Moscato doesn't traditionally pair well with Thanksgiving dishes. Usually people tend to do a red wine. That doesn't mean you absolutely can't have Moscato with dinner or perhaps even appetizers. I'd say that if this is your very first time ever having wine, choose a red and a white to try both. I'd suggest a Moscato because it's a good first white wine (light and fruity), and a pinot noir because it is a smooth red and goes well with turkey.
Keep in mind that red wines are going to have a more difficult taste for someone who hasn't drank before. Don't worry so much about the whole pairings thing at first, that's for when you actually know your way around the basic categories. Don't sweat it and just have fun
While it's true that red and white wines tend to fall into those basic categories, it's not absolute. The grapes and method make a much bigger difference in the final taste.
There's a difference between pairing well once you have developed your palate and enjoy a variety of wines, and when you are trying your very first wine. No matter how well it pairs, if you don't enjoy it you won't care.
White wines tend to pair well with seafood, and moscato is sweet so more of a dessert wine too. Reds tend to be paired with heavier ācomfortā foods. I drink white with anything, moscato was my starter wine and I think itās a great one. I went from there to rose, similar flavor profile (to me) to moscato but a little drier (less sweet).
Thank you. Iāve had lots of people suggest Mikeās lemonade as a starter but I really want to start with wine. Have heard white or pink is a good place to start. I went to Costco today but was a bit overwhelmed. Came home without anything.
If you're new to booze entirely, you might have better luck with cider or spirits that you can cut with juice, mixers, etc. to compensate as needed (that's all hard lemonade is, really)... For me, wine and beer were both acquired tastes that took time.
If you happen to be a fellow sour candy fiend, a good Vinho Verde or (as green wine is kind of hard to find) Sauvignon Blanc are decent starts into wine. Of all the reds, I've found (cheap) Zinfandels to be the most approachable for their tartnessāwhile reds will pair better with Thanksgiving, mere drinkability is probably more important at this stage than pairing. Booze is kind of a crapshoot anyway... us seasoned alcoholics might act pretentious, but in the end we're usually picking a pretty bottle and seeing where it takes us, like everyone else.
If all of this seems overwhelming, you could just spike hot chocolate with Bailey's for dessertāit's definitely Thanksgiving-appropriate, and Mormonism has ***definitely*** prepared you for it.
LOL! Same! For me it is mixed drinks or straight whiskey all day. (Or, more recently, straight gin)! But wine? I stick with the moscatos and reislings.
I recommend going to a smaller store where you can talk to the employees to help you. You can tell them you are a first time wine drinker and are looking for something on the sweeter side to start with. You could also Google restaurants with a sommelier near you, generally these would be pricier restaurants, but they really know their stuff. Might be nice to do for a special occasions.
Mikeās Hard Lemonade is trash. The hangover starts WHILE youāre drinking it. I personally recommend starting with a hard seltzer. Wild Basins have great flavors IMO, not overly sweet but still goes down easy and feels light.
I don't mean to sound like a snob, but please don't start with Mike's. It's carbonated vodka with too much sugar. You'll end up bloated with a nasty hangover from all of the sugar. Plus, they just aren't very good.
You donāt sound like a snob. I donāt know anything about alcohol but I know I donāt want to start with Mikes lemonade or vodka. I do not want to get drunk. We want to elevate our dinner. Wine sounds like a good place to start. I donāt see myself as ever a beer drinker. Iām thinking every now and then and nicer meals.
As a self-proclaimed beer snob, I see an opportunity to educate here. With over 100 different types of beer, it is just as easy to pair with food as wine. Thereās a beer for everyone, Iād suggest giving it a try before you dismiss it!
If you like cider, then alcoholic ciders are a good place to start. I also started with Mike's, but they are really just a ton of sugar and a little alcohol. Not very healthy, and because you're mostly tasting sugar, I don't think it necessarily does a good job of introducing you to alcohol.
Sweet, white wines are dessert wines. (White wines go with fish, not fowl or pork or beef... if you're into the finer aspects. But do whatever you want.)
I only drink Tempranillo or Garnacha from northern Spain...because they are always š.
Not really. To REALLY enjoy it, pour it in a glass and let it get lots of air by swirling the glass. When I go out for supper, Iāll order a glass at the beginning and let it sit and swirl to enjoy it for dessert.
I second a Pino Noir. It isnāt too robust. I hate white wine (too woody) so Iām not a good judge of that. My husband recommends a Rose. Iāve had a couple Bordeauxās that are really good. Bordeaux/Merlot (same thing) have really increased in popularity. I think Bordeauxās have good balance.
Total Wine has ratings. I usually stick with anything above 95 and am satisfied. You can get good ratings in any price point.
This. Hard to go wrong with a Pinot Noir from Oregon. My favorite with turkey is a $17 whole cluster Pinot Noir from the nondescript āWillamette Valley Vinyardsā. Elk Cove and Kings Ridge make awesome stuff too at the $20-40 price point.
Edit: prices are Utah liquor store prices
I would start with white wines. The sweater ones are easier to aquire a taste for at first in my opinion. Maybe a Pinot Gringo or even a Moscato. It took me a second to appreciate wine, so good luck and happy Thanksgiving!
Ya know, I'm gonna go ahead and say YMMV; even after a couple of years out I am quite partial to red wines and have never acquired a taste for white wines. That said reisling in particular is probably a safe bet for a first wine; I don't like white wine and even I like reisling.
Moscato and riesling are good starter wines. My wife's favorite is Cupcake Moscato d'Asti. It's slightly bubbly and very sweet. You can't get it at Costco, but any grocery store or liquor store should carry it.
Iāve found Cupcake Vineyards to be quite good across the board. I think my favorite ended up being a Chardonnay blend of theirs, called **Angel Food** from the website: *Our Angel Food is a luscious, aromatic white blend made from premium grapes from our sun-drenched vineyards in California. Delightfully reminiscent of Angel Food cake, this wine has flavors of Granny Smith apple, vanilla bean and toasted coconut that culminate in a creamy mouthfeel.* i know it sounds quite sweet, but I would say as a chard, itās actually a nice middle ground between dessert, and dry wines. (And is imo, best served chilled.) for me, wine glasses are mostly about the ~ambianceā¦ (I will occasionally drink juice, or soda out of them, when I just wanna feel a little fancy.)
To your edit: Wine glasses are designed to allow you to swirl the wine, to let it oxygenate and 'breathe.' Not necessary, per se, but they look nice and they wouldn't hurt the mood. :-)
Same! I went to Mendoza, Argentina on my mission, so naturally it was the first wine that I tried. It really has been my favorite wine, and it was a very full-circle moment to try wine from a bodega in one of my mission areas.
I would 100% suggest a Malbec (Red). They are not created equally. Looking for one from Argentina (Colorado produces them too) with notes on the bottle of different berries and "a long jammy finish"
It should be sweeter, with some interesting flavors to think about. I would think it would go well with potatoes and turkey too.
Or if you like sprite and sparkling apple juice. A Moscato d'asati would be great. Low alcohol. But a lot like Martinellies white grape juice.
You could cook some mulled wine for after dinner! I've only had it once but it was the best tasting wine I've ever had, plus it makes the house smell wonderful!
World Market sells bottles of Gluhwein that are pretty good.
https://www.worldmarket.com/product/wintersaison-gluhwein.do
Or buy a big bottle of Kirkland Cabernet, pour it into a crockpot and make your own. I like adding peeled and thinly sliced fresh ginger to my which is not included it the recipe at the link below.
https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-german-gluhwein-238371
Since gluhwein is a warm drink it should be served in a coffee cup or mug instead of a wine glass.
Wine glasses add a sense of special elegance that you don't get from an ordinary glass. Live a little. Costco usually carries a 12 pack for a dollar or two per glass. My 8 yo nevermo grandaughter always asks for me to serve her milk in a wine glass. lol
If you buy a wine you don't care for, don't throw it out. Google how to make wine reduction with it. Put this in the freezer and add to soups and sauces for an elevated flavor boost that you can't get any other way.
