Best Wines for New Wine Drinkers – Red and White Wines to Start Drinking

If you’ve never tasted wine before, don’t get discouraged if you dislike the first wine you taste. For whatever reason, the best wines for new wine drinkers aren’t always the ones they end up trying first. There are also other delicious wines out there beginners will love at first taste. Ultimately, the best red and white wines to start drinking will be a matter of opinion, but here are a few good options to consider.

Best Red Wines to Begin With

You will decide whether you want to start off with a red or white wine. But when it comes to any wine, you will want to start off with something simple. Merlot is a red wine that is usually classed as easy-to-drink and not too complex. Although depending on the winery and vintage, some Merlots can be quite developed.

Syrah is another variety that many go for if they enjoy strong flavors. You might have also heard of the Australian Shiraz—they are one and the same, just different spellings for this grape variety. But you will notice that the Australian Shiraz is a bit peppery while Syrah is fruity.

Pinot Noir is the another simple wine that’s easy to love. This is one that gets white wine drinkers to fall back to red wines. For Pinot Noir, why don’t you try the McMurray Ranch Pinot Noir?

But just like Pinot Noir, Beaujolais Nouveau will also make your Christmas merry as it releases in November every year. It is a fruity wine and light too for beginners. If you don’t want a wine with heavy tannins then this is just the wine for you.




best wines for new wine drinkers

White Wines You Should Start With

To start off your white wine drinking journey, why don’t you start with some Moscato d’Asti. This white wine from Italy is slightly frizzy and off-dry. The flavors of almonds and apricots are what makes this wine offer the best crispy, sweet, and juicy sip all the time.

But your wine journey is not complete until you have a taste of Riesling. Beginners prefer this wine because it ranges from dry to very sweet. Just like the Moscato d’Asti, you will also love the crisp citrus and minerals flavors.

Finally a Pinot Grigio white wine will be one of the friendliest wines as compared to other white wines on the market. They are crisp and light bodied too, in flavor and finish characteristics.




Best Red Wine for Beginners – Easiest Red Wine to Drink

Wine is one of the most popular beverages that has been around since the dawn of history. Red wine, in particular, is quite tasty and includes many health benefits when drunk in moderation. Those new to wine may be looking for the easiest red wine to drink. So for anyone out there who wants to experiment with red wine, here is a list of the best red wines that a beginner can start out with.

1. Cabernet Sauvignon

This red wine is recognized world-wide as one of the most popular red wines. This wine is made from the Cabernet Sauvignon red wine grape originally grown in France. It is now widely cultivated in other countries such as Chile and the US. It has medium level of acidity and is highly recommended for drinking with food. This fantastic wine has a dark red color and usually projects a flavor profile of red fruits. On top of that it is dry and has an acceptable level of tannin.




2. Merlot

This red wine ranks as the second most popular in America. You can drink Merlot alone or as an accompaniment with your food. This red wine is highly recommended for any beginner. Its alcohol content usually ranges from 13.5% to 14.5% depending on where it is grown. This wine often has plummy tastes and also has notes of chocolate. In addition to that, it is smooth and easy to drink.

3. Malbec

Malbec is another one of the most popular red wines. It is easy to drink and has tastes of juicy fruit flavors, such as cherry. In addition to that it can be drank alone or as an accompaniment with food. It has an alcohol content of 13-14.5%.

best red wine for beginners

4. Syrah/Shiraz

Syrah (also spelled “Shiraz”) is one of best red wines in the market. It has the distinguishing characteristic of being darker than other types of red wine. It is regarded as a great accompaniment to food especially meat. This wine has a high level of tannin which also gives it antioxidants which are health benefiting.

These are a few of the best red wines for beginners.




What is the Best Red Wine to Drink?

New wine drinkers often feel overwhelmed by the sheer variety of wines available. There are many opinions on which is the best red wine to drink. Some swear by Cabernet Sauvignon, while others prefer Merlot, Zinfandel, or Sangiovese. Ultimately, you’ll have to try out different wines on your own to see which matches your tastes and personality the best. A popular red wine variety that you may want to put at the top of your list is Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noir has gained in popularity over the past decade largely due to the effect of a positive portrayal in the hit film ‘Sideways’. It’s not all hype, though. Pinot’s good reputation is well-deserved.




