what is a good type of wine to start with?

Question

I'm not much of wine drinker, but would like to start. I prefer white over red, but am unsure about wine in general. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I would stick with a simple, easy drinking white like a Sauvignon Blanc or a Riesling or possibly a good Gewurztraminer. You could also try a Rose but I would suggest avoiding White Zinfandel - most of them taste like cotton candy or bubble gum and who wants to actually drink that???

If you're looking for more specific recommendations, look to New Zealand for great Sauvignon Blanc. Germany makes great Rieslings and Gewurztraminers so you could look there as well. Alternatively, you could check out Sauvignon Blanc's or Riesling's from Ontario, Canada. There are several wineries here that win awards for their white wines, just as many as the other countries I have mentioned here.

Answer 2

Most people will probably suggest a White Zinfandel, which is fine. I would just like to stress that White Zin is typically much sweeter then most other wines, so don't expect others to taste the same way. (A Moscato and Gewürztraminer are sweet in the same way.) I like to suggest to work your way up, from lighter to heavier. I would start with a white wine, probably a pinot grigio/gris. Then get into heavier whites, like Chardonnay. after that, try reds and find out what you like. A great way to find new wines is go to a restaurant, and ask the server to make a suggestion based on what entree you are having. Always try a new dish and a new wine. I am certain you will be pleasantly surprised. But, I would work your way up to the heavy reds, otherwise you may get turned off from wine altogether.

Answer 3

For a new wine enthusiast, it might be best to start with a Pinot Grigio or a Riesling or even a Muscadet. All are light and fruity with the Muscadet leaning a bit to the dryer sweetness. They tend to be more delicate with honeyed tones and a bit of tartness with a hint of citrus.

Mediumish whites include Sauvignon Blanc, White Bordeaux, White Burgundy and unoaked Chardonnay. These are more full bodied and crisp with hints of green apples and melon.

Gewürztraminer is good if you like a heavier 'light' wine. This is strong and spicy and good if you like Thai or Cajun or Mexican foods.

Answer 4

If you need 'training wheels' to get yourself into wines, start off by checking out a local winery nearby. Often you can get small samplings there and learn about pairings and enjoy wines in their best form. It's a good 101 course, as well. If you don't have a local winery nearby, there are many community groups/courses you can check out. Some bartenders are willing to break up a glass of wine into 1/2 shots of different kinds for the price of a glass... another good way to experiment.


You may also want to just close your eyes and point to a bottle in a store and be adventurous. Do not worry - you have a safety net........

Try a Sangria recipe (white or red) with any red or white wine you want to try, but are totally unsure of.

Just do a search for Sangria recipes and you'll come up with a number of them. Not only is this a fun and festive way to get yourself introduced to the versatility of many wines, but also a great way to use up wines you purchased and didn't like, so you won't waste them.

Once you do this and start picking out the kinds you enjoy, you can gradually start exploring those wines in that category. For instance, for whites: Try chardonnay, pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc. For reds, a merlot, pinot noir, bordeaux, cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, etc.

Most wines have either a fruity, buttery, spicy, acidic or floral essence to them. And you can gradually start to pick out the kinds you enjoy the most by doing more than simply drinking them.

I also cook with wines - flavors become more concentrated after the alcohol is burned away. And sometimes, that's how I pick up notes on what I like or don't like and what I would like to try in its purest form. When I first started getting into wine, I was scared to 'commit to buying a whole bottle' in case I didn't like it. So I found both the sangria and cooking recipes helpful, as a way to really explore the many ways one kind I picked would be used. It gave me the courage to try more and more different varieties of wines in that category and once I did this, I felt I could move onto the next category and so forth.

Good luck and enjoy!

Answer 5

I would personally start with pinot grigio or maybe a chablis. they are nice light whites. I would not recommend to you any of the sweet wines. I know you will get a lot of comments that you should try white zin. If you want an overly sweet, non-food friendly wine, go for it. i personally think it reminds me of kool-aid or a wine cooler. Gewurztraminer or Riesling are step up from White Zin, as they actually go with food.

Answer 6

When I started cooking over 20 years ago, it was very specific on what wines to start and finish with and how much. Good news is this is the21st. century, you can do whatever you feel like doing if you like red then drink red.( Red was served more with meats before.)

Answer 7

I love wine, but I'm quite picky! I tend to go toward the blushes... they're sweeter and less bitter. They're more light and fruity. I think they're better for those of us who don't drink wine too much. :) I favor White Zinfandel. It's a very nice simple wine.

Answer 8

start w. white zinfandel, very fruity and sweet, gradually change to drinking chardonnays and then merlot, cabernet, shiraz, etc. if you care to!!

Answer 9

you start when dining

whites then reds
drys then sweets
light then full bodied