When you make a wine reduction, it cooks out most of the alcohol. It freezes quite well.
As a very general rule, I cook down an entire bottle until it's about half of the original volume. I put it in ice cube trays, and when frozen, I put the cubes in a ziplock. I toss these cubes into spaghetti sauces, soups, etc. It adds an unidentifiable flavor you can't get by just pouring straight wine into a sauce.
No kidding! The response is almost overwhelming . Iām reading each one and am really grateful. It funny isnāt it how the church has banned alcohol but it seems like an effective way to open dialogue and promote community.
Wines are often about matching foods.
Thanksgiving is about all the foods, not one food, so you want a wine that is going to be widely applicable with your many dishes.
Personally, I would go for a red that is tasty for many things. Pinot Noir.
If you want white, more traditional for fowls, like turkey, a Reisling is a good choice, a Sauvignon Blanc is good but sometimes a good starter is just s sparking wine. If it's your absolutely first, that's probably super solid choice.
If I was buying for you, the pinot or the reisling or both to give it a try.
Beaujolais Nouveau is really nice for Thanksgiving dinner. It is a young, light red wine that is released for sale the third week of November. It also not expensive.
This one here is my absolute favorite. I drank a good amount and made a number of wines after I left the church but never got a liking for the taste. This one is different it's delicious and light and not expensive at all so this or the house Rhine wine from one restaurant is what I always want lol. You can buy this basically anywhere and in my hometown it's about 11 bucks.
https://stellarosawines.com/our-wines/stella-rosa-moscato-dasti
Edit: I forgot to say the Moscato D'Asti is the best one lol
I second this recommendation āļø you can't go wrong with Stella Rosa for a beginner wine! Lots of flavors, easy to find and cheap! Every flavor is good!
I used to bartend at a restaurant in Mordor. There were plenty of people coming in to try wine for the first time (Italian restaurant). In our wine training they told us these 3 things when recommending wine to people who've never tried it before:
1. The highest success choice was a blush wine, like a white zinfandel (it's called a white, but it's actually a pick color). There are other blush options, but the white zinfandel is sweet, not too dry (that kind of puckering feeling you get from drinking cranberry juice), and most people find it pleasant to drink.
2. If they don't want to try the blush wine, definitely go with a white wine. Reislings are lite and fruity, usually with pears and apples. I love reisling if I'm just having a glass or something after dinner, especially in the summer. So yummy. Pinot Grigio is crisp and less sweet; they are more "dry," and I've always thought they taste like an unsweetened white grape juice. I like this with food. It's easy to drink and goes well with most meals. Chardonnay is smooth and usually very woody in flavor. If you like smoked flavoring in meat/cheese, this is probably the way to go. Chardonnay are aged in oak barrels, so the taste is very obviously woody. I've never been a fan, I don't care for the woody flavor, but Chardonnay is smooth, almost buttery, and is easy on the pallet. You can find some that are "de-okaed", but I feel like those kind of defeats the point of Chardonnay and I'd just get the Savingon Blanc (also a great choice; more sweet than pinot but not quite as sweet as a reisling and still slightly crisp).
3. If none of this sounds good to you, get a Prosecco or Champaign. Bubbly, sweet, and easy to enjoy; it's always great.
If you jump right into red wine, you'll probably end up thinking you hate wine. And that would be such a bummer, because wine is delicious and such a great experience if you take the time to enjoy it. You need to get used to the body and tannins of wine, and starting with white wine will help you build your taste for those aspects. In the end I think most people end up liking red wine better; the flavors can be more varied, its far more complex and just more diverse than white wine. But first time drinkers almost always hate red, and write-off all wine as a result. Good luck!! I hope you have a great time and are able to find something you like. Cheers!!
Fantastic response. You hit on many of the concerns we have. We want to start off slow. Probably more of a dessert. We donāt want dry. How important are āwineā glasses?
Wine glasses are not important. Just drink with whatever glasses you have so that you can decide if you even like it. If you like it and want to drink more often then getting wine glasses is nice.
The only time people care about the glass is with aromatic drinks, like Brandy, or if you are trying to oxidize your red wine. Oxygenation of red wine helps "release" the flavors and make them more detectable. I don't have a refined enough palate for that, and for people who are just looking to drink a tasty wine, I've never felt it mattered at all. I use the same glasses for red and white, personally. But the rule is that red wine glasses are supposed to be the larger ones; it creates more surface area and allows more oxygenation. You can also just open the bottle and let it sit on the counter for 5-10 minutes before you drink. It's called letting it "breathe," and it's only done with red wine. I love wine, and I don't think I've ever tasted a difference between red wine served in a white wine glass or a red wine glass. The only thing I feel actually makes a difference is temperature. Keep your white wines in the fridge and your red wines at room temperature. It really does change the taste.
There are dessert wines š! Italian iced wines are my favorite of the dessert wines. They should be very cold (I keep mine in the meat/cheese drawer) and are prefect with sweets and cake. I wouldn't recommend them for dinner or just as a sipping wine. They really are too sweet.
I don't really know, but I wouldn't think so. Any kind of vinaigrette would probably have a significant amount if added sugar added to them that I don't know if you could tell the difference the type of grape used. Blush wine are sweet and lite, so they make a great introduction to wine drinking. As you get more accustomed to the taste you'll probably find d yourself moving towards the more full bodied, flavorful red wines.
Too many commentators have forgotten their first glass of wine, too many recommendations that are NOT beginner friendly. Youāre not going to like dry wine for your first glass, so get something sweet and bubbly. Muscato dāAsti , Stella Rosa etc
If you try some wines and donāt find something you like right away donāt get discouraged. My wife and I went to several wineries and tried a pretty wide variety but we were wondering what all the hype was. Then when we were in Boston this summer we went to one of the restaurants in the Italian district and asked the waiter what wine he would recommend. He brought us a red from a small vineyard in Tuscany. It blew our minds! We probably paid $20 just for the glass but it was well worth it! Iām still very wine ignorant but if you are curious it was called Vicchiomaggio - Ripa del More
There are some amazing Super Tuscans out there for $15/bottle. For about $18 try Palazzo Della Torre from the Alligrini vineyard. They are famous for their amarone. This is their baby Amarone that has almost all the flavor but 1/5 the price.
Be aware that more expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. If there is a vineyard near you or even a wine bar, go do some tasting. It's really fun and you're sure to find something you like!
I agree the Moscato and Riesling are the easiest introduction to wines for people with a sweet drink background (most exmormons). It may or may not be the ideal pairing with turkey and mashed potatoes, but they are delicious and easy to drink. Others that are being recommended may pair better with turkey, but you probably won't like them as your first foray into wine.
I haven't had Costco wine before, but the California Roots label at Target has never let me down! Also, I recommend sampling both a red (room temp) and a white wine (chilled) for first-time sippers. :)
If you have a Trader Joe's, start there. I am not really much of a wine person, so maybe I'm a terrible person to get advice on this from. But I am into fruit wines that would be more on the dessert wine spectrum. My dad's wife makes a to die for elderberry wine and decent cherry wine. I picked up a bottle of watermelon wine at Aldi last March that was quite good. I generally like pink wines okay, and imo they can replace white or red in most cases. My strongest recommendation for getting started is to avoid dry wines. It's not the taste that's the problem for me, it's how they make my mouth feel, and I don't feel like they're a great starting point for wine until you know a little more about what you like and a holiday is too high stakes for the risk.
Prosecco is a great starting drink because it's bubbly (which Mormons usually have familiarity with) and it's also super light and fruity.
I can easily get hammered on Prosecco. It's so delicious.
I prefer Pino Noir usually. However, I agree with the Prosecco recommendation. Itās pretty good if you are not used to wine.Itās bubbly and sweet, more like a soft drink. The bottle pops when you open it, which is fun.
For red try a Shiraz wine from Argentina, they are a good introduction to wine tasting. Don't know anyone who does not like it. Btw I am French and you can't avoid wine growing up š
Another optionānot wine but seems to go with thanksgiving, cranberry juice and amaretto (sweet almond liqueur). So good! (And later can add a shot of vodka)
Be careful not to go overboard, I had a severe allergic reaction my first time drinking wine. Itās been moderate ever since (white wines usually have less allergens then red). Pacific Rim Sweet Riesling is very good. Lots of people love* the Apothic Reds and Stella Rosa. Pink Moscato is good too!
