Red Wine For Beginners: 12 Gorgeous Wines & Styles To Start With

by Hunter Robillard

Want to explore the world of red wine and not sure where to start?

Finding the perfect red wine for beginners can be slightly intimidating with the astounding number of red grape varieties and wine styles available.

Should you start with a Pinot Noir, a Syrah, or a Zinfandel? Should you go for a light-bodied one or a fuller-bodied one?

This article takes a quick look at red wine, the different types, as well as 12 gorgeous red wines to try right away!

The Best Types Of Red Wine For Beginners

To make it simpler to know which style would work best for a beginner, we’ve split the different red wine varieties into three types based on their “body.”

“Wine body” refers to how heavy the flavor will feel in your mouth and how it pairs with dishes. It results from the grapes used, alcohol content, and sweetness levels.

Let’s look at the different types of red wine varieties and which ones you can enjoy as a wine beginner.

Light-Bodied Red Wines
Medium-Bodied Red Wines
Full-Bodied Red Wines

1. Light-Bodied Red Wines

A light-bodied red wine is the perfect red wine for beginners because of its low tannin levels.

These lighter wines don’t require any food pairings and are simply delicious on their own.

Some light-bodied varietal wines you can try:

Pinot Noir is a light dry red wine with higher acidity and bold aromas. This grape variety is grown almost everywhere, generally alongside Chardonnay, and each region produces its unique Pinot wine. The typical flavors from Pinot Noir include red fruit, earth, and herbs.
Beaujolais red wines are made with Gamay grapes and are the perfect red wine substitute for a Chardonnay or Pinot Gris. Beaujolais wines are popular at Thanksgiving feasts since their high acidity and red berry flavors pair perfectly with a turkey dinner.
Lambrusco is an Italian-born sweet red wine that usually comes in a frizzante style (a slightly sparkling wine.) The Lambrusco grape varietal is also used to make delicious fortified wine - the perfect dessert wine for your next event.
St. Laurent is an underrated light red wine from Austria that boasts gorgeous cherries, berries, and baking spice flavors. St. Laurent is similar to Pinot Noir but with bigger and bolder flavors.

If you want to serve these lighter wines at an event - they pair wonderfully with cheese boards, burgers, pulled pork, white meat (roasted), cured meat, and pizza.

2. Medium-Bodied Red Wines

These red wines are considered the middle-ground of the red wine world. While they have slightly more tannins than a light-bodied red wine, the flavors aren’t too complex.

Here are some gorgeous medium-bodied varietals you could try at your next dinner.

Merlot is an easy-going medium-bodied wine that pairs with almost any food. Typical Merlot wines have delicious flavors of chocolate and cherry and soft tannins.
Cabernet Franc is a French grape often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to make the famous Bordeaux wines. But as a varietal wine, Cabernet Franc boasts flavors of green pepper and herbs with higher acidity.
Red Zinfandel is popular for its candied fruit, jammy flavors, and spicy tobacco finish. Zinfandel also has high acidity, mid-range tannin levels, and higher alcohol content. A perfect red to try if you are a fan of rich Chardonnay wines.
Barbera is the underrated red wine from Northern Italy that is very affordable for a red wine beginner. It is a complete people pleaser with rich and juicy fruity flavor and natural acidity.

A medium-bodied red wine pairs wonderfully withroast chicken, Italian dishes, roast vegetables, BBQ dishes, curries, and mushroom risottos.

3. Full-Bodied Red Wines

Because of its high tannin volume, a full bodied wine is the heaviest on the palate and not the best option for a red wine beginner.

These bold wines also come with higher alcohol content and are more for the experienced red wine drinker.

If you do want to try a delicious full-bodied red wine, here are some varietals to look out for:

Cabernet Sauvignon is the king of full-bodied red wines. Grown and produced in every corner of the world, this dry wine has a big body and bold flavors.
Malbec wine has started to become popular in the last 15 years. This red wine has stunning dark fruit flavors and has a slightly spicy finish.
Shiraz, or Syrah wines, are popular wines with powerful fruit and spice flavors. The high tannins in this wine help it age well, and it has a healthy serving of antioxidants - making it a healthier alcoholic beverage. There is also a Shiraz sparkling wine for those wine lovers who enjoy a bit of fizz.
Petite Sirah is grown mainly in California and produces a very tannic wine with loads of flavors of blueberries, cocoa, black peppers, and crushed rocks.

Serve your full bodied wine with marinated steak, beef empanadas, fatty blue cheese, spicy grilled chicken, and bold dishes.

Ready to find a good wine for you to start your red wine journey with?

12 Gorgeous Red Wines To Try (For Beginners)

Here is a list of our favorite bottles of red wine for beginners to try in 2023.

2011 San Giusto a Rentennano 'La Ricolma' Merlot Toscana IGT
2007 Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Rouge
2012 Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
2019 Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Gamay
2017 Domaine Louis Claude Desvignes Morgon Javernières Les Impénitents
2013 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Garnacha
2005 Lini 910 In Correggio Rosso Metodo Classico Millesimato
2017 Ridge Vineyards Paso Robles Zinfandel
2012 Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir
2009 Casa Montes Ampakama Malbec
2014 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet - Shiraz
2015 Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Petite Sirah

Quick Tip: Using the right red wine glass makes all the difference when tasting wine.

