The first thing that wine beginners need to know is that it is an acquired taste. There are more than a 1000 kinds of wine grapes and different wines have unique but complex aromas. Some will be infused with a flavour of cherry sauce while others will have an aroma of old saddle leather or smoked meat. Quite a few wines are blended with other wines. For instance a bottle of cabernet sauvignon is actually likely to have more than 20% of Merlot or other wines in it. These wine blends greatly enhance the taste of the wine but it can confuse wine beginners.
The best red wines to start off with are listed below. All these wines are high on flavour, are pocket friendly and have fruit flavours that we can identify easily and hence are ideal for beginners.
Garnacha (Grenache): The Grenache wine grapes grow in abundance in Spain and Southern France. This wine is moderately acidic, has a moderate body, is low in tannins and has less than 15% alcohol in it. The high acidity along with the rich and distinct notes of raspberry, grapefruit, candied cherry, berries and other citrus fruits makes this a deliciously mouth watering wine that entices wine beginners. People who want to experience the impact of acidity in their wines will surely love this wine.
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Zinfandel: Wine beginners should ensure that this Californian wine has about 15% Alcohol by Volume (ABV) before buying it. Yes, this wine is all about understanding the impact of alcohol on the flavour, aroma and texture of the wine. The distinct notes of raspberry, chocolate, pepper and cinnamon add the element of spiciness to the wine. This medium bodied wine is moderately acidic and has just the right amount of tannins that round off all the flavours. The alcohol in the wine gives a perception of body to the wine and leaves a deliciously tingling sensation on the tongue. The lingering sensation at the back of the throat will make you want to forget all your worries because you enjoy the sheer experience of this wonderful wine. Being a high alcohol wine, the viscosity of this wine will be higher and the wine will form thicker tears along the edges of the wine glass. Do keep in mind that even the sweetness of a wine increases the viscosity.
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Shiraz: This renowned varietal Australian wine is something that most wine collectors always dream of! It is a full bodied wine and the flavours are bold and distinctly different. This moderately acidic wine is also high in alcohol and the moderate levels of tannins balance the structure and character of the wine. The McLaren Valley and Barossa Valley of Australia are reputed for consistently producing excellent quality Shiraz wine. Wine beginners will automatically understand the meaning of a full bodied wine when they focus on the texture, taste and aroma of this wine. Hmmm…..wine does indeed have its own personality!!
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Monastrell: This Spanish wine is rarely found in the US. This intense dark red full bodied wine definitely transports us to the olden and golden days of the Old World. It has strong distinct rustic notes of roasted meats, tobacco smoke, blackberry, tar etc. A truly rich bodied, moderately acidic wine – it has around 13% of alcohol in it. It has a high level of tannin in it which lends a certain richness and boldness to this classic wine of yore. The depth, the character and the aromas of this wine truly intoxicate us!
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Petite Sirah: This Californian wine is rich bodied and has 15% alcohol by volume. It is moderately acidic and has a high level of tannins. These grapes are truly petite J because they are very small in size. The pulp generated from these tiny grapes is less compared to the skin and the seeds of the grapes – hence the tannin content is higher which lends the wine its unique colour. Wine beginners will surely understand the impact of tannins on their mouth – because it has a drying effect on the mouth and will stick to your tongue and teeth. If this sensation delights you – then you clearly have a preference for wines which are high in tannins. This wine is all about understanding tannins in wines.
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Carménère: Wine beginners will understand the meaning of herbaceous or green wines when they taste this Chilean wine. Carménère is a medium bodied moderately acidic wine which has moderate levels of tannins and alcohol in it. Carménère wine is usually bound to have strong distinct flavours of cherry or plum in it – but even a wine beginner can immediately identify the undertone of bell pepper, cloves and/or black cherries in the mix. The herby, grassy aromas are refreshing to experience and several wine producers infuse their wines with these subtle pleasing herbaceous notes.
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After enjoying the experience of tasting such diverse wines, we will surely appreciate the complex character and personality of each wine. Some people believe in simply enjoying the wine that they are sipping and yet there are others who insist on understanding the wine they are sipping. Whichever category we belong to – we are bound to enjoy our journey of sipping this heady heavenly nectar! Let’s raise a toast to all our wine makers before we say cheers and chill wine!