Beginner wine, hmm, what in the world makes a wine a beginner wine?! Isn't all wine simply the same thing: fermented grapes?
Technically, yes...
Well have you ever heard of saperavi or assyrtiko?! These are actual wine varietals! Saperavi is a wine from Georgia (yes, the country) and assyrtiko is a Greek wine.
The world of wines is so vast it will literally make your head spin! There are over 10,000 different wine varietals...
You heard that right: ten thousand!
Soooo, when we are talking about beginner wines, we really mean beginner.
As in the most common red and white wines to try before you dive head first into the great abyss of wines.
Here we break down the top 5 beginner red wines and the top 5 beginner white wines to try out and where to get them!
Plus, we give a brief beginner wine guide overview of various wine terms to get you started.
Let's get you drinking now, shall we?
This post is all about beginner wine.
Top 10 Budget Friendly Wines for the Beginner Wine Drinker
Beginner Wine Guide
Just some basic wine terminology that might help you when you are choosing wines, shopping for wines, or trying to talk about wines.
If you are just trying to dip your toes into the world of wine, check out these exclusive insights on how to begin!
The VERY basic beginner wine guide to get you set up. Because, let's be real, the most important part is drinking the actual wine...
How much should I be spending on a bottle?
A great question: how much money to spend on a decent bottle of wine...
I have found that spending $15 to $25 on a bottle will give you a quality wine. Though, not saying that every bottle of wine at $20 will be good, but it will be the better representation of that wine style versus the $8 bottle...
You get it.
What is a "vintage"?
A vintage refers to the year the wine was actually made. So, for a wine with a 2019 vintage basically means the wine was made in 2019.
Very basic, very straight forward, but if you don't know you don't know. Annnnnnd, now you know!
What are tannins?
Moving into the flavors and tastes of wine: tannins! Tannins live in the grape skins, stems, seeds, etc.
Tannins give the final wine a more "tart like" profile. They create a dry sensation in the mouth, almost like you want to pucker (weird description, I know!). Some say they create the wine's backbone and overall structure.
Tannins are GOLD for wines to age because they have naturally occurring anti-oxidant properties.
Tannins mostly live in red wines, which is why red wines age reaaalllly well!
What does "body" taste like?
The body of a wine refers to the weight of the wine in your mouth. Light-bodied wines feel watery and a full-bodied wine feels bold and rich like a piece of dense chocolate cake.
What does it mean when a wine is "tight"?
Honestly, this really shouldn't happen that often...
But, a tight wine is a wine that has not aged long enough and the flavors feel too quick in your mouth. Basically, the flavors haven't developed fully.
I tasted a "tight" wine the other evening and it almost doesn't taste right. If that happens, allow the wine to sit in your glass or in the bottle. It just needs more air time to open up.
Beginner Red Wine
Before we jump into beginner red wines, or beginner wines in general...
I would recommend not to judge a wine varietal based off one bottle! Try a couple from different wineries, different vintages, regions, etc.
There are a million and one factors that go into making wine, drinking wine, storing etc. Drinking one bottle and shooing it away might actually have you missing out on some bomb-diggity wines!
Now, let's dive into beginner red wines:
1. Pinot Nior
Pinot nior, the grape, enjoys cooler climates when growing so when you are looking for a pinot nior look for ones from Burgundy, France, Sonoma Coast, California, or Oregon.
Pinot nior has a soft and elegant texture with minimal tannins, perfect for beginner red wine drinkers!
(Personally, pinot nior is one of my fav beginner wines)
Body: Lighter bodied
Flavors: Bright juicy quality with notes of fruits and earthy & spice characters
Pairs well with: Virtually everything; chicken, mushrooms, steak, and more.
2. Merlot
A step up from a pinot nior is merlot! Merlot is great on its own, but many winemakers will use it in a blend with other reds.
Merlot has soft and velvety tannins making it very approachable for beginner wine drinkers.
Some people really don't like tannins and others adore them, you will learn quickly if you like tannins!
Body: Medium body
Flavors: Fruit forward; plum, blackberry, and cherry
Pairs well with: Pork, pasta, burgers, and dark chocolate
3. Sangiovese (Chianti from Tuscany)
Annnnnd we continue to climb up the ladder: a step up from Merlot will be sangiovese! An Italian wine that is actually Tuscany's most planted grape.
Another medium bodied wine, but has a bit more tannins! Therefore, the wine will have more structure.
Great for beginner wine drinkers with a touch more complexity than the merlot or pinot nior.
This one is more challenging to find on it's own. Chianti is a red wine made in Tuscany that uses sangiovese, which is easier to find than sangiovese on it's own!
