The world of wine has lots of strange terms that could easily discourage you from really finding your sweet spot, literally speaking. Those who have a thing or two to say about wine will tell you that there is a way to appreciate the drink. For the non-wine drinkers though, most wine is dry and they may not be so interested if it’s not fruity. It is totally understandable if your palate is still uninitiated in wine drinking.
If you are a non-wine drinker, we recommend that you start out with the lighter varieties before moving on to the heavier stuff. Between white, sparkling, and red wine, there is so much variety to choose from. While it may be a little confusing, you are in luck because we have assembled a list of ‘break-in’ wines for non-wine drinker. Get one of these and you may just realize a love for a drink you had managed to ignore thus far.
Here’s 4 Things to Look Out for When Drinking Wine
There is no single brand of wine that is the go-to for drinkers who are just getting acquainted with the drink. As a wine enthusiast in the making, you will realize that there are lots of yummy flavors to sample. But before you go ahead and find the wine that works best for you and the taste you want, keep reading for things you should keep in mind. We go through this checklist quite often just to find the right wine for our mood!
Click here for a quick guide through a list of kinds of wines.
1. The Taste of Wine
Fermented grape fruit is pretty much what wine is in its most basic form. Think about it for a second, it totally makes sense right?
The profile of the wine has to do with the vintner’s way of making it as well as the method of storage used to allow the wine to age. The grapes used to make it also play a role in the taste, aroma, and body.
Wine can take on a gamut of flavors depending mostly on the kind. Red wine, for instance, has flavors such as berries, leather, cherries, tobacco, and dark fruits. White wines have flavors like citrus fruits, spice, toast, pears, and apples.
2. Sweetness in Different Wines
Beginner wine drinkers can quickly get discouraged by the dry varieties as they prefer something a little sweeter. You don’t have to get the sugariest brand in the store; just ensure it is not so dry that it makes you feel like you need to chase it with water.
If you didn’t know, the sweetness of wine has to do with harvesting time for the grapes, types of grapes blended in, and alcohol content. There are different types of delicious wine and the sugariness ranges from dry white and red wines such as Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon to the dessert wines like Port, which are among the sweetest.
3. Aromatic Pressence in Wines
This is something for those who intend to improve their knowledge of the world of wines. Before you can become an expert in wine tasting, you will have to learn to pick up the subtle aromas in wine. If, on the other hand, you just want to know more about the wine you are drinking, then you can skip this step. Some of the known aromatic wines include Grenache and Viognier.
Want to learn a little more about aromas of wines, click here for an interesting article.
4. Body/Viscosity of Wines
Have you ever heard someone talk about the ‘mouth feel’ of a wine? This usually refers to the viscosity of the drink. Here, we are talking about how heavy or light the wine is. Wine drinkers just starting out with wines prefer varieties that are not too heavy on the palate. Such light-bodied varieties include Sauvignon Blanc and Beaujolais Nouveau.
Red wine for Non-Wine Drinkers
Dry red wine can deceive you into thinking that wine is not your thing but the truth is that there are some reds that every beginner should try out before going to the heavier types. Here are some suggestions that should work well with your palate.
- Syrah – This and the Australian cousin known as Shiraz are the same in many ways. The only differentiating characteristic about the two wines is the fruity taste of the Syrah versus the peppery taste of the Shiraz. D’Arenberg and Penfold’s are two good examples of a Shiraz wine that you will love even if wine is not your thing. For those looking to get a bottle of Syrah, we suggest Eaglepoint Ranch or Qupe Central Coast.
- Beaujolais Nouveau – This is a French wine that should not be allowed to age too long and thus should be drunk when young. Bottles of the wine are released in November and typically sold out by Christmas. The light wine has a fruity taste and very light tannins, which is the reason it is a safe bet for new wine drinkers.
- Pinot Noir – The wine that most people like for their meals. The Pinot Noir is can be found in medium or light-bodied varieties. What’s not to like about a Pinot Noir? This is the wine most non-wine drinkers gravitate to when they have to drink wine. Need some ideas on a good Pinot Noir? Try McMurray Ranch, Devils Corner or Bin 99, all of which you will enjoy drinking.
White Wines for a Non-Wine Drinker
You can choose whether to start with red wine or white wine if you are a first-time wine drinker it really doesn’t matter. It is advised to start with white wines though since they are generally made to be lighter than the reds. They are easier on a beginner’s palate than the reds would be. Here are some suggestions for white wines.
- Sauvignon Blanc – A white wine with a refreshing and crisp flavor that tastes of kiwi and citrus. It is typically a wine for the summer.
- Riesling – There is a Riesling for those who like dry wine and for those who like their wine sweet. A German Riesling is among the best white wine you will find out there. You could also go for one from Washington State.
- Moscato d’Asti – This is an Italian wine with a subtle frizzy taste. It is off-dry, giving you that sweet yet crispy taste.
- Pinot Grigio – Crisp and light bodied, the wines are among the most beloved in the market. Nothing is too out there with the characteristics and you will want to give one of these a try. One example is the Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio.
There is a lot to learn about the best wine for non wine drinker, and nobody expects you to have it all mastered. Begin by enjoying the fruitier varieties of each type of wine just to get an understanding of the profile. That’s how i personally started, but our team is quite different!
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Thanks for reading, check out Beginner Wines You Need To Try as well if you liked this article. Bottoms up! We’ll uncork ya later! ?
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