The 5 Best Red Wines For Beginners

These five red wines not only taste amazing, but they teach us something useful about wine and our sense of taste. After watching this, you’ll learn the fundamentals of what red wines you like. Bonus: all of these beginner wines are between $10 and $45 - with insightful clues throughout the video to help figure out what traits to look for in future bottles.

What's In This Video?

Let’s start with Syrah, or Shiraz as it's often labeled in Australia, with loads of anthocyanins (color-producing pigments), adding depth with its dark color and tannins. Plus, this bottle highlights the interesting differences between cool and hot climates. For this video, we chose a hot-climate Australian Shiraz that’s richly fruity, which is often more approachable for newer wine enthusiasts.

Then there’s Zinfandel, one of the few Croatian grapes to go mainstream, particularly in the U.S. or Italy, where it goes by the name Primitivo. It's known worldwide for its high alcohol content and sweet, brambly fruit notes. It's great for discovering the effects of warmer climates on grape varieties.

The next wine is a juicy, bold wine packed with red fruit flavors: Spanish Garnacha. Although Garnacha is often blended in famous wines like Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it’s a superstar on its own, showcasing a powerful terroir that introduces you to complex flavor layers.

Next, Chilean Carménère brings something different. Often loved or disliked because of its greenish aromas — think bell pepper and cocoa powder — Carménère offers an insight into the Bordeaux grape family.

Finally, we present Pinot Noir, a light, aromatic wine that’s all about the nose, often described as “the sniffer’s wine.” Due to its delicate nature, the quality of Pinot Noir can vary, which is why it’s worth investing in a higher-quality bottle for the full experience.

After watching, you’ll know not only what red wines you like, but also what qualities to seek in future bottles!