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The best wines for beginners: where to start, by taste
New to wine? The easiest reds, whites, sparkling and sweet wines, what each one tastes like, what to try next, and a simple ladder to climb as your taste grows.
Updated October 2026
Rewritten by Alper Billik, Advanced Sommelier
4 min read
The short answer: start with wines that are fruity, smooth and not too strong. Red: Merlot, Pinot Noir or Beaujolais. White: Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc or an off-dry Riesling. Sparkling: Prosecco. Sweet: Moscato d'Asti. Then take one step at a time towards drier, firmer and older wines.
There is no wrong first wine. The only rule is to notice what you like, so the next bottle is a better guess.
Easy red wines
| Wine | What it tastes like | Try next |
|---|---|---|
| Merlot | Plum and cherry, soft and smooth | Saint-Émilion or Pomerol, where Merlot leads the blend |
| Pinot Noir | Red cherry and raspberry, light and silky | Bourgogne Rouge, then a Burgundy village wine |
| Beaujolais (Gamay) | Juicy red fruit, very little tannin, lovely slightly chilled | A Beaujolais cru such as Fleurie or Morgon |
| Malbec from Argentina | Blackberry and plum, plush and round | Cabernet Sauvignon |
- Merlot
- What it tastes likePlum and cherry, soft and smooth
- Try nextSaint-Émilion or Pomerol, where Merlot leads the blend
- Pinot Noir
- What it tastes likeRed cherry and raspberry, light and silky
- Try nextBourgogne Rouge, then a Burgundy village wine
- Beaujolais (Gamay)
- What it tastes likeJuicy red fruit, very little tannin, lovely slightly chilled
- Try nextA Beaujolais cru such as Fleurie or Morgon
- Malbec from Argentina
- What it tastes likeBlackberry and plum, plush and round
- Try nextCabernet Sauvignon
Easy white wines
| Wine | What it tastes like | Try next |
|---|---|---|
| Pinot Grigio | Light and crisp: lemon, pear, apple | Pinot Gris from Alsace, the same grape made richer |
| Sauvignon Blanc | Zesty: lime, gooseberry, cut grass | Sancerre, its classic home in the Loire |
| Riesling, off-dry | Lime and peach with a touch of sweetness | A dry Riesling, labelled trocken in Germany |
| Chardonnay, unoaked or lightly oaked | Apple and citrus; creamier with oak | Chablis, then a white Burgundy |
- Pinot Grigio
- What it tastes likeLight and crisp: lemon, pear, apple
- Try nextPinot Gris from Alsace, the same grape made richer
- Sauvignon Blanc
- What it tastes likeZesty: lime, gooseberry, cut grass
- Try nextSancerre, its classic home in the Loire
- Riesling, off-dry
- What it tastes likeLime and peach with a touch of sweetness
- Try nextA dry Riesling, labelled trocken in Germany
- Chardonnay, unoaked or lightly oaked
- What it tastes likeApple and citrus; creamier with oak
- Try nextChablis, then a white Burgundy
When you get to Sancerre, my Sancerre guide lists the producers I would buy.
Easy sparkling wines
- Prosecco (Italy): pear and apple, light and frothy. “Extra Dry” on the label is a little sweeter than “Brut”.
- Cava (Spain): crisp and dry, made the same way as Champagne, with the second fermentation in the bottle.
- Crémant (France): the same traditional method, from regions such as Alsace, Burgundy and the Loire.
- Champagne: when you are ready for more depth, toast and brioche notes from time on the lees.
Easy sweet wines
- Moscato d'Asti (Piedmont): grapey, peachy, gently fizzy and only about 5–6% alcohol.
- Riesling Kabinett or Spätlese (Germany), not labelled trocken: sweetness balanced by bright acidity, so it never feels heavy.
- Tawny Port: caramel and nuts after dinner. Strong, so pour small.
Why these wines are easy
They lead with fruit, they have soft or little tannin, so they don't dry your mouth, and most have moderate alcohol and little or no new oak. Those are the four things that make a first glass feel friendly. If you find even these too dry or too sharp, start one step earlier with wines for people who don't like wine.
Wines to save for later
Not bad wines, just better once you know what to look for: young, firm reds such as Barolo or young Bordeaux, which can feel very drying; heavily oaked whites; bone-dry Fino Sherry; and orange wines, made from white grapes left on their skins. Come back to them in a few months. You will be surprised how different they taste.
A simple ladder
- Step 1, fruity and smooth: Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Prosecco, Moscato d'Asti.
- Step 2, dry and fresh: Sauvignon Blanc, dry Riesling, Beaujolais, Pinot Noir.
- Step 3, more structure: Chianti Classico, Rioja Crianza, Côtes du Rhône, Chablis.
- Step 4, the classics: Burgundy, Bordeaux, Barolo, Champagne.
How to find your taste faster
- Taste two side by side, such as a Pinot Noir next to a Malbec. Comparing teaches more than any book.
- Write one line about every wine you open: the name, and whether you would buy it again.
- Find a wine shop with good staff and tell them the last bottle you loved.
- Don't judge by price. A mid-range bottle from a good producer is often a better start than an expensive famous name.
- Mind the temperature: reds slightly cool, whites cold but not icy.
Want the whole picture without the snobbery? My book Wine Easy was written for exactly this moment. And if one day you want to go further, the Level 1 sommelier practice test shows what the first exam looks like.
Questions people ask
What is the best wine for a beginner?
Something fruity and smooth with little tannin: Merlot or Pinot Noir for red, Pinot Grigio or an off-dry Riesling for white, Prosecco for bubbles, Moscato d'Asti for sweet.
Is red or white wine better for beginners?
Whichever you enjoy. Many beginners find whites, rosés and light reds easier, because they have little or no tannin.
What is a good sweet wine for beginners?
Moscato d'Asti: sweet, gently fizzy and low in alcohol. An off-dry German Riesling is another good start.
What wine should a beginner avoid?
Nothing is off-limits, but big, young, tannic reds such as Barolo are easier to enjoy once you have tasted a few lighter wines first.
For wine lovers · next steps