What is a good wine for a beginner?

Question

We have many friends who do "the wine thing" and I have never gotten into it. The dryness and tart flavors keep me from enjoying it. What would be a good wine for me? I love fruit, light flavors-not the heavy, woody, smoky stuff. I'm tired of being the bum at dinner who doesn't order wine and gets a martini! Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

If you don't enjoy the "heavy, woody, smokey stuff" stay away from reds and go with the sweeter white wines.  When out to dinner and you wish to try a wine ask for Riesling or white Zinfandel.

There are many people like yourself that do not like wine, don't feel bummed out when ordering.

I personally love wine, but never question those I am with for ordering a good Manhatten or Martini at dinner, I'm sure your friends understand.

Answer 2

start with blushes (rose) and go from there - a very sweet grapey wine to start with would be a niagra.  If your out to dinner ask for their "house blush" or a "white zinfandel"  

Answer 3

If you are just at home I would try Arbor mist it is almost like juice.  Out to dinner I would try Riesling, it is really sweet and mild.  

Answer 4

Try a medium sweet white wine

Answer 5

Try a Beaujolais or Pinot Nor.  They're much lighter red wines than cabs, merlots and especially zinfandels.  ...  If you don't care what your friends think of you, you can also order a "white zinfandel", which is really just a pink party wine

Answer 6

If you're not too hip on the dry/tart issue, try a sangiovase (red) or a reisling (white), to begin with.

Not everyone enjoys wine; some never can get past the tanins and the dry parts.  

There are some newer wines made from fruits; one of my favorites is an apple/pear wine; it's called SweetPea and it's made by Precepts Brand wines.  You can usually find some of these "exotics" at whole foods stores.

I say go to a local wine tasting and give a few wines a sip or two.  They're fun, and you can get quite an education at them...and maybe find a few wines that you learn to like.

Answer 7

A dessert wine sounds like it might be what you are looking for. Maybe Lost Angels, Muscat Canelli grapes is a great one. Also any Muscadine wines are sweeter and have a good taste. Merlot, and Cabernet Savigon, they are dry wines and you have to develop a taste for them. Order up some Alize' it is a fruity Cognac, and cognacs are made from wine. Pinot Grigio wines are a little better than the dry but they are still not as sweet as the dessert wines.