Contributor: Tersina Shieh

Beginners who are interested in wine may find certain varieties such as Bordeaux or Barolo too tannic, dry, bitter or sour. This is natural because these wines are often very subtle and it takes time to learn to appreciate them.

Think about coffee for a moment. When we first drank coffee, we probably didn't start with espresso but rather a mocha or cappuccino – coffee with lots of milk or sugar. We then gradually reduce the amount of additions as we acquire a taste for coffee itself. For me, wine is just like coffee. When we are new to wine, we prefer something fruitier and easier for our taste buds to understand. Only after we are used to the taste of wine will we appreciate the structure, such as tannins in red wine and acidity in white wine, and the nuances and aromas of different wines.

Without further ado, here are a few easy drinking wines that will appeal to beginning drinkers:

Moscato d’Asti - a slightly sparkling sweet wine with obvious grape aromas and only around 7% alcohol from Italy. It tastes like a very pleasant version of sparkling Ribena with a little alcohol.

Prosecco - another sparkling wine from Italy. Fruity with peach and floral aromas; refreshing but without the sharp acidity. Italians love to drink it as aperitif.

Riesling Kabinett - a style of Riesling made in Germany that has around 9-11% alcohol and laden with fruits like citrus, apple and pear.

Gewürztraminer - white wine with a distinctive lychee, ginger and perfume-like scent. Typical examples are Alsace (France), Alto Adige (Italy), New Zealand and Chile.

Sauvignon Blanc - guava and passion fruit; some have more grassy and herbal notes. It is the biggest seller in New Zealand (mostly from Marlborough). Chile and South Africa also produce pleasant Sauvignon Blanc.

Rosé - refreshing and great for summer. Color ranges from salmon to dark pink with strawberry and red cherry aromas.

Pinot Noir (New World) - a red grape with low tannin, it is fruitier and juicier than its Old World counterpart.

Tempranillo Crianza - Crianza is one of the aging category in Spain. For red wine, it has to be aged for a minimum 24 months of which 6 months must be in barrels. The wine is fruity with strawberry and plum aromas balanced by spices from the barrels.

Merlot - well-made Merlot is smooth with plum and cherry notes. Those that have spent time in barrels also exhibit spices and fruit cake characters.

Malbec - mainly from Argentina. A rich wine with dark fruits character, ripe and full tannin.

Shiraz - the same grape as Syrah, a French spelling and usually implies the style is more French – restrained, spicy and tannic. Australian producers call it Shiraz and the wine is big and fruity with black fruits and a chocolate nose.

This is just a starting point. Once you are familiar with these wines, try the same varieties from other countries or explore different varieties from within the same country. This way, you’ll gradually build up your own "wine database" and broaden your palate.

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A marketer turned winemaker, Tersina's mission is to promote a stronger wine culture in Hong Kong and China, explaining wine in a no-nonsense way.

This post was created by a Jubee contributor. Views represented are not affiliated with Jubee. Photo by Alexandra and Unsplash.