If you are looking for one of the world’s finest wines, Pinot Noir is an excellent choice. Pinot Noir is made from the Pinot Noir grapes that are grown in some parts of France, Burgundy to be precise. These vines produce somewhat delicate grapes that, however, make excellent wine. Pinot Noir grapes are also cultivated in other countries such as New Zealand, Australia and the US (particularly California and Oregon).

what is the best red wine to drinkPinot Noir can come in different colors such as cherry red to purple red. Though usually it has a brighter red color when compared to other red wine varieties such as Merlot.

The structure of Pinot Noir is fresh and delicate, with soft tannins. Pinot Noir comes with fruity aromatics such as strawberry, cherry, and plum. Pinot Noir’s red skins have polyphenolic compounds like polyphenols and flavonoids. These bind free radicals in the body to prevent oxidized lipids from being generated.

Pinot Noir is rich in resveratrol that acts as an anti-oxidant in your body. Resveratrol prevents genetic mutation due to oxidative stress, thus protecting your body from cancer. Resveratrol also protects nerve cells from oxidative damage and prevents nerve cells from dying. Drinking a glass of Pinot Noir daily, therefore, benefits your nervous system and might help you live longer.

Resveratrol also helps the blood vessels to remain flexible and unclogged. It also decreases the chances of blood clots. This prevents you from developing coronary heart disease.

So as you can see, there are plenty of health benefits to drinking Pinot Noir in moderation. The bright, fruity flavor profile of Pinot Noir wines is also exceptional. Moreover, it pairs easily with many foods.

I’d encourage you to try many styles of wine, to be adventurous, and not always stick to the same variety. But definitely give Pinot Noir a try if you haven’t had the pleasure of tasting some yet. It’s one of the best red wines you can drink.




Guide to Wine Serving Temperature

Why is wine serving temperature important to get right? Over the ages, wine connoisseurs have discovered that different kinds of wine are better enjoyed at different temperatures. Just like with any other food fare, this makes complete sense. For example, you wouldn’t want to eat a cold hamburger or drink a hot beer, and the same principal holds true here as well. In fact, the temperature of the wine can have just as much effect on the taste as almost anything else, sometimes in a remarkable way.

Even though you’ll sometimes hear differing opinions on the subject, there are still some great rules of thumb when it comes to serving temperature for your favorite wine. In almost every case, you also don’t need to use your regular refrigerator to chill your wine unless you need some extra-special chilling. Instead, a wine cellar-cooler can do the trick nicely. And along with this guide, you’ll know exactly what temperature to serve your wine at. This will lead to a better and more enjoyable experience for all.




Full Bodied Red Wines – 62-64°F (17-18°C)

Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Shiraz

Cabernet Sauvignon
As a full-bodied red, Cabernet Sauvignon should be served at about 62 degrees Fahrenheit. This helps enhance and complement its full body, but there’s a bit more to it than just that. While you may hear that serving it at room temperature is the way to go, a slight chill is perfect for this one’s acidity.

Medium Bodied Red Wines – 57-61°F (14-16°C)

Burgundy, Sangiovese, Chianti, Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Noir

Merlot
The ever well-known Merlot is best served at around 57 degrees Fahrenheit and you can even dabble in a little higher, say around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature not only compliments that body of this one, but is best for bringing out the deep cherry flavors that make it popular.

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Light Bodied Red Wines – 50-54°F (10-12°C)

Beaujolais, Bardolino

Bardolino
This light, fruity Italian red wine benefits from a slightly cooler temperature than most reds. The acidity becomes more prominent, while the alcohol taste is slightly diminished.

Full Bodied White Wines – 50-54°F (10-12°C)

Oaked Chardonnay, White Burgundy

White Burgundy
With its rich, complex flavor White Burgundy is best served at a warmer temperature than standard white wines. You can go as high as 54 degrees F, putting it at the same temperature range as light bodied reds.

Medium Bodied White Wines – 48-52°F (9-11°C)

Chardonnay, Chablis, Semillon

Chardonnay
For this tasty white wine, a cooler setting is needed. Go for temperatures around 48 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit to capture everything about this bottle. Whether it has an oak-forward taste or more citrus notes, the dryness is well appreciated in this cooler temperature zone.

Full Bodied Dessert Wines – 46-54°F (8-12°C)

Oloroso Sherry, Madeira

Madeira
This is one of those sweet red wines that pairs best with desserts. For a young Madeira, a good serving temperature to aim for is 54 degrees F. In the case of a more mature bottle, the complex flavors could benefit from letting it warm up slightly higher even.

