10 Best Red Wines For People Who Don’t Like Wine

Published on April 20, 2017 at 10:48 am by Amber Hewitt in Lists

If you love to whine but you hate drinking wine, you might like some of the best red wines for people who don’t like wine.

I love the sentiment of a good glass of red wine, but seeing as I’m allergic to it, I don’t see it being something I can properly enjoy. I do, however, love the idea of sitting on a big white couch with a glass of red wine and having a book club meeting with a group of friends. There’s something about it that sounds really appealing to me. It also reminds me of Scandal because they use those large wine glasses from Crate and Barrel that look incredible. They have a large glass bit and then a long stem, which I kind of want to buy just to drink cranberry juice out of because it would make me feel very classy and fancy.

10 Best Red Wines For People Who Don't Like Wine

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People who enjoy wine are quite particular about the flavor notes and the specific types. I have friends who study wine and love going to restaurants or wine bars to try new kinds or enjoy a very expensive bottle as a treat. I find it so strange that a bottle of liquid could be over $100, but I guess it’s something I don’t necessarily understand. It’s perfectly fine if you’re not into wine at all, especially if you’re younger and haven’t developed a palette for it. It’s one of those things that I think you have to develop a taste for in order to properly enjoy. Wine, especially red wine, doesn’t really go down as easily as some of the sweet alcoholic drinks for beginners.

In order to create this list of best red wines for people who don’t like wine, we look a look at a forum on Yelp that gave recommendations for different red wines. The wines on this list are primarily fruity and sweet, which means they’re not dry, bitter, or have any flavor notes that could be offensive or just take some time to adjust to properly. These types of wines tend to be fairly inexpensive as well, so if you want to dabble in the wine world, you might want to take a look at some of these recommendations to try out at home or feel fancy when you go to a restaurant with your friends.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best red wines for people who don’t like wine.

10. Earthquake Petite Sirah

This wine got its name from the historical San Francisco earthquake. The prominent flavors are blueberry, blackberry, vanilla, and chocolate.

9. Bogle Petite Sirah

Bogle Petite Sirah has a blueberry flavor that’s infused with vanilla and nutmeg. The team behind it is a father and son duo named Chris and Warren Bogle.

8. Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is a popular and solid move when it comes to wine. You might think of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt or the movie Sideways when you hear this name. It’s best produced in the Burgundy region of France where they refer to this wine as Red Burgundy instead of Pinot Noir.

7. Zinfandel

Zinfandel comes from Croatia and it’s now widely made in California. It has a very fruit flavor. Zinfandel grapes are physically similar to Primitivo grapes, but the two aren’t related. This wine is light and pretty easy to drink.

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6. Beaujolais

This wine got its name from the Beaujolais region in France. There are varieties of it made by different producers that use Gamay grapes or raspberries with cherries, so it has a sweet taste.

5. Merlot

Merlot is sweet and easy to drink. French winemakers mix Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, but when introduced in California, the winemakers used Merlot grapes alone rather than mixing it. This is a classic option and definitely one of the best red wines for people who don’t like wine.

4. Barbera

Barbera has a dark color, but a light taste. The specific flavor varies depending on the winemaking technique, so it can taste rich and powerful or quite soft. It goes with any type of food, so it’s a flexible option.

3. Malbec

The flavors infused in Malbec vary depending on the country. Argentinian Malbec is infused with blackberry, plum, and black cherry, while Malbec from the Cahors region in France is infused with tart currant, black plum, and savory bitterness. It could also include chocolate, coffee, and even tobacco.

2. Lambrusco

Lambrusco ranks second in our list of best red wines for people who don’t like wine. It is sparkly and semi-sweet. This wine varies from one region to another because the type of grape used will change. It’s a wine that can be paired with any meal, so it’s never a bad choice.

1. Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic choice and a great red wine option. You can mix it with Merlot to create a Bordeaux blend if you wish. It’s a dark wine that tastes of cherries and vanilla. It’ll make you feel fancy when you order it at a restaurant, too!

That concludes our list of the best red wines for people who don’t like wine. If you’re looking to class up a dinner party or try some new options on your next night out, try one of the options from this list. You’re not likely to be disappointed.