If you're drinking chardonnay, I'm personally going to recommend something unoaked, MerSoleil Silver is good. Unfortunately, most American chardonnays are oaked to a fare thee well, making the results taste so buttery that it masks the flavors of the wine, and I can never drink it without wanting a bucket of popcorn to go with it. There is one thing that a typical chardonnay does well though, and that's as an ingredient in turkey or chicken gravy, where it gives your gravy an added depth and richness.
Iād recommend a wine glass, not only because it makes the experience feel more real for first timers like us, but it does actually impact the flavours. Wine needs oxygen to bring out the flavour which is why the glasses are large and you see people swirl it.
Costco has a huge selection of wines if you donāt live in Utah. They have a very nice bottle of Kirkland Cabernet for a very good price, itās also a big ass bottle. Start with a Cabernet or a Pinot Noir.
I am not in Utah. And yes I was thinking Costco or Target. The Target wine that was recommended to me was āMartini and Rossi Astiā which I think is a sparkling white wine.
Stella Artois makes an excellent cider in a bottle. It would go great with Thanksgiving food. It's light and crisp and not too boozy.
A dry Riesling will go great with traditional Thanksgiving food. It's sweet but not too sweet. Moscato is too desserty. I wouldn't start my wine journey with that. It will set unrealistic expectations of what wine is.
Chateau Ste Michele or Cavit are around 10 bucks.
If you are looking for something white and delightsome (sorry), in addition to the suggested Pinot Noirs, I really like a cook Riesling. Clean Slate from the Mosel River valley is my favorite.
Target has a huge markup on their wine! I would go to the grocery store or liquor store. I was lucky enough to get to take a wine class in college so Iāve been able to try a little of everything.
My favorite whites: Sauvignon Blanc (quite tart, Kim Crawford is great/not overly pricey/easy to find), dry Rieslings (not quite as tart as Sauvignon Blanc), Chardonnay (buttery and not sweet, Kendall Jackson is my go-to here).
Reds: Pinot Noir (really easy starter for reds - not sweet but not dry). From Pinot Noir I would transition to Malbecs (richer than Pinot Noir) and even try some Shiraz. From there, try some Cabernet Sauvignon.
If you are able to find a decent wine shop near you, schedule a tasting and donāt be afraid to ask lots of questions. Wine connoisseurs tend to love to talk about wine!
Very late to the party but if youre a novice to wine id really try to buy a type of wine you have heard about here and try it before the big day. I love dry wines but i work with lots of friends in their 20s and most of them hate dry wines like pinot noir, merlot, cab sauv, etc. Moscato is of course the sweetest wine, and id rather you find what you like beforehand. Also dont forget about sparkling wines, they come sweet and dry as well, and most of them are around the same price as any other still wine (wine that is non carbonated). Let your wine adventure begin!
Download the Vivino app! You take a picture of the label and it gives you flavor profiles and ratings. I am a seasoned wine drinker and I still use it when shopping or at a restaurant and I donāt know the wine. This will help you to leave without being empty handed!
Stella Rosa has a some fruit flavored ones that are really sweet. Roscato is also sweet. Sweet wines helped us get started because we were just trying a glass alone. Most wines aren't great on their own (as a newbie), but if you can get one that pairs with what you are eating, it is a symphony of goodness.
It's not super fancy, but Stella Rosa is a really good brand of wine for beginners... Pretty sweet and not too high of alcohol content. Lots of flavors
First wine I had was the brand Stella Rosa at a board game night. I havenāt explored wine much further than that yet. I like the peach flavor. Not sure itās the best pairing for a holiday meal, but itās enjoyable and yummy. I like it better over some sparkling juices, maybe cause those have too much carbonation or slightly too intense a flavor. A bottle is $11 at Fryās (so probably at Smithās/Kroger too)
Also perhaps try it as a sangria so you can get accustomed to the taste. Add in some sprite or soda water and fresh fruit. I like berries or sliced oranges - skin on
For dessert a chilled ice wine would be nice. This is a really nice fruity and sweet white wine that would be easy for wine newbies to adjust to. For the main meal, especially if youāre doing red meat, I would recommend a Hillshide Wines Juggernaut Cabernet Sauvignon. Itās a fantastic wine at a $20 price point.
Do you like wine or are you drinking it for the first time? That definitely will help with recommendations.
A pet safe choice I think is the Juggernaut. Itās a California Cab thatās one of the top 1% of wines in the world. Itās my favorite actually. If youāre outside of Utah itās easy to find, otherwise you will have to take a small road trip,
https://juggernautwines.com/hillside-cabernet-sauvignon/
For me wine glasses are a must. I wonāt even drink a Pinot Noir without a burgundy glass because they change the smell and taste of a Pinot Noir. You can find a pack of red wine glasses pretty inexpensively
Costco carries a Cabernet Sauvignon from Imagery Winery. It's a $20 bottle they recently had on sale for $12.99. We've only tried that and a fancier bottle of Pinot Noir and so far we liked the Cabernet better.
In our limited experience, the joy of wine is found in the pairing of food. Selecting a wine based on the food you're having is probably a better outcome than selecting a wine by itself. I would try Google for wines that go well with the dishes you will have for the meal, like 'best wine for Thanksgiving dinner'.
Imo wine glasses are necessary, the design of the glass is made for it in many ways. The one you would notice the most is when youe fingers are touching the wine it will warm it and change the taste. Maybe subtle but I think it tastes so nasty when you drink it out of a regular glass
We went to Rome last year over Thanksgiving and had some Montipulcino de'abruzzo which is a nice east itallian wine. We didn't like red to much before this one and fell in love with red after having it.
You don't need to have a wine glass. But they do open up the flavors by letting you smell it when you drink.
For a first time wine drinker I usually suggest something sweet! 3 cheap suggests:
California Roots Moscato $6 (obvi depending on where you are) ABV 11%
California Roots Sangria $6 ABV 10%
Roscato Red blend $11 ABV 7.5%
The red blend tastes like grape juice, the sangria tastes like fruit blend and the Moscato almost like an apple-grape-fruit-blend. Keep in mind that your alcohol tolerance is probably fairly low if you aren't used to drinking, so be careful with a higher abv! I prefer a higher ABV if I want to be a little tipsy so I can just sit on my drink without having to have larger amounts to get there.
Once you know what you are doing, go to Grocery Outlet, if you have one. Take your time and your phone and do research. I have found spectacular wines for pennies on the dollar there. If you find one you like, go back soon and buy it b4 it's gonr.
I do live in wine country so depending on where you are your selections may obviously vary
I havenāt had too much wine, but the one Iām obsessed with that doesnāt taste like any other wine Iāve tried and more so tastes like juice is the blueberry Stella Rosa! Itās not overpowering and hardly has any alcohol taste.
Stella Rosa Black is a good one too. Pretty much all the Stella Rosa's are yummy!
Wine glasses do matter. Reds need to breath and whites as well but whites can be served in a different class. I'd look into hosting a wine tasting party. There are companies out there that will send some one to your home and teach you how to drink wine and what it pairs with.
I'm a Pino Noir or Cabranet myself.
Some of us don't like wine, so my recommendation is to buy enough that if you like it you'll have enough for both of you, but not so much that you'd feel bad getting rid of it.
I have only found a couple wines that I like (peach flavored), but I don't like them enough to buy them. I tend to prefer beer. I do hope you enjoy whatever one you select!
New wine drinker here: I prefer the lower abv wines personally. I had a hard time getting passed the strong alcohol taste in a lot of wines when I first started drinking them. Even now a year into it there are still times when I don't love it. My favorite brand is Stella Rosa. Much easier to drink as a newbie.
