If you're new to red wine or buying for someone who is, getting started can be overwhelming. With hundreds of grape varieties, numerous regions, and strong opinions, it's hard to know where to begin. This guide simplifies the process. It provides some suggestions for red wines for beginners and explains what makes each style approachable.
Discover the Best Red Wine for Those New to Wine
Your Guide to Enjoying Red Wine
When you’re introducing red wine to a non-wine drinker, focus on three factors:
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Tannins give wine its texture, bitterness and general mouthfeel. Lower tannin wines feel smoother and are less bitter which often make red wines with low tannins a better choice for beginners.
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Acidity. Generally, if you’re new to wine, finding a balanced (medium acidity) wine will be more enjoyable than venturing into a wine that is overly acidic or lacking acidity.
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Fruity flavors. Every palette is different but generally, a fruit forward wine will be more enjoyable if you’ve just started drinking red wine.
Start with a smooth and fruity red wine. Red wine should be slightly chilled (14–16°C) to soften the alcohol and enhance the fruit flavors.
Top Red Wines for Beginners
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Pinot Noir – Pinot noirs are known for their low tannin levels and fruit forward flavors. Cloud Nine Pinot Noir is a reasonably priced, easy drinking Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir is a very fickle grape to grow and it is very popular so its price point is generally higher than other red wines.
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Beaujolais - Another variety of red wine with low tannins. Beaujolais wine is made from the Gamay grape and these are typically smooth with ripe fruit characteristics. Climate change and current winemaking choices show a trend towards more structured Beaujolais, even in the “village” level or entry level category. So we’ve appreciated Domaine de Fuisse Julienas Gamay for its refined tannins and fruit forward classic notes.
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Chianti – Chianti’s are easy to pair with an assortment of dishes. La lupinella chianti docg is a nice medium bodied wine with light tannins.
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Malbec is another great choice for beginners. They tend to be low in tannins making the texture approachable and are fruit forward. Casarena '505' malbec is one of our most popular wines because of the value it provides at an amazing price.
Smooth and Approachable Reds
Starting with Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is one of the most recommended red wine varieties to try for beginners because its soft texture and fruit forward flavors are so familiar.
If you’re comparing options, look for a lighter colour and moderate alcohol (ABV between 13%-14%) —these Pinot’s are often the easiest drinking Pinot Noirs. Angeline Pinot Noir is a fruity Pinot that is easy to drink.
Best Burgundy Wines to Try First
Burgundy is the top location for Pinot Noir. Some of the world’s best wines are Pinot Noirs from Burgundy. They can be a splurge, especially as you move up in the different levels (for example premier cru) but we think it’s important for anyone getting into wine to try some entry level Bourgogne Rouge. Justin Girardin Bourgogne Pinot Noir provides excellent value and shows the classic Burgundian markers that Pinot Noir lovers seek out.
Pairing tip: Pairs well with most meats; poultry (especially duck), pork, lean red meat and fatty fish dishes. Great with mushroom dishes! An excellent option for charcuterie boards.
Best Cabernet Sauvignon for Beginners
Cabernet Sauvignon’s aren’t typically the best choice for beginners but when blended with Merlot or Cabernet Franc, which soften tannins and add roundness, they can be a nice selection. Redstone Merlot Cabernet from Ontario is an excellent example of how winemaking can impact wine styles. This is a fresh, approachable red, great for beginners.
Place matters a lot as well, look for warmer climate Cabs like California, Australia or Chile when seeking out rounder styles. Sand Point Cabernet Sauvignon is a very fruity expression of a Californian Cabernet without the heavy alcohol.
Pairing tip: Cabernet Sauvignon goes well with rich, fatty foods because of the tannins. So if you are selecting a Cabernet Sauvignon blend or style for its lighter tannins select leaner cuts of meat.
Best Bordeaux Wines to Try First
Bordeaux is one of the top wine regions in the world and famous for their red wines. They are known for their fine wines that can age decades. However, Bordeaux doesn’t have to mean expensive or that you need to cellar every bottle before enjoying! Chateau Courteillac Bordeaux Rouge is a medium bodied, fruit forward Bordeaux. It’s an excellent choice for beginners.
Traditionally, right-bank styles (Merlot-led) are softer; left-bank (Cabernet-led) brings a bit more structure. In general these reds will be more powerful than a lot of other red wines. Even the Merlot dominate wines could surprise you. We recommend coming into the store and allowing us to walk you through our full line up and maybe even taste some wine.
Buying Tip: Just starting out? Look at Bordeaux from Entre-des-Mers or smaller appellations for outstanding value.
