17 Jun Wine Guide for Beginners
If you have just ventured into the world of wines, there are chances that you are very bewildered. Wine is largely an acquired taste for most people. If you want to learn how to appreciate all the different wine flavours before you move forward, it’s best that you start out with the lighter wines; that will help you appreciate the varied flavours.
Luckily, some of them are ideal ‘break-in’ wines; these can pave the way to a life-long appreciation of all types of wines. Here is a very simple wine guide for beginners that will help you get started on your journey into the world of wines.
Starting on the Right Foot
There is no one particular type of wine that will appeal to every beginner; in fact, there are a large number of flavourful and amazing wines that the budding wine enthusiast might want to try, before they move onto the more serious and heavy wines. There are a number of factors that can impact the enjoyment a beginner takes in wine:
Taste
If we have to get down to the basics, all wine is nothing but fermented grape juice. The flavour, aroma and body characteristics of a wine largely depends on the blend of grapes, the technique the vintner uses and the manner in which the wine is stored when it’s being aged. Beginners should stick to the less complex wines, till the time their taste buds get accustomed to relishing the varied flavours. The ones you can try at the outset are the single varietal wines that are also unoaked, such as Barbera, Grigio or Pinot.
Viscosity/Body
You might have heard people talk about the wine’s ‘mouth feel’. When they say this, they are actually referring to the viscosity level of the wine; whether it feels light or heavy in the mouth. Sauvignon Blanc and Beaujolais Nouveau are the lighter-bodied wines that beginners should start out with.
Aromatics
While not everyone wants to become a wine expert, if you are a wine lover, you are sure to be curious about the various subtle aromatic notes in different wines. Aromatics are dependent on factors such as the grapes used to make the wine, the terrior (region where that wine is grown) as well as the manner in which the wine has been aged. Grenache & Viognier are examples of highly aromatic wines.
Sweetness
Most beginners prefer wines that are slightly sweeter. You will find wines in a range of sweetness; this is dependent on its varietal, the time of harvest, residual sugar type of grapes used as well as the alcohol content. The off-dry wines such as Pinot Noir and Moscato d’Asti are an excellent entrée into wines, for beginners.
As someone who is just starting on experimenting with different wines and their flavours, you can start your wine drinking experience either with whites/reds. However, it’s better to start with whites as these wines are far lighter on the palate, compared to reds. Some excellent starter whites you might want to try are Pinot Grigio, Moscato d’Asti, German Riesling, Columbia Cellermaster’s Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc. As far as red wines for beginners are concerned, you can try Pinot Noirm, Syrah, Shiraz, or a Beaujolais Nouveau.
Identify the Wines you Love
The one thing to keep in mind when you are experimenting with all these different wines is that they are there for you to enjoy. Of course, you can start out with the ones we have just talked about or find your way around the world of wines in your own unique way.
For any information about wine cellars and cellaring wine, call Signature Cellars at 02 9340 7515. Alternatively, simply use this contact form to connect with us and we will get back to you shortly.
Thanks for reading,
Neil Smallman
Signature Cellars
02 9340 7515
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