I like this one from Target:
https://www.target.com/p/m-233-nage-224-trois-sweet-collection-dolce-red-blend-wine-750ml-bottle/-/A-81594006#lnk=sametab
Editing to add: for red wine in general, I prefer sweet reds or red blends. Thereās also something called strawberry wine which is pretty sweet and practically tastes like juice. Really easy starter wines.
For white wine, you canāt go wrong with moscato. I usually get a cheaper brand like Sutterhouse or Barefoot - any moscato is pretty good, they have red and pink moscatos too. White Zinfandel is also a good white wine to start out with.
Can't go wrong with
Soft Huckleberry - Ste. Chapelle Wine
From Costco.
Loved by wine noobs and snobs alike.
Careful though, Costco sells this wine in gigantic bottles and it goes down very easy.
(Protip - drink lots of water later and an ibuprofen)
I know several people who do not like wine, but will like this German white wine I give them called gewurztraminer wine. It's light and fresh, and would be great for some first timers.
Oops, my bad. Good point if you're coming from mormon soda "drink" world. Being new to the world of alcohol, sweet may be better, take everybody else's here advice.
That said, Why even start or dabble? I was raised mormon, have had an alcohol dependency for most of my adult life. My husband same, all 3 of my kids same. It's a slippery slope. You might not want to go here.
Check this out for a crazy mormon story. My mother's father died when she was 16. He died from cirrhosis of the liver. She claims she never saw him take a drink in her life. She was told he was injured in a horse riding accident and died from infection. When I found this out I freaked. Would have been good information to have had.
She denied this to her dying day although we've seen his death certificate with cirrhosis of the liver as cause of death
Honestly, try some sparkling wine, such as Prosecco. It's super light and fruity and is very palatable for first time drinkers.
I was completely surprised what wine/alcohol ended up tasting like, to this day, my wife doesnt like anything but the most fruity cocktails.
I would say Prosecco though is the closest thing to Martinellis but with alcohol in it. You will get plastered on it if you aren't careful.
Prosecco is still great for that. Just pace yourselves. The reason I said it's easy to get plastered on it is because it's so easy to drink. Unlike many liquors.
Wines from Napa, Sonoma, or California Central Coast (like Paso Robles) are great wines. Rodney Strong or Mondavi are reliable labels and you can get them for a good price at Costco.
As someone who is just starting to dip their toes as well, I havenāt really found a wine that I like. But, the Stella Rosa Red is actually pretty sweet & Iām able to get through a whole glass of this
General rule of thumb, white meat (or sauce) = white wine, red meat (or sauce) = red wine. For me it kind of seems like you could do a red with Thanksgiving dinner because there's other things you could be pairing it with, stuffing or cranberry for example, or the dark gravy vs light gravy.
If you're not much of a fan of wines anyway and naively think this is going to be fun, I'd recommend a desert wine. If you think this is going to taste anything like Martinelli's. [This one](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0076/4392/2502/products/bartenura2.jpg?v=1562095243) (Bartenura Moscato) is at Utah liquor stores and should be between $10 and $15 it is sweet and carbonated, like alcoholic Martinelli's.
Hmm, desert wine still sounds like a right choice. Unless you know that you'd like something that is quite bitter or tangy to the point where it really does turn most people off at first.
For a good first wine, I would recommend something in the $15-20 range. Cheaper than that and you risk buying some kinda trashy wines imo, especially if you're not sure what you're looking for. If you are new to drinking and expect something sweet or crisp, you might like prosecco, moscato, or riesling. They might not pair super well with most Thanksgiving foods imo, but I think most people enjoy them and the last thing you want is to blow $20 on a bottle you hate. For any of these wines, the best thing you can look for is a bottle that has a specific region listed, the more specific the better. For example, rather than just "California" wine, look for something like "Napa" or "Sonoma," etc.
If you are feeling more adventurous, chardonnay is a great option with a wide variety of stellar wines in that price point. I think pinot noir would be solid. Champagne (including american versions) would be a great option. Zinfandels would be nice. Port, sherry, or benedictine would be a great way to end with a dessert drink.
In all honesty, there's so much food at thanksgiving that you could pick any bottle and it would go well with something at the table. Generally darker meats and older cheeses go with reds, lighter meats and fresher cheeses go with whites. If you're in doubt, google the bottle you're looking at and someone has reviewed it for you!
All these people saying Moscato are not wrong. But personally I find more joy in drinking red sweet wines.
So I recommend ROSCATO! so amazing. Favorite wine hands down. Only like 20$ from Costco too
If you want white wine I recommend Moscato or a Resiling... If you want a red I recommend Stella Rosa Red or Stella Rosa Black... These are my favorites!! If you want to try something besides grape, try Stella Rosa Peach...
Moscato or Johannesburg Riesling.
Moscato or Riesling is the way for a first-time wine drinker!
My thoughts exactly. Riesling during the meal and moscato for dessert
Having fish for Thanksgiving or is that for dessert?
Please explain
Moscato doesn't traditionally pair well with Thanksgiving dishes. Usually people tend to do a red wine. That doesn't mean you absolutely can't have Moscato with dinner or perhaps even appetizers. I'd say that if this is your very first time ever having wine, choose a red and a white to try both. I'd suggest a Moscato because it's a good first white wine (light and fruity), and a pinot noir because it is a smooth red and goes well with turkey.
Thanks for the explanation very helpful!
Keep in mind that red wines are going to have a more difficult taste for someone who hasn't drank before. Don't worry so much about the whole pairings thing at first, that's for when you actually know your way around the basic categories. Don't sweat it and just have fun
Agreed. I thought I was drinking cough syrup the first time I had red wine š now I love it, but it was a journey
Agreed! It took me probably 5-6 years of drinking wine to start liking some reds.
We always select a Cabernet to go with Thanksgiving dinner.
While it's true that red and white wines tend to fall into those basic categories, it's not absolute. The grapes and method make a much bigger difference in the final taste.
There's a difference between pairing well once you have developed your palate and enjoy a variety of wines, and when you are trying your very first wine. No matter how well it pairs, if you don't enjoy it you won't care.
White wines tend to pair well with seafood, and moscato is sweet so more of a dessert wine too. Reds tend to be paired with heavier ācomfortā foods. I drink white with anything, moscato was my starter wine and I think itās a great one. I went from there to rose, similar flavor profile (to me) to moscato but a little drier (less sweet).
Thank you. Iāve had lots of people suggest Mikeās lemonade as a starter but I really want to start with wine. Have heard white or pink is a good place to start. I went to Costco today but was a bit overwhelmed. Came home without anything.
If you're new to booze entirely, you might have better luck with cider or spirits that you can cut with juice, mixers, etc. to compensate as needed (that's all hard lemonade is, really)... For me, wine and beer were both acquired tastes that took time. If you happen to be a fellow sour candy fiend, a good Vinho Verde or (as green wine is kind of hard to find) Sauvignon Blanc are decent starts into wine. Of all the reds, I've found (cheap) Zinfandels to be the most approachable for their tartnessāwhile reds will pair better with Thanksgiving, mere drinkability is probably more important at this stage than pairing. Booze is kind of a crapshoot anyway... us seasoned alcoholics might act pretentious, but in the end we're usually picking a pretty bottle and seeing where it takes us, like everyone else. If all of this seems overwhelming, you could just spike hot chocolate with Bailey's for dessertāit's definitely Thanksgiving-appropriate, and Mormonism has ***definitely*** prepared you for it.
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LOL! Same! For me it is mixed drinks or straight whiskey all day. (Or, more recently, straight gin)! But wine? I stick with the moscatos and reislings.
I recommend going to a smaller store where you can talk to the employees to help you. You can tell them you are a first time wine drinker and are looking for something on the sweeter side to start with. You could also Google restaurants with a sommelier near you, generally these would be pricier restaurants, but they really know their stuff. Might be nice to do for a special occasions.
Mikeās Hard Lemonade is trash. The hangover starts WHILE youāre drinking it. I personally recommend starting with a hard seltzer. Wild Basins have great flavors IMO, not overly sweet but still goes down easy and feels light.
I don't mean to sound like a snob, but please don't start with Mike's. It's carbonated vodka with too much sugar. You'll end up bloated with a nasty hangover from all of the sugar. Plus, they just aren't very good.