Tips for Exploring Red Wine
Five Practical Tips for Exploring Red Wine
The more you explore, the more confident you’ll feel choosing and enjoying red wine.
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Drink your red wines at the right temperature for their body and style. Try chilling a lighter red (like Beaujolais) for 15 minutes in the fridge versus serving it at room temp—you’ll notice how freshness and fruit flavours shift. Even full bodied reds should be served just under room temp.
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Taste side by side. Open two different red wines with friends (such as Pinot Noir and Chianti) and compare them. You’ll train your palate much faster than drinking wines in isolation.
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Pair with food. Red wine often shows best with food. Pizza, pasta, roasted chicken, or cheese boards will highlight flavours you might miss when sipping alone.
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Note your preferences. Keep track of whether you like fruitier, earthier, smoother, or more structured wines. Over time, you’ll spot clear patterns.
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Taste a wide range of wines by attending a tasting! Coming to our Monthly Wine Tasting Club is a sure way to develop tasting chops and to try several different wines without thinking about the labels or regions.
Good Starter Red Wine Options
Here are beginner-approved bottles that match the profiles above and are easy to love from first sip:
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Valpolicella Classico (Veneto) – bright cherry, gentle tannins; chill slightly and it’s pizza-night magic: Brigaldara Valpolicella Classico.
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Pinot-like option – Looking to branch out from your favorite Pinot Noir? Volcanic Nerello Mascalese from Mount Etna gives similar delicacy: Pietradolce Etna Rosso.
Sweet tooth? Most classic red wines are dry, but certain grapes and regions can produce wines that feel sweet. Chilean Merlot or Argetenian Malbec are good options. .
Otherwise, opt for fruit-forward dry wines like Primitivo aka Zinfandel—they deliver ripe berry flavours that mimic sweetness without added sugar, offering a beginner-friendly red with a sweet profile.
Why Shop With Cork Fine Wines?
Handpicked Reds for All Wine Lovers
Cork is an independent boutique with a curated selection of wines, so you’re not sifting through endless duplicates. Staff can steer you to the best red wine for beginners based on what you cook, how you entertain, and the flavours you already like (berries vs. plums, baking spice vs. herbs). That’s how you discover your “best red wine.”
Free Weeky Wine Tastings:
Cork offers two weekly wine tastings: Thirsty Thursday and Fancy Friday. You can stop by anytime between 1 - 6 pm to taste that week’s selection. Share your opinion on what you are tasting, you might not know the technical words to use but we can help translate and find you wines you love.
Great-Tasting Red Wines at an Affordable Price
Looking for value? Start with the store’s 25 under $30 page—an easy way to grab a good red wine for beginners without overthinking it. Many of these are the exact styles people mean when they search “best red wine for starters,” or “best red wine beginners,”Open the list here: 25 Wines Under $30.
Red Wine Selection FAQ (Beginner Edition)
What’s the best red wine to try for beginners?
Pinot Noir is a great place to start. If you prefer fruitier, bolder flavors, Primitivo/Zinfandel is a great next step.
Is there a single “best red wine to drink for beginners”?
Not universally—but any light-bodied, low-tannin red served slightly chilled is a safe bet. That’s why lists of the best red wines for beginners almost always start with Pinot, Merlot or Beaujolais.
What about Merlot—what’s the “best Merlot for” beginners?
Look for unoaked or lightly oaked Merlot with 13–14% ABV.
I want the best smooth red wine for beginners—what do I ask for in-store?
Ask for something light, low-tannin with medium acidity.
Do I need to spend a lot?
No. There are many incredible bottles of wine between $18 and $30. If you’re in Calgary, stop by Cork Fine Wines or shop online with us. If you’re in another city find your local wine shop, a good boutique store generally carries great wines at a range of prices.
A simple first-month tasting plan
Buy our Red Wine Starter Kit! These wines are constantly rotating to ensure we are using the best products and the best price. Each kit comes with 6 red wines for beginners complete with tasting notes, recommended pairings and a little history about the wine.
This quick guide highlights a few beginner-friendly red wines, by the end, you’ll know whether you prefer light, medium or bold red wines.
Where to shop and how to use this page
All the examples are available on Cork’s site—click, read tasting notes, and add to cart with no guesswork. Start with the beginner picks listed here, then filter by grape or region on the Red Wine collection. If you’re shopping on a budget, anchor your choices with the 25 under $30 list and move up from there. This straightforward approach cuts through the confusion and delivers real, enjoyable bottles for every beginner’s palate