1. 2011 San Giusto a Rentennano 'La Ricolma' Merlot Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy ($189)

This gorgeous Italian red wine has intense aromas of plums, dark currants, and blueberries. It has a powerful palate with notes of ripe berry fruit, chewy tannins, and a hint of herbs in the finish.

2. 2007 Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy, France ($172)

This fruity wine opens up with notes of cherries, berries, and a hint of floral aromas. Enjoy red fruit, purple fruit, and spice notes on the palate. It has a nice balance of acidity and tannin on the finish.

3. 2012 Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA ($86)

This Cabernet has a purple-black color in the wine glass and is the perfect Cabernet Sauvignon for beginners. It opens with a creamy mocha, cedar, vanilla, and anise aroma. The palate has lavish tasting notes of dark berry, black licorice, and plum, which lead to a seductive finish.

4. 2019 Domaine Leroy Bourgogne Gamay, Burgundy, France ($67)

This affordable Domaine Leroy red wine opens up with aromas of violets, crushed rock, and dark berry fruit. The structured palate has a fantastic freshness and a hint of bitterness in the finish.

5. 2017 Domaine Louis Claude Desvignes Morgon Javernières Les Impénitents, Beaujolais, France ($50)

The flagship wine from the iconic French estate has enticing aromas of wild fresh strawberries, herbs, and licorice. It has a complex palate with fruity flavors and a perfectly balanced finish.

6. 2013 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Garnacha, Campo de Borja, Spain ($42)

This modern Garnacha wine opens up with savory berry, hickory, and balsamic aromas. There are exquisite flavors of licorice, blackberry, and toasty oak on the palate and a savory finish.

7. 2005 Lini 910 In Correggio Rosso Metodo Classico Millesimato, Emilia-Romagna, Italy ($39)

This gorgeous purple-red colored sparkling wine opens up with herbs, spices, underbrush, and fruity notes. It has an austere palate that develops deep and varied flavors.

8. 2017 Ridge Vineyards Paso Robles Zinfandel, San Luis Obispo County, USA ($39)

This bold Zinfandel wine opens with fresh fruity aromas of currants and ripe cherries. It has a medium to full-bodied palate, juicy fruit flavor, ripe tannins, and a seductive finish.

9. 2012 Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Burgundy, France ($20)

This light-bodied wine has a pale crimson color, red fruit, and floral aroma. It has refreshing notes of raspberry and ripe strawberries on the palate.

10. 2009 Casa Montes Ampakama Malbec, San Juan, Argentina ($12)

The aromas of this Argentinian Malbec will make you think of fresh red fruit and baked fruit. This medium-bodied wine has a lively palate, with notes of berry, black cherry, and a finish with a hint of chocolate.

Want to dive straight into the world of full-bodied red wine - try these gorgeous red wines

11. 2014 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet - Shiraz, South Australia ($64)

This Cabernet wine has fruity aromas of blackberry, plum, blueberry, and boysenberry. It has a plethora of oak-derived spices, fleshy dark fruit flavor, and rich, ripe tannin on the palate.

12. 2015 Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Petite Sirah, Dry Creek Valley, USA ($44)

This gorgeous Petite Sirah opens up with notes of tobacco, mint, lavender, smoke, and creme de cassis. It has a concentrated palate with tasting notes of blackberry, blueberry, minerality, violets, and graphite, leading to a persistent finish.

Want to find out more about the world of red wine?

A Few Quick Facts About Red Wine For Beginners

Let’s take a quick look at how red wine is different from white wine and the sweetness levels.

3 Main Factors That Set Red Wine Apart From White Wines

Acidity levels preserve the red wine and give it a refreshing flavor. Acidity is the “sour” taste in red wines that balances the sweet and bitter flavors and the tannin levels.
Tannins are acquired during the fermentation stage and give the red wine structure and a smooth, well-integrated, or rustic texture.
Color: Red wines get their signature color from the dark-skinned red grape varieties used during production. Colors range from pale red, vibrant purple, and even deep maroon.

Red wines are also known for being on the drier side, but you’ll find plenty of sweet reds as well.

Red Wine Sweetness Levels

As a beginner, a sweet- or semi-sweet-red wine would be easier on your palette than a dry one.

To find a sweet red wine, you can look at the residual sugar amount that is displayed on the label:

Very Dry (0% sweetness): These red wines have very little residual sugar and are perfect for those who prefer a very dry wine.
Off-Dry (1-2% sweetness): These are for the wine drinker who enjoys the dryness of wine with a lot of body.
Medium (3-4% sweetness): These are easy-drinking red wines (Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot) and have the perfect balance of sweet and dry.
Sweet (5-6% sweetness): These wines have a notable amount of residual sugar. A bottle of Port (a fortified wine) with hints of peaches, apricot, and berries will be the perfect first sweet red wine to try.
Very Sweet (7% or more sweetness): The ultimate dessert wine - think Lambrusco, Tawny Port or Ruby Port. You can even compare this to the sweetness of white wines like Riesling, Moscato d'Asti, or Gruner Veltliner.

The World Of Red Wine Is Yours To Discover!

If you are still unsure which wine is the best for you to try first, start your journey with sweet wine, or maybe a delicious Rose Wine. Once you have found your favorite grape varietal, you can then explore other blends, wineries, and regions.

Besides being endlessly enjoyable for a wine lover, red wines could also be a profitable option for those dabbling in wine investment.

If you want to explore more about investing in different kinds of red wine, visit the Vinovest website today.