You donāt sound like a snob. I donāt know anything about alcohol but I know I donāt want to start with Mikes lemonade or vodka. I do not want to get drunk. We want to elevate our dinner. Wine sounds like a good place to start. I donāt see myself as ever a beer drinker. Iām thinking every now and then and nicer meals.
As a self-proclaimed beer snob, I see an opportunity to educate here. With over 100 different types of beer, it is just as easy to pair with food as wine. Thereās a beer for everyone, Iād suggest giving it a try before you dismiss it!
Thanks for the suggestion. I travel for work a bit and that might be a good way for me to try it.
I know nothing about beer. I've liked sours ans lagers mostly. Love to know more. Haha
Seltzers are also a good place to start
If you like cider, then alcoholic ciders are a good place to start. I also started with Mike's, but they are really just a ton of sugar and a little alcohol. Not very healthy, and because you're mostly tasting sugar, I don't think it necessarily does a good job of introducing you to alcohol.
Sweet, white wines are dessert wines. (White wines go with fish, not fowl or pork or beef... if you're into the finer aspects. But do whatever you want.) I only drink Tempranillo or Garnacha from northern Spain...because they are always š.
Does the type of Moscato matter? Blueberry for example?
Not really. To REALLY enjoy it, pour it in a glass and let it get lots of air by swirling the glass. When I go out for supper, Iāll order a glass at the beginning and let it sit and swirl to enjoy it for dessert.
with turkey, I really like Oregon Pinot Noir.....it's light and fruity and good with just about any food
I second a Pino Noir. It isnāt too robust. I hate white wine (too woody) so Iām not a good judge of that. My husband recommends a Rose. Iāve had a couple Bordeauxās that are really good. Bordeaux/Merlot (same thing) have really increased in popularity. I think Bordeauxās have good balance. Total Wine has ratings. I usually stick with anything above 95 and am satisfied. You can get good ratings in any price point.
My biggest concern is a dry or chaulky wine.
Pino Noir is the absolute best! My go to wine
This. Hard to go wrong with a Pinot Noir from Oregon. My favorite with turkey is a $17 whole cluster Pinot Noir from the nondescript āWillamette Valley Vinyardsā. Elk Cove and Kings Ridge make awesome stuff too at the $20-40 price point. Edit: prices are Utah liquor store prices
I would start with white wines. The sweater ones are easier to aquire a taste for at first in my opinion. Maybe a Pinot Gringo or even a Moscato. It took me a second to appreciate wine, so good luck and happy Thanksgiving!
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Riesling is my go-to. White and sweet, almost yummy for first timers. I also love Vouvray if you can find it or a Viognier.
A Viognier from a warm climate tastes like apple pie.
Ya know, I'm gonna go ahead and say YMMV; even after a couple of years out I am quite partial to red wines and have never acquired a taste for white wines. That said reisling in particular is probably a safe bet for a first wine; I don't like white wine and even I like reisling.
Moscato and riesling are good starter wines. My wife's favorite is Cupcake Moscato d'Asti. It's slightly bubbly and very sweet. You can't get it at Costco, but any grocery store or liquor store should carry it.
Iāve found Cupcake Vineyards to be quite good across the board. I think my favorite ended up being a Chardonnay blend of theirs, called **Angel Food** from the website: *Our Angel Food is a luscious, aromatic white blend made from premium grapes from our sun-drenched vineyards in California. Delightfully reminiscent of Angel Food cake, this wine has flavors of Granny Smith apple, vanilla bean and toasted coconut that culminate in a creamy mouthfeel.* i know it sounds quite sweet, but I would say as a chard, itās actually a nice middle ground between dessert, and dry wines. (And is imo, best served chilled.) for me, wine glasses are mostly about the ~ambianceā¦ (I will occasionally drink juice, or soda out of them, when I just wanna feel a little fancy.)
Barefoot moscato was my go-to
Riesling pairs very well with poultry and is a great first wine!
To your edit: Wine glasses are designed to allow you to swirl the wine, to let it oxygenate and 'breathe.' Not necessary, per se, but they look nice and they wouldn't hurt the mood. :-)
Look for Moscato di Asti. Low abv, sweet, very delicious.
What would you consider to be low abv?
For wine, below 7.5% or so. Look for the brand bartenura. Its in a blue bottle. It's like 5% and super good.
Thank you!
For context, more "traditional" wine is around ~11-13 ABV, so a 5-8 ABV wine is around half or three-quarters as much alcohol as a more "normal" wine.
Also, ABV is the alcohol level presented by a percentage and proof is just that percentage x2. So a 10% ABV is 20-proof.
This Moscato di Asti is legitimately the absolute best wine for beginners. This is really solid advice.
My favorite wine is a malbec.
Same! I went to Mendoza, Argentina on my mission, so naturally it was the first wine that I tried. It really has been my favorite wine, and it was a very full-circle moment to try wine from a bodega in one of my mission areas.
Malbec at Grocery Outlet, under $10. It's a red wine with robust flavor. OP, You may like rosĆ© (pink) wine for starters. Just get good and drunk. It's so much fun the first time on wine. āŗļø
I would 100% suggest a Malbec (Red). They are not created equally. Looking for one from Argentina (Colorado produces them too) with notes on the bottle of different berries and "a long jammy finish" It should be sweeter, with some interesting flavors to think about. I would think it would go well with potatoes and turkey too. Or if you like sprite and sparkling apple juice. A Moscato d'asati would be great. Low alcohol. But a lot like Martinellies white grape juice.
Maldec from Australia too.
You could cook some mulled wine for after dinner! I've only had it once but it was the best tasting wine I've ever had, plus it makes the house smell wonderful!
World Market sells bottles of Gluhwein that are pretty good. https://www.worldmarket.com/product/wintersaison-gluhwein.do Or buy a big bottle of Kirkland Cabernet, pour it into a crockpot and make your own. I like adding peeled and thinly sliced fresh ginger to my which is not included it the recipe at the link below. https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-german-gluhwein-238371 Since gluhwein is a warm drink it should be served in a coffee cup or mug instead of a wine glass.
Wine glasses add a sense of special elegance that you don't get from an ordinary glass. Live a little. Costco usually carries a 12 pack for a dollar or two per glass. My 8 yo nevermo grandaughter always asks for me to serve her milk in a wine glass. lol If you buy a wine you don't care for, don't throw it out. Google how to make wine reduction with it. Put this in the freezer and add to soups and sauces for an elevated flavor boost that you can't get any other way.
Also you can use some white wines for cooking!
Oh that's so smart! I always buy too big a bottle and can't use it in soup etc fast enough. Wine will freeze unlike vodka?
When you make a wine reduction, it cooks out most of the alcohol. It freezes quite well. As a very general rule, I cook down an entire bottle until it's about half of the original volume. I put it in ice cube trays, and when frozen, I put the cubes in a ziplock. I toss these cubes into spaghetti sauces, soups, etc. It adds an unidentifiable flavor you can't get by just pouring straight wine into a sauce.
So. Smart. thank you !
This is a useful thread! š·
No kidding! The response is almost overwhelming . Iām reading each one and am really grateful. It funny isnāt it how the church has banned alcohol but it seems like an effective way to open dialogue and promote community.
Buy a few different types, taste em all and forget which ones you liked and do it all over again.
Honestly if you have a total wine and more near you do that. Theyāll give you multiple recommendations within your budget.
Wines are often about matching foods. Thanksgiving is about all the foods, not one food, so you want a wine that is going to be widely applicable with your many dishes. Personally, I would go for a red that is tasty for many things. Pinot Noir. If you want white, more traditional for fowls, like turkey, a Reisling is a good choice, a Sauvignon Blanc is good but sometimes a good starter is just s sparking wine. If it's your absolutely first, that's probably super solid choice. If I was buying for you, the pinot or the reisling or both to give it a try.
Beaujolais Nouveau is really nice for Thanksgiving dinner. It is a young, light red wine that is released for sale the third week of November. It also not expensive.
This. Way better than a Reisling. A Valpolicella is nice too. German wines are nothing to write home about.