Body: Medium body
Flavors: Dried herbs, fruits like tart cherry, plum, and cranberry & sweeter
Pairs well with: Pastas, grilled meats, pizza, basically anything Italian!!
4. Zinfandel
Another step up, the zinfandel! A bit more bold and complex than the latter three options, but still approachable for beginners.
The moderate amount of tannins give it a unique texture, but still nothing too crazy. So, perfect for beginner wine drinkers who want a bit more complexity.
Body: Medium to full body
Flavors: Black pepper, cinnamon, raspberry jam, and jammy-like properties
Pairs well with: Spicy food, ribs, BBQ
5. Cabernet Sauvignon
Ok, I have to say it: Cabernet sauvignon is my ultimate favorite wine. I know a lot of people love it too: often called the "kind of reds".
Thrives in places like California, Chile, and Australia.
Cabernet is the final wine in the beginner red wine series because it has strong tannins and bold flavors.
But still can be approachable for beginners, just know it is the most intense red wine on this list (and it *might* just be your favorite!).
Body: Full-bodied!
Flavors: Deep, ripe, intense fruit flavors like blackberry and dark cherry with hints of herbaceous-ness (is that a word?!)
Pairs well with: Steak, lamb, aged cheeses
(I know that specific cabernet sauvignon is more than $25, but it was in the top 100 of 2024... Sooo, might be worth a couple extra bucks!)
Beginner White Wine
Sometimes the season calls for white wine instead of red wine, or you might just like a softer more floral wine than a tannic flavor explosion of a red!
For most white wines, look for younger ages (1-3 years).
White wine is revered for some AMAZING fruity and floral flavors, though, the the floral and fruity aromas will wear off the longer it ages *usually*.
1. Pinot Grigio
A mutation from the pinot nior grape, a pinor grigio is a perfect light sipper for any occasion!
A great beginner wine because it is crisp, refreshing, and has a clean feel. Literally anyone who likes white wine will *most likely* enjoy a pinot grigio.
Body: Very light
Flavors: Fruit forward! Green apple, lemon, pear, maybe some almond or white flowers
Pairs well with: Salads, seafood, or chicken (anything light or lemony)
2. Sauvignon Blanc
What my friends call a "savvy B"... Verrrrry similar to a pinot grigio, a savvy B is fruity and light but with a unique savory edge.
Still good for beginner wine drinkers, just a simple step up from a pinor grigio!
The grape itself originated in France and now grown worldwide!
Body: Very light
Flavors: Fruit forward with slight herbs like basil, bell peppers, and grass
Pairs well with: Goat cheese, seafood, or dishes with herbs like a pesto
3. Unoaked Chardonnay
The reason I recommend an unoaked chardonnay is because the oaky flavor is a peculiar flavor that some people love and other absolutely do not.
Once again, it is a step up from a Sauvignon blanc with a bit more body and complex flavor. The unoaked version will keep the fruity flavors that is great for beginner wine drinkers!
I LOVE chardonnay... and you might too!
Body: Light to medium body
Flavors: Fruit forward with bright juicy character and subtle mineral flavors
Pairs well with: Grilled chicken, light soft cheeses, salads and seafood
4. Chenin Blanc
Ohhhh the chenin! A step above an unoaked chardonnay with juuuuust a little more texture and body.
Don't worry, it is still perfect for beginners!
The chenin blanc grape can be anything from a super dry glass or a sweet dessert wine. So, look for dry chenin blancs (unless you want a dessert style!)
Body: Light to medium body
Flavors: Fruit forward; lemon, green apple, and sometimes citrus with flavors of chamomile and honey
Pairs well with: Versatile pairing; roasted chicken, creamy cheeses, seafood
5. Sémillon
My ultimate favorite white wine! This one is actually to die for... It has a richness that can not be beat.
Semillon is kind of hard to find, and hard to find a really good one, but when you do.. Oh my!
Usually semillon is blended with Sauvignon blanc for a more well rounded savvy B. Though, I would love for winemakers to make more semillon on its own!
This can be hard to find, but thankfully wine.com has everything!!
Body: Medium body
Flavors: Crisp fruity flavors; lemon, peach, sometimes fig or mango
Pairs well with: Creamy dishes, seafood, and chicken
Here we laid out the BEST beginner wines, beginner red wines, beginner white wines, and even a beginner wine guide to get you started!
If you choose any of these bottles, or get one from the store around $15-$25, use good glassware, and sip with intention you are on the way to some MIND BLOWING wine drinking...
This post was all about beginner wine.