Moxie Vino

What wine should a beginner try?

Most beginners should start with something fruity and easy like Meiomi Pinot Noir for a red, Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc for a white, or Stella Rosa Moscato if you like it sweet.

There is no wrong place to start. The best first wine is one you actually enjoy, not the one someone told you to like. Pick the section that sounds like you, try a bottle, and notice what you like about it. That is the whole game.

If you like sweet

  • 1. Stella Rosa Moscato

    about $12

    MoscatoGood buy

    Sweet, peachy and lightly fizzy, with low alcohol. Tastes a bit like a grown-up soda. No shame in loving it.

  • 2. Barefoot Moscato

    about $7

    MoscatoGood buy

    Sweet, juicy and cheap. A great low-stakes way to find out if sweet wine is your thing.

If you like juicy reds

  • 3. Meiomi Pinot Noir

    about $22

    Pinot NoirGood buy

    Soft, jammy and smooth, with almost none of the drying feel that puts new red drinkers off. A great first "real" red.

  • 4. Apothic Red

    about $11

    Red blendGood buy

    Rich, smooth, with a hint of sweetness and chocolate. Easy to like on the first sip. Wine nerds roll their eyes, but plenty of people love it.

If you like crisp and light

  • 5. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc

    about $16

    Sauvignon BlancGood buy

    Zesty, tropical, very refreshing. If you like lemonade or grapefruit, start here.

  • 6. Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio

    about $25

    Pinot GrigioIt's fine

    Clean, light and lemony. Pricier than other Pinot Grigio, but it is the one you see on every restaurant list, so it is good to know.

If you like bubbles and pink

  • 7. La Marca Prosecco

    about $16

    GleraGood buy

    Fruity, fun, impossible to dislike. A good bottle to open with friends who are new to wine too.

  • 8. La Vieille Ferme Rosé

    about $9

    Grenache blendDrink this one

    Dry but fruity, light and cheap. A gentle introduction to rosé that is not sweet.

Good to know

Start with what you already like
Love sweet tea? Try Moscato. Love sour candy? Try Sauvignon Blanc. Your food tastes are a better guide than any wine chart.
Learn one word at a time
Begin with "dry", which just means not sweet. Once that clicks, the rest of the label gets a lot less scary.
Cold makes everything easier
Chill whites, rosé and bubbles properly, and give reds 15 minutes in the fridge. Cooler wine tastes smoother and fresher.
Keep track of what you like
Snap a photo of every bottle you enjoy. After five or six, you will start to see a pattern, and that is your taste.

More lists

Last checked 2026-10-04. Selection and prices vary by store and state.