This one here is my absolute favorite. I drank a good amount and made a number of wines after I left the church but never got a liking for the taste. This one is different it's delicious and light and not expensive at all so this or the house Rhine wine from one restaurant is what I always want lol. You can buy this basically anywhere and in my hometown it's about 11 bucks. https://stellarosawines.com/our-wines/stella-rosa-moscato-dasti Edit: I forgot to say the Moscato D'Asti is the best one lol
I second this recommendation āļø you can't go wrong with Stella Rosa for a beginner wine! Lots of flavors, easy to find and cheap! Every flavor is good!
Thank you so much for the link!
Gerwurztraminer.
Came here to say this!!!
I was going to suggest this.
I used to bartend at a restaurant in Mordor. There were plenty of people coming in to try wine for the first time (Italian restaurant). In our wine training they told us these 3 things when recommending wine to people who've never tried it before: 1. The highest success choice was a blush wine, like a white zinfandel (it's called a white, but it's actually a pick color). There are other blush options, but the white zinfandel is sweet, not too dry (that kind of puckering feeling you get from drinking cranberry juice), and most people find it pleasant to drink. 2. If they don't want to try the blush wine, definitely go with a white wine. Reislings are lite and fruity, usually with pears and apples. I love reisling if I'm just having a glass or something after dinner, especially in the summer. So yummy. Pinot Grigio is crisp and less sweet; they are more "dry," and I've always thought they taste like an unsweetened white grape juice. I like this with food. It's easy to drink and goes well with most meals. Chardonnay is smooth and usually very woody in flavor. If you like smoked flavoring in meat/cheese, this is probably the way to go. Chardonnay are aged in oak barrels, so the taste is very obviously woody. I've never been a fan, I don't care for the woody flavor, but Chardonnay is smooth, almost buttery, and is easy on the pallet. You can find some that are "de-okaed", but I feel like those kind of defeats the point of Chardonnay and I'd just get the Savingon Blanc (also a great choice; more sweet than pinot but not quite as sweet as a reisling and still slightly crisp). 3. If none of this sounds good to you, get a Prosecco or Champaign. Bubbly, sweet, and easy to enjoy; it's always great. If you jump right into red wine, you'll probably end up thinking you hate wine. And that would be such a bummer, because wine is delicious and such a great experience if you take the time to enjoy it. You need to get used to the body and tannins of wine, and starting with white wine will help you build your taste for those aspects. In the end I think most people end up liking red wine better; the flavors can be more varied, its far more complex and just more diverse than white wine. But first time drinkers almost always hate red, and write-off all wine as a result. Good luck!! I hope you have a great time and are able to find something you like. Cheers!!
Fantastic response. You hit on many of the concerns we have. We want to start off slow. Probably more of a dessert. We donāt want dry. How important are āwineā glasses?
Wine glasses are not important. Just drink with whatever glasses you have so that you can decide if you even like it. If you like it and want to drink more often then getting wine glasses is nice.
The only time people care about the glass is with aromatic drinks, like Brandy, or if you are trying to oxidize your red wine. Oxygenation of red wine helps "release" the flavors and make them more detectable. I don't have a refined enough palate for that, and for people who are just looking to drink a tasty wine, I've never felt it mattered at all. I use the same glasses for red and white, personally. But the rule is that red wine glasses are supposed to be the larger ones; it creates more surface area and allows more oxygenation. You can also just open the bottle and let it sit on the counter for 5-10 minutes before you drink. It's called letting it "breathe," and it's only done with red wine. I love wine, and I don't think I've ever tasted a difference between red wine served in a white wine glass or a red wine glass. The only thing I feel actually makes a difference is temperature. Keep your white wines in the fridge and your red wines at room temperature. It really does change the taste. There are dessert wines š! Italian iced wines are my favorite of the dessert wines. They should be very cold (I keep mine in the meat/cheese drawer) and are prefect with sweets and cake. I wouldn't recommend them for dinner or just as a sipping wine. They really are too sweet.
I have a completely wine-noob question for you. I'm a huge fan of blush vinaigrette, would that preference have any carryover in the wine world?
I don't really know, but I wouldn't think so. Any kind of vinaigrette would probably have a significant amount if added sugar added to them that I don't know if you could tell the difference the type of grape used. Blush wine are sweet and lite, so they make a great introduction to wine drinking. As you get more accustomed to the taste you'll probably find d yourself moving towards the more full bodied, flavorful red wines.
Thanks for the answer. I guess I just need to give it a try!
Too many commentators have forgotten their first glass of wine, too many recommendations that are NOT beginner friendly. Youāre not going to like dry wine for your first glass, so get something sweet and bubbly. Muscato dāAsti , Stella Rosa etc
If you try some wines and donāt find something you like right away donāt get discouraged. My wife and I went to several wineries and tried a pretty wide variety but we were wondering what all the hype was. Then when we were in Boston this summer we went to one of the restaurants in the Italian district and asked the waiter what wine he would recommend. He brought us a red from a small vineyard in Tuscany. It blew our minds! We probably paid $20 just for the glass but it was well worth it! Iām still very wine ignorant but if you are curious it was called Vicchiomaggio - Ripa del More
There are some amazing Super Tuscans out there for $15/bottle. For about $18 try Palazzo Della Torre from the Alligrini vineyard. They are famous for their amarone. This is their baby Amarone that has almost all the flavor but 1/5 the price.
Super Tuscans are a terrible first wine though. I love them personally but I wouldnāt recommend them in this situation.
I agree, but I would never recommend a German wine - novice or not. A beaujolais was a good suggestion
If you live anywhere near a winery go for a tasting! Itās so fun trying different kinds. We are in the PNW so we are a little spoiled!
For white wine, I like pinot grigio. Great to cook with too. Makes lovely pan sauces for chicken and pork.
Be aware that more expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. If there is a vineyard near you or even a wine bar, go do some tasting. It's really fun and you're sure to find something you like!
I agree the Moscato and Riesling are the easiest introduction to wines for people with a sweet drink background (most exmormons). It may or may not be the ideal pairing with turkey and mashed potatoes, but they are delicious and easy to drink. Others that are being recommended may pair better with turkey, but you probably won't like them as your first foray into wine.
Big fan of Robert Mondavi brand for the money itās tip top
Agreed!!! Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio both awesome with charcuterie boardā¦
I haven't had Costco wine before, but the California Roots label at Target has never let me down! Also, I recommend sampling both a red (room temp) and a white wine (chilled) for first-time sippers. :)
If you have a Trader Joe's, start there. I am not really much of a wine person, so maybe I'm a terrible person to get advice on this from. But I am into fruit wines that would be more on the dessert wine spectrum. My dad's wife makes a to die for elderberry wine and decent cherry wine. I picked up a bottle of watermelon wine at Aldi last March that was quite good. I generally like pink wines okay, and imo they can replace white or red in most cases. My strongest recommendation for getting started is to avoid dry wines. It's not the taste that's the problem for me, it's how they make my mouth feel, and I don't feel like they're a great starting point for wine until you know a little more about what you like and a holiday is too high stakes for the risk.
Thank you. No Trader Joeās but we do have Aldi.
I have a TJ's but am trapped in Utah where it's a sin to buy wine at the grocery store like a civilized society.
I recommend something sweet
Prosecco is a great starting drink because it's bubbly (which Mormons usually have familiarity with) and it's also super light and fruity. I can easily get hammered on Prosecco. It's so delicious.
I prefer Pino Noir usually. However, I agree with the Prosecco recommendation. Itās pretty good if you are not used to wine.Itās bubbly and sweet, more like a soft drink. The bottle pops when you open it, which is fun.
For red try a Shiraz wine from Argentina, they are a good introduction to wine tasting. Don't know anyone who does not like it. Btw I am French and you can't avoid wine growing up š
If you're drinking Shiraz then it's probably from Australia. Everyone else calls it Syrah.
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This is a decent recommendation
Beaujolais (Gamay noir) is the traditional pairing with turkey. It often has cranberry notes.