Light Bodied White Wines – 43-46°F (6-8°C)

Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio

Riesling
Like many other dessert-style wines, Riesling should be chilled to about 46 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is right for enhancing the flowery notes, but also the higher acidity of the wine. This is also the right temperature area to add that degree of balance between the acidity and the sugar that make this wine famous.

Pinot Grigio
This popular white is also best served around the mid-40 degree Fahrenheit range. Aim for a steady 45 degrees Fahrenheit to really draw out its crispness, but also its clean apple notes that give it its distinct flavor. You’ll also find that a better focus on the crispness of Pinot Grigio is present in this temperature range.

Sauvignon Blanc
As a light white wine that also has many citrus notes, Sauvignon Blanc should also be chilled to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Like with our Pinot Grigio, this temperature is better at drawing out the more citrus aspects of this wine without sacrificing any of the dryness that defines it.

sparkling_wine_served_chilled

White Sparkling Wines – 43-46°F (6-8°C)

Champagne
This choice is probably the one that gets the most questions. How cold is too cold when it comes to champagne? A nice, chill 43 degrees Fahrenheit is best for really showing off the qualities of the drink in its fullness. Even though there are many varieties of champagne, this lower temperature really highlights the effervescence of any bottle.

Light Bodied Dessert Wines – 43-50°F (6-10°C)

Trockenbeerenauslese, Sauternes

Sauternes
This sweet white wine from the Bordeaux region can best be enjoyed at a serving temperature of 45 degrees F. It should be chilled, but don’t serve it directly from the refrigerator. Instead, allow about 15 minutes for it to breathe after uncorking the bottle. This gives the complex flavors time to develop.

The easiest way to serve wine at the proper temperature is to keep it stored in a dedicated wine refrigerator. While you could try popping a bottle in your regular food fridge for 20-60 minutes to try to cool it down, this isn’t really the best method. It’s always going to be a guessing game as to whether you’ve cooled your wine down to the right temp. The best wine fridge models, on the other hand, all have digital temperature settings to get the temperature precise.

If you mainly stick to one favorite type of wine, then a single zone wine cooler will be sufficient. But if you’d like to store both red and white wine at their respective serving temperatures, then you should consider a dual zone cooler with individual digitally controlled cooling areas.

As a final note, don’t be afraid to step a degree or two outside some of these temperature ranges. While the general rules hold fairly constant, every year and vintage can differ slightly. At the end of the day, trusting your palette is what makes wine drinking one of the best experiences in the world.




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How to Choose the Right Wine Glasses

Do you know How to choose the right wine glasses? Studies show that wine glasses do indeed affect the taste of your wine. If all you want is to get tipsy, then the type of wine glass you use might not be of great concern. However, if you want to enjoy the wine’s aroma and taste, you will have to choose your wine glasses carefully.

Different Glass Shapes for Different Wines

The base, stem, and of course the bowl, will affect the aroma and taste of the wine as you swirl and sip it.

Red Wines

merlot_bordeaux_wine_glassRed wine needs more exposure for it to release its full aroma. You will, therefore, find wines such as Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon being taken in glasses with bigger bowls. If you are drinking a lighter style of red wines such as Pinot Noir and Tempranillo, drink them from a pear shaped glasses.

White Wines

chardonnay_white_wine_glassWhite crispy wines are best if taken in glasses that are smaller and narrower. Such wines include Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay. That is because they do not require much air to release their aroma. However, if they are aged, then chemical compounds change and they may need wine glasses similar to those used for red wine.

Champagne

If you want to enjoy your champagne, experts recommend that you either use Chardonnay glasses or Pinot Noir glasses. The choice depends on the prominent variety in the champagne. However, you should feel free to take it in whatever will give you the most pleasure. That is what drinking champagne is all about.




Wine Glass Size

You may admire those small, chunky wine glasses, but they are not ideal for drinking wine. For one, you cannot swirl your wine freely, unless you want to wear it as well. The other thing is that a good wine glass is one whose bowl takes at least a third of the bottle. If it can take half, that is even better.

Stem

stemed_and_stemless_wine_glass

The stem is the part of the glass that lets you hold it comfortably. If you want your wine to maintain its temperature, you should avoid stemless glasses. If you also like swirling your wine, the stemless glass is not for you.

