Wine lifeWine & lifestyle
The best wines for people who don't like wine
Most people who “don't like wine” dislike one thing in it: bitterness, sourness, dryness or the burn of alcohol. Find yours, and there is a wine, or a wine drink, made for you.
Updated October 2026
Rewritten by Alper Billik, Advanced Sommelier
4 min read
The short answer: start with wines that are a little sweet, light and low in alcohol: Moscato d'Asti, a German Riesling Kabinett, Prosecco Extra Dry, a sweet sparkling red such as Brachetto d'Acqui, or a chilled, juicy Beaujolais. If a glass of wine still feels like too much, a spritz is a very good way in.
People rarely dislike wine itself. They dislike the one wine somebody poured them, and the scores and jargon that came with it. Forget all of that. You only need to know what you don't like.
Find what you don't like, then the fix
| If wine tastes… | The cause | Try instead |
|---|---|---|
| Bitter and drying, like strong tea | Tannin, from the grape skins in red wine | White wine, rosé, or a light red such as Beaujolais |
| Too sour | High acidity | A wine with a touch of sweetness, such as Riesling Kabinett, or a riper, rounder white |
| Not sweet enough | Dry wine has almost no sugar left | Moscato d'Asti, Riesling Kabinett, Prosecco Extra Dry |
| Hot, it burns | High alcohol | Moscato d'Asti or a Kabinett, often under 10% alcohol |
| Like wood or vanilla | Oak barrels | Unoaked wines: Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, most Chablis |
- Bitter and drying, like strong tea
- The causeTannin, from the grape skins in red wine
- Try insteadWhite wine, rosé, or a light red such as Beaujolais
- Too sour
- The causeHigh acidity
- Try insteadA wine with a touch of sweetness, such as Riesling Kabinett, or a riper, rounder white
- Not sweet enough
- The causeDry wine has almost no sugar left
- Try insteadMoscato d'Asti, Riesling Kabinett, Prosecco Extra Dry
- Hot, it burns
- The causeHigh alcohol
- Try insteadMoscato d'Asti or a Kabinett, often under 10% alcohol
- Like wood or vanilla
- The causeOak barrels
- Try insteadUnoaked wines: Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, most Chablis
Seven wines to try first
- Moscato d'Asti (Piedmont, Italy): sweet, gently fizzy, smells of grapes and peaches, and only about 5–6% alcohol. The classic first wine.
- Riesling Kabinett (Germany): light, bright and often a little sweet. Choose one that doesn't say trocken (dry) on the label.
- Prosecco Extra Dry: a label quirk worth knowing. “Extra Dry” is softer and a little sweeter than “Brut”.
- Brachetto d'Acqui (Piedmont): a sweet, fizzy red that tastes of strawberries and roses.
- Lambrusco amabile (Emilia-Romagna): a red that sparkles, semi-sweet and juicy. Drink it cold.
- Beaujolais (Gamay grape): a light red with soft tannin and lots of red fruit. Twenty minutes in the fridge makes it even easier.
- Tawny Port: for a sweet tooth, a small glass after dinner tastes of caramel, nuts and dried fruit. It is strong (about 19–22%), so pour small.
Not ready for a glass? Try a wine drink
- Spritz: Prosecco, a bitter aperitif such as Aperol, and soda water, over ice.
- Wine spritzer: white wine topped with soda water. Lighter and longer.
- Kir: dry white wine with a little crème de cassis, a blackcurrant liqueur. Made with Champagne, it becomes a Kir Royal.
- Bellini: Prosecco with white peach purée.
- Sangria: red wine with fruit, from Spain. Lovely for a crowd.
And if wine really isn't for you
- Cider is fermented apple juice, usually lighter in alcohol than wine.
- Sake is often called rice wine, but it is brewed from rice in a way closer to beer. Smooth, savoury and worth a try.
- De-alcoholised wine: in the EU the name means 0.5% alcohol or less. A good way to enjoy the ritual without the alcohol.
Give wine a fair chance
- Serve it cold enough. Sweet and sparkling wines well chilled, light reds cool. Warm wine tastes of alcohol.
- Taste it with food. Salt and fat soften tannin and acidity, which is why the same wine can taste harsh alone and lovely at dinner.
- Use a proper glass. A thin universal glass makes any wine taste better. See the best wine glasses.
- Taste three side by side, in small pours. Comparing is the fastest way to find what you like.
Found something you enjoy? The next step is the best wines for beginners. And if you like wine but don't understand it yet, my book Wine Easy was written for you.
Questions people ask
What is the easiest wine to drink?
Something light, a little sweet and low in alcohol. Moscato d'Asti is the classic answer.
What wine tastes the least like wine?
Sweet, fizzy and fruity styles such as Moscato d'Asti or Brachetto d'Acqui. Or a spritz, where the wine is one part of the drink.
What is a good sweet red wine for someone who doesn't like wine?
Brachetto d'Acqui or Lambrusco amabile, served cold. For after dinner, a small glass of Ruby or Tawny Port.
Is sake a wine?
Not really. It is often called rice wine, but it is brewed from rice in a process closer to beer.
For wine lovers · next steps