Wine newbie….

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Rather cold, and I think would rather red…

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What are you considering “cold.” My wine fridge is 55 degrees and I don’t consider that cold.

Probably start with a Pinot noir or zinfandel. They can be chilled in the fridge for an hour or 2 before serving, but I wouldn’t store them in there much longer and have them actually cold.

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Never bought wine so idk what idk…

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You probably need to start with a White Zinfandel or Rose'. Try them out for a while and move on to a light Pinot Noir. No ice cubes though.

Start out by going to free or cheap wine tastings to figure out what you like. If you live near a Total Wine, they do tastings monthly for $20. At the Total Wine tastings, you can taste 8 wines (4 red, 4 white) and you will learn about wine regions, wine making, etc. which will help you identify what suits your tastes and what doesn't. Good luck.

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The best way to learn about wine is to drink wine. And don't waste your money early on, like I did 40 years ago, buying expensive bottles. You won't fully appreciate them at this point.

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I agree with this. And will add that if you are new to wine, the cheaper options are probably better for your purposes at this point because they are blended to be consistent over time. This gives you a sort of “average Pinot Noir” experience rather than a specific Pinot from a specific place at a specific point in time which is what you are more likely to get with more expensive bottles.

Drink as many different varieties as you can. It’s the only way to determine what type of wine you like. And once you figure out which varietals you enjoy you can start exploring different producers, regions, vineyards, and vintages.

And don’t put too much emphasis on ratings and opinions at this point. You will like what you like. A good wine is one that you enjoy drinking. And your enjoyment will grow as you drink more and have more experiences to compare the current glass or bottle to.

I would also encourage you to try a frizzante. It’s a sparkling red meant to be chilled. Think of a red champagne (but it’s not really that). Might fit the bill for what you are looking for. Above all, have fun!

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Start with Nero D'Avola and go from there.

Most red is served/consumed too warm, most white is too cold. My advice is to start with one brand that has a somewhat manageable price range and see what they have to offer for the white and red varietals. I'd go with Bogle, but others may dismiss that as trash.

Most people start on the sweeter end other spectrum and work their way to better dry wines.

Most people start with white over red in my experience.


I would try fruit forward wines. If you want red, something with the grape Gamay from Beaujolais in France. I think that is a really easy start.

Rhone Valley can be a good start too. The Guigal Rouge is a cheap, good, entry level wine for that region.