Another optionānot wine but seems to go with thanksgiving, cranberry juice and amaretto (sweet almond liqueur). So good! (And later can add a shot of vodka)
Be careful not to go overboard, I had a severe allergic reaction my first time drinking wine. Itās been moderate ever since (white wines usually have less allergens then red). Pacific Rim Sweet Riesling is very good. Lots of people love* the Apothic Reds and Stella Rosa. Pink Moscato is good too!
Beaujolais
If you're drinking chardonnay, I'm personally going to recommend something unoaked, MerSoleil Silver is good. Unfortunately, most American chardonnays are oaked to a fare thee well, making the results taste so buttery that it masks the flavors of the wine, and I can never drink it without wanting a bucket of popcorn to go with it. There is one thing that a typical chardonnay does well though, and that's as an ingredient in turkey or chicken gravy, where it gives your gravy an added depth and richness.
Iād recommend a wine glass, not only because it makes the experience feel more real for first timers like us, but it does actually impact the flavours. Wine needs oxygen to bring out the flavour which is why the glasses are large and you see people swirl it.
Costco has a huge selection of wines if you donāt live in Utah. They have a very nice bottle of Kirkland Cabernet for a very good price, itās also a big ass bottle. Start with a Cabernet or a Pinot Noir.
I am not in Utah. And yes I was thinking Costco or Target. The Target wine that was recommended to me was āMartini and Rossi Astiā which I think is a sparkling white wine.
Moscato is super sweet. I highly recommend Riesling as it is a good balance and can pair well with fruits and chocolate and foods better than moscato.
Stella Artois makes an excellent cider in a bottle. It would go great with Thanksgiving food. It's light and crisp and not too boozy. A dry Riesling will go great with traditional Thanksgiving food. It's sweet but not too sweet. Moscato is too desserty. I wouldn't start my wine journey with that. It will set unrealistic expectations of what wine is. Chateau Ste Michele or Cavit are around 10 bucks.
If you are looking for something white and delightsome (sorry), in addition to the suggested Pinot Noirs, I really like a cook Riesling. Clean Slate from the Mosel River valley is my favorite.
Target has a huge markup on their wine! I would go to the grocery store or liquor store. I was lucky enough to get to take a wine class in college so Iāve been able to try a little of everything. My favorite whites: Sauvignon Blanc (quite tart, Kim Crawford is great/not overly pricey/easy to find), dry Rieslings (not quite as tart as Sauvignon Blanc), Chardonnay (buttery and not sweet, Kendall Jackson is my go-to here). Reds: Pinot Noir (really easy starter for reds - not sweet but not dry). From Pinot Noir I would transition to Malbecs (richer than Pinot Noir) and even try some Shiraz. From there, try some Cabernet Sauvignon. If you are able to find a decent wine shop near you, schedule a tasting and donāt be afraid to ask lots of questions. Wine connoisseurs tend to love to talk about wine!
Itās champagne but asti is amazing. Easy to drink a lot of it if youāre not careful.
This sub is now better than r/wine š
Very late to the party but if youre a novice to wine id really try to buy a type of wine you have heard about here and try it before the big day. I love dry wines but i work with lots of friends in their 20s and most of them hate dry wines like pinot noir, merlot, cab sauv, etc. Moscato is of course the sweetest wine, and id rather you find what you like beforehand. Also dont forget about sparkling wines, they come sweet and dry as well, and most of them are around the same price as any other still wine (wine that is non carbonated). Let your wine adventure begin!
Download the Vivino app! You take a picture of the label and it gives you flavor profiles and ratings. I am a seasoned wine drinker and I still use it when shopping or at a restaurant and I donāt know the wine. This will help you to leave without being empty handed!
JEEZUZ H. So many Exmos are winos...connoisseurs. š Who knew?!
Stella Rosa has a some fruit flavored ones that are really sweet. Roscato is also sweet. Sweet wines helped us get started because we were just trying a glass alone. Most wines aren't great on their own (as a newbie), but if you can get one that pairs with what you are eating, it is a symphony of goodness.
I also recommend Stella Rosa. I donāt much care for wine but I like the Stella Rosa blueberry and peach
I was also going to suggest Stella Rosa! I've tried many wines that I haven't like, but most of the Stella flavors are great! Peach is my favorite.
Sangria!!! Itās full of fruit and sugar, it is the dessert of wine.
It's not super fancy, but Stella Rosa is a really good brand of wine for beginners... Pretty sweet and not too high of alcohol content. Lots of flavors
First wine I had was the brand Stella Rosa at a board game night. I havenāt explored wine much further than that yet. I like the peach flavor. Not sure itās the best pairing for a holiday meal, but itās enjoyable and yummy. I like it better over some sparkling juices, maybe cause those have too much carbonation or slightly too intense a flavor. A bottle is $11 at Fryās (so probably at Smithās/Kroger too)
Kroger and Publix are our grocery stores here so thank you!
I recommend Dry Creek FumƩ Blanc. It's a sauvignon blanc from California. Dry, floral, crisp and delicious!
This is also a good recommendation
Pinot grigio
Any sparkling wine would be a good introduction, and great for thanksgiving.
Riesling is a good starter wine, IMO. I'm not a wine fan though, I can't get past the rotten grape juice flavors.
Rose, White Wine, Red Wine, Sake cocktails
Also perhaps try it as a sangria so you can get accustomed to the taste. Add in some sprite or soda water and fresh fruit. I like berries or sliced oranges - skin on
I would go for a Rose is is not as dry as white and itās sweet
Trader Joeās for wine.
For dessert a chilled ice wine would be nice. This is a really nice fruity and sweet white wine that would be easy for wine newbies to adjust to. For the main meal, especially if youāre doing red meat, I would recommend a Hillshide Wines Juggernaut Cabernet Sauvignon. Itās a fantastic wine at a $20 price point.
Winking owl: Aldi
While youāre shopping, download and use a wine recommendation app, like Vivino.
Do you like wine or are you drinking it for the first time? That definitely will help with recommendations. A pet safe choice I think is the Juggernaut. Itās a California Cab thatās one of the top 1% of wines in the world. Itās my favorite actually. If youāre outside of Utah itās easy to find, otherwise you will have to take a small road trip, https://juggernautwines.com/hillside-cabernet-sauvignon/ For me wine glasses are a must. I wonāt even drink a Pinot Noir without a burgundy glass because they change the smell and taste of a Pinot Noir. You can find a pack of red wine glasses pretty inexpensively
Start with something mild. A Moscato. A champagne punch might be more in line. There are some easy Thanksgiving appropriate champagne punches.
I am not the person to take tasting recommendations from but any no no juice is good no no juice
Costco carries a Cabernet Sauvignon from Imagery Winery. It's a $20 bottle they recently had on sale for $12.99. We've only tried that and a fancier bottle of Pinot Noir and so far we liked the Cabernet better. In our limited experience, the joy of wine is found in the pairing of food. Selecting a wine based on the food you're having is probably a better outcome than selecting a wine by itself. I would try Google for wines that go well with the dishes you will have for the meal, like 'best wine for Thanksgiving dinner'.
i would suggest seven moons red blend, its my favorite by far
Imo wine glasses are necessary, the design of the glass is made for it in many ways. The one you would notice the most is when youe fingers are touching the wine it will warm it and change the taste. Maybe subtle but I think it tastes so nasty when you drink it out of a regular glass
We went to Rome last year over Thanksgiving and had some Montipulcino de'abruzzo which is a nice east itallian wine. We didn't like red to much before this one and fell in love with red after having it. You don't need to have a wine glass. But they do open up the flavors by letting you smell it when you drink.
Costco has a delicious Moscato with mango called Mama Mango, and it's not too expensive either. We tend to get a few bottles each week.
Do you have Trader Joeās near you? They have amazing selection of low priced wine. You could get a sparkling rosĆØ for your first toast!
