What are the best wines for people new to wine?
We all begin as wine novices; here are some tips to improve your tasting journey
Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, but you can call me Vinny. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the fine points of etiquette to the science of winemaking. And don't worry, I'm no wine snob—you can also ask me those "dumb questions" you're too embarrased to ask your wine geek friends! I hope you find my answers educational, empowering and even amusing. And don't forget to check out my most asked questions and my full archives for all my Q&A classics.
Dear Dr. Vinny,
I’m a 30-year-old male interested in getting into wine. Do you have any suggestions on what wines I should start with?
—Glenn, Hartford, Conn.
Dear Glenn,
Welcome to the club of wine lovers! We’re happy to have you here.
No matter who you are, let me start by giving you some of the best advice I got when I was a budding wine lover: Make every sip count.
I’m an old wine advice columnist, so for me that meant I kept a handwritten journal of all the wines I drank. I did my best to describe them, even if it was just cataloging the situation where I tried the wine to help remember my impressions.
Even if you don’t have a vocabulary to get into the details, creating a scale or point system or even a yum, yuck or meh will be helpful. After a while, you should be able to notice your preferences for certain types of wines, grapes, regions and so forth.
If a journal is too analog for you, start taking images of bottles with your phone. Maybe even a thumbs up or thumbs down in the images will help you? As you keep trying different wines, you’ll develop reference points for your taste that can help guide your next purchases. All of this will help you drink more of what you like and discover wines you love that you didn’t even know existed.
My next piece of advice is to find a place to buy wine where you can talk with someone about what you’ve recently enjoyed and get guidance on what to try next. This could be in person, but many online retailers also offer knowledgeable support.
You might also explore a winery you already like and sample other wines they produce. Being able to confidently describe a wine you’ve enjoyed gives you a valuable starting point as you navigate the vast world of wine.
I think in the beginning, you should start with approachable (read: affordable) wines until you get a better understanding of your preferences. You might start with a survey of different grapes (try a few Chardonnays, or Pinot Noirs, or Syrah-based wines) or regions (explore the various regions of Italy or New Zealand). Or both!
In the meantime, look for local tasting groups and other opportunities to taste wine with others. Or start your own tasting group where everyone brings a bottle of wine based on a theme. Maybe you could try the wines in blind tastings so you’re not distracted by your expectations.
Perhaps most of all, remember to keep an open mind. A lot of people start out thinking they don’t like sweet wines or oaky wines—or, on the other hand, that they only like sweet or oaky wines. But the truth is that there are so many great wines out there, in a wide range of styles. The older I get, the more I find that meeting a wine on its own terms leads to maximum wine pleasure, which is what’s it’s all about at the end of the day.
Might I also suggest some reading material? There’s tons of great content on our website and in our print magazine. I would especially recommend our Sips & Tips and Wine IQ newsletters, which are full of great content for people just getting into wine. And of course, I’m here to help if you have any questions along the way.
—Dr. Vinny
