wine, and Moscato.
The Best White Wines for Beginners
White wines contain lower tannins than red wines. They are fermented, usually without grape skins.
After removing the skins, white wine can also be made using red wine grapes.
These are some of the most famous white wines that beginners can enjoy:
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Gris
- Chardonnay
- Riesling
- Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a light-bodied beginner white wine with asparagus, grapefruit, and herbaceous aromas.
This wine is great with light dishes such as green vegetables, chicken, pork, and fish with herbs.
Pinot Gris (Pinot-Grigio)
This white wine grape variety is Pinot Gris in France and Pinot Grigio in Italy.
French Pinot Gris wines have a full body and are slightly sweet. Italian Pinot Grigio has a light, citrus-scented aroma.
This wine is a great wine to start your wine journey. It’s soft and easy to drink.
Rich Pinot Gris pairs well with creamy pasta, roast pork, hard cheeses, and other rich dishes. The lighter Pinot Grigio makes a great aperitif. You can also pair it with salads or grilled shrimp.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a full-bodied, dry wine whose flavours depend on whether it is oaked or unoaked or grown in cool or warm climates.
Oaked Chardonnay wines have a rich texture and flavour with notes of vanilla and spices, while unoaked Chardonnay wines are crisper and have bright citrus flavours.
Chardonnays made in cooler climates tend to be more acidic and lighter-bodied. They have citrus flavours and minerals. Warmer regions produce wines with less acidity and more tropical fruit flavours.
This wine pairs well with cream sauces, lobster, scallops and other delicious dishes.
Riesling
Riesling wines have a noticeably high acidity that enhances their juiciness. Young Riesling wines have a rich, fruity aroma and distinct green apple, pear, and apricot flavours.
The subtle gasoline or petroleum notes that can be found in aged Rieslings are indicative of high-quality wines.
A dry Riesling can be enjoyed with spicy Thai curry and crispy sesame poultry. A dry fruit platter and milky cheese pair well with sweet Riesling.
Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc is great for wine beginners is its wide range of styles. This white wine can be dry, off-dry, sweet, or sparkling.
The dry wine often tastes tart with pear, ginger, and quince flavours. Off-dry styles are richer in passion fruit, honeycomb, and pear.
Sweet Chenin Blanc is a blend of dried persimmon, mango, and toasted almond flavours. The sparkling versions have distinctive yellow apple, plum and floral notes.
The wine’s natural sweetness and crisp acidity pair well with Southeast Asian food, such as trout, cream cheeses, yoghurts, carrots, and mushrooms.