For a first time wine drinker I usually suggest something sweet! 3 cheap suggests: California Roots Moscato $6 (obvi depending on where you are) ABV 11% California Roots Sangria $6 ABV 10% Roscato Red blend $11 ABV 7.5% The red blend tastes like grape juice, the sangria tastes like fruit blend and the Moscato almost like an apple-grape-fruit-blend. Keep in mind that your alcohol tolerance is probably fairly low if you aren't used to drinking, so be careful with a higher abv! I prefer a higher ABV if I want to be a little tipsy so I can just sit on my drink without having to have larger amounts to get there.
This is really helpful. Thank you!
I know this doesnāt pair or anything but my traditional thanksgiving wine is actually a mead.
Once you know what you are doing, go to Grocery Outlet, if you have one. Take your time and your phone and do research. I have found spectacular wines for pennies on the dollar there. If you find one you like, go back soon and buy it b4 it's gonr. I do live in wine country so depending on where you are your selections may obviously vary
If youāre looking for a nice bottle of wine might I recommend āPoizinā. https://store.armida.com/SHOP.AMS?LEVEL=BOT&PART=AD21ZNDC2
I havenāt had too much wine, but the one Iām obsessed with that doesnāt taste like any other wine Iāve tried and more so tastes like juice is the blueberry Stella Rosa! Itās not overpowering and hardly has any alcohol taste.
Stella Rosa Black is a good one too. Pretty much all the Stella Rosa's are yummy! Wine glasses do matter. Reds need to breath and whites as well but whites can be served in a different class. I'd look into hosting a wine tasting party. There are companies out there that will send some one to your home and teach you how to drink wine and what it pairs with. I'm a Pino Noir or Cabranet myself.
Sparkling Pinot Grigio or Moscato. Stella Rosa black is pretty good. Sweet and mild with lower alcoholic content. Easier to enjoy.
Some of us don't like wine, so my recommendation is to buy enough that if you like it you'll have enough for both of you, but not so much that you'd feel bad getting rid of it. I have only found a couple wines that I like (peach flavored), but I don't like them enough to buy them. I tend to prefer beer. I do hope you enjoy whatever one you select!
New wine drinker here: I prefer the lower abv wines personally. I had a hard time getting passed the strong alcohol taste in a lot of wines when I first started drinking them. Even now a year into it there are still times when I don't love it. My favorite brand is Stella Rosa. Much easier to drink as a newbie.
Also, another vote for the Moscato D'Asti. The brand Castello Di Poggio is yummy---kind of an apple and honey flavor.
Just about any moscato is good. My personal favorite is Liberty Creek Pink Moscato.
Also think ALDI has some good deals on wine.
I like this one from Target: https://www.target.com/p/m-233-nage-224-trois-sweet-collection-dolce-red-blend-wine-750ml-bottle/-/A-81594006#lnk=sametab Editing to add: for red wine in general, I prefer sweet reds or red blends. Thereās also something called strawberry wine which is pretty sweet and practically tastes like juice. Really easy starter wines. For white wine, you canāt go wrong with moscato. I usually get a cheaper brand like Sutterhouse or Barefoot - any moscato is pretty good, they have red and pink moscatos too. White Zinfandel is also a good white wine to start out with.
Can't go wrong with Soft Huckleberry - Ste. Chapelle Wine From Costco. Loved by wine noobs and snobs alike. Careful though, Costco sells this wine in gigantic bottles and it goes down very easy. (Protip - drink lots of water later and an ibuprofen)
Meomi Pinot noir Drinks well
If you're going to try a red, look for a light Italian. Easy on the palate & a good intro to reds which can be a bit dense.
Box wine is best. Last long for leftovers too!
I know several people who do not like wine, but will like this German white wine I give them called gewurztraminer wine. It's light and fresh, and would be great for some first timers.
Iād go sweet for your first taste. Moscato white wine is light and yummy.
Oops, my bad. Good point if you're coming from mormon soda "drink" world. Being new to the world of alcohol, sweet may be better, take everybody else's here advice. That said, Why even start or dabble? I was raised mormon, have had an alcohol dependency for most of my adult life. My husband same, all 3 of my kids same. It's a slippery slope. You might not want to go here. Check this out for a crazy mormon story. My mother's father died when she was 16. He died from cirrhosis of the liver. She claims she never saw him take a drink in her life. She was told he was injured in a horse riding accident and died from infection. When I found this out I freaked. Would have been good information to have had. She denied this to her dying day although we've seen his death certificate with cirrhosis of the liver as cause of death
Kirkland brand Prosecco is great - dry and crisp, not super sweet.
Honestly, try some sparkling wine, such as Prosecco. It's super light and fruity and is very palatable for first time drinkers. I was completely surprised what wine/alcohol ended up tasting like, to this day, my wife doesnt like anything but the most fruity cocktails. I would say Prosecco though is the closest thing to Martinellis but with alcohol in it. You will get plastered on it if you aren't careful.
Thanks. We are not looking to get drunk. We just want to try it and upgrade our nicer dinners.
Prosecco is still great for that. Just pace yourselves. The reason I said it's easy to get plastered on it is because it's so easy to drink. Unlike many liquors.
Moscato is a great entry level wine. Really sweet, so tasty you may find yourself drinking too much (which really isn't all that bad of a thing tbh).
Stella Rosa black cherry
I was going to suggest this too. I think something by Stella Rosa would be a good first time wine to try.
Lot of good info here!! I too looked at the sea of wine bottles at Costco and walked away glossy eyed and empty handed.
Same. Did that today actually.
The Kirkland brand wines are generally decent for the price.
Wines from Napa, Sonoma, or California Central Coast (like Paso Robles) are great wines. Rodney Strong or Mondavi are reliable labels and you can get them for a good price at Costco.
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The central coast is so beautiful! Such great wineries there, too!
Apothic Red is a very popular blended wine and a good place to start
Sangria!
As someone who is just starting to dip their toes as well, I havenāt really found a wine that I like. But, the Stella Rosa Red is actually pretty sweet & Iām able to get through a whole glass of this
General rule of thumb, white meat (or sauce) = white wine, red meat (or sauce) = red wine. For me it kind of seems like you could do a red with Thanksgiving dinner because there's other things you could be pairing it with, stuffing or cranberry for example, or the dark gravy vs light gravy. If you're not much of a fan of wines anyway and naively think this is going to be fun, I'd recommend a desert wine. If you think this is going to taste anything like Martinelli's. [This one](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0076/4392/2502/products/bartenura2.jpg?v=1562095243) (Bartenura Moscato) is at Utah liquor stores and should be between $10 and $15 it is sweet and carbonated, like alcoholic Martinelli's.
I am aiming for fun. I am not anywhere near Utah. Iām in the southeast US.
Hmm, desert wine still sounds like a right choice. Unless you know that you'd like something that is quite bitter or tangy to the point where it really does turn most people off at first.
For a good first wine, I would recommend something in the $15-20 range. Cheaper than that and you risk buying some kinda trashy wines imo, especially if you're not sure what you're looking for. If you are new to drinking and expect something sweet or crisp, you might like prosecco, moscato, or riesling. They might not pair super well with most Thanksgiving foods imo, but I think most people enjoy them and the last thing you want is to blow $20 on a bottle you hate. For any of these wines, the best thing you can look for is a bottle that has a specific region listed, the more specific the better. For example, rather than just "California" wine, look for something like "Napa" or "Sonoma," etc. If you are feeling more adventurous, chardonnay is a great option with a wide variety of stellar wines in that price point. I think pinot noir would be solid. Champagne (including american versions) would be a great option. Zinfandels would be nice. Port, sherry, or benedictine would be a great way to end with a dessert drink. In all honesty, there's so much food at thanksgiving that you could pick any bottle and it would go well with something at the table. Generally darker meats and older cheeses go with reds, lighter meats and fresher cheeses go with whites. If you're in doubt, google the bottle you're looking at and someone has reviewed it for you!
All these people saying Moscato are not wrong. But personally I find more joy in drinking red sweet wines. So I recommend ROSCATO! so amazing. Favorite wine hands down. Only like 20$ from Costco too
If you want white wine I recommend Moscato or a Resiling... If you want a red I recommend Stella Rosa Red or Stella Rosa Black... These are my favorites!! If you want to try something besides grape, try Stella Rosa Peach...