The stemless glass is however aesthetically pleasing sometimes. Except when you smudge its bowl with your fingerprints as you hold it. Let just say that you have to be very skilled at holding a stemless glass to enjoy drinking from it. Otherwise, you will smudge it with fingerprints.

Glass Color

It could be possible that you love colored or glasses decorated with patterns. Well, you should avoid those when drinking wine. That is because wine is best enjoyed in its full natural color. Wines do change their color over time; you should be able to see and enjoy that as well.

Glass or Crystal?

If you like your wine chilled, then you should go for crystal glasses. Their stems are thin meaning your hand will not warm the wine glass easily. Crystal glasses are however easier to break because they have been spun thinner than glass. You should also be aware that crystal glasses may contain lead.

The lead is supposed to make the wine stick to the glass as you swirl to bring out its aroma. Wine glass companies such as Riedel say that the lead is perfectly contained within the crystal structure, and their crystal glasses are perfectly safe. Still, it is better to be aware of that fact.

There are also lead-free crystal wine glasses one can find on the market.

The glass or crystal does not change the chemical composition of the wine. It simply helps you to enjoy the aroma before you taste the wine as well as preserve the wine’s characteristics while you enjoy it. You are therefore best placed to decide how you want to enjoy your wine. However, if you are serving others, it is worth considering the above factors.

Wine & Food Pairing Guide

From salmon steaks to ceviche, your next meal deserves to be paired with the best choice when it comes to wine. Yet, selecting which one goes with a certain meal can sometimes feel like a guessing game.

Does that Bordeaux go with the shrimp? Can you even pair Merlot with a burger?

You might be surprised to find out how many people wonder these exact same things. And really, these are some great questions, and today, we’re going to dispel some of the myths behind wine pairing. This way, whether you’re out with friends or eating in, you’ll know exactly which bottle goes best with any meal.

Chardonnay

A popular white wine choice with a full body, Chardonnay is somewhat dry. It’s flavor can range from full on oak-flavor to even lighter crisper citrus notes. When pairing this one, great choices include chicken dishes and meals with a cream base to them. To mix things up, you can try sushi as well.




Cabernet Sauvignon

Another popular selection, but this time in red, this wine is also a full bodied choice. With a great mouthfeel and strong tannins, it’s often best paired with beef and lamb. For something more casual, try it with some BBQ short ribs.

Sauvignon Blanc

This white wine is much lighter than our previous two choices and often has citrus notes. While it’s also a dry choice, it remains a very flexible wine. From pork and fish to fresh salads and pastas, you almost can’t go wrong with this one.

Pinot Grigio

Light, crisp, and fruity, the Pinot Grigio goes best with lighter fares. While there are some tart notes to this one, the apple and pear flavors it often exudes are just right for mild fish and cheese, but also a smaller, less-rich salad.

Pinot Noir

This lighter red is a good contrast to our other reds here. It’s cherry and cranberry are evenly matched when paired with more exotic meats like veal or duck. At the same time, it also goes well with pork or chicken and is excellent with firmer, but not hard, cheeses.

Zinfandel

The Zinfandel is a sweet classic. Encompassing nearly every tasty fruit you can imagine, it’s medium to heavy body is rightly paired with more spicy foods, especially BBQ. But two uncommon pairings to try are with a great curry dish or some Thai food.

Merlot

Another ever-popular wine that brings with it plum and deep cherry flavors. Almost any tomato-based meal will work perfectly with Merlot. Red meats are also another choice as are chocolatey desserts.

Chianti

Hands down, you’re going to love pairing this Italian classic with pizza. It’s also true that Chianti goes well with hearty spaghetti dishes and lasagna as well. And if you’re looking for a meat to add, you can’t go wrong with lamb here.

Sangiovese

Our next wine choice is also an Italian classic, but isn’t as well known. But it can be a great casual wine with a delicious burger. The acidity, with it’s light grape, really cuts through a grease burger in just the right way.

Malbec

Our finally selection is also known for its versatility. This red wine from Argentina is soft and sleek in its presentation. For this one, go with lean meats or lighter pasta fares. For example, a beef tenderloin steak will be absolutely excellent.

Just remember, wine is an experience that begs for experimentation and discovery. Always be willing to go out on a limb and try new things. And with our guide here, you have the perfect launching point for that journey.