The Best Wine For People Who Don't Like Wine: Top Picks For Non-Wine Drinkers

Ever tasted a glass of wine and all you wonder is, what's the fuss about this drink?

Well, that's okay.

I've been there too. I poured myself a glass of Sauvignon Blanc at a friend's home bar, and I swore I tasted cat piss! Meanwhile, a few weeks earlier, he excitedly told me it has guava and passion fruit flavors – I guess I just didn't appreciate it at the time.

Like you...

I still had to drink wine because it seemed like the perfect drink for my date night. But I knew I wasn't going to serve her that same wine. And I wanted something I'd also enjoy. So, I got a bottle of Rosé to pair with my homemade steak – the rest they say is history.

Afterward, I drew closer to wine – and my date. I started out tasting sweet and easy-drinking wines with the help of my wine connoisseur friend who served me piss.

To save you the same experience...

I decided to share the best wines for people who don't like wine. Believe it when I say there’s even wine that doesn't taste like alcohol – but it’ll still get you tipsy or drunk, anyway.

Of course, these wines aren't only for date nights. You can sip them on a quiet night in, by the poolside, or as a gift to a person who doesn't like wine.

So, let's go check them out.

Best Wines To Serve People Who Don't Like Wine

Rosé

Rosé (pronounced ro-zay) is typically a wine that takes some of its grape skin colors. But not enough to qualify it as red wine. It's famous for its pink or rose gold hue, not excluding other colors, like peach, mango, or copper.

For Victoria at Good Housekeeping, "It's a flirty and frivolous sibling of red wine and white wine."

Rosé tastes a bit like red wine but with a crisp and fruity note. It can be sweet or dry. Classic European rosés, like those from Provence, are mostly dry, while blush wines such as White Zinfandel lean sweet.

All in all, there are almost a dozen styles of Rosé. I'd suggest a light, fruity Provence Rosé, or a sweeter blush if you have a sweet tooth. Darker, fuller rosés like Tavel may be too bold for an amateur sipper.

Of course, you should serve this pink delicacy chilled. But how chilled should it be?

Too cold makes it bland. And too warm makes it sour.

Don't fret. For someone who doesn't like wine, (just, yet), you won't need to be exact on temperature numbers. But you can follow the 20:20 rule.

It's simple. Chill white wine (Rosé) in a fridge (don't ice or freeze), and take out twenty minutes before serving.

Foods That Go Well With Rosé

Technically, you can pair any cuisine with Rosé, since it has so many styles. It's the wine of choice at many barbecue parties, picnics, dinners … you name it.

Sweet Rosé (what you should be drinking) pairs well with barbecue or red meats, roasted corn (any roasted food), and most sauces. The high residual sugar and fruity aroma also collide well with spicy foods and desserts.

Similar Wines

Give Pinot Noir, Champagne, or White Zinfandel a try as well.

High Points

• Pairs well with savory foods
• Fresh, fruity flavors
• Can be dry but
• Plethora of styles you can select from

Turnoffs

• Don't buy Rosé that costs over $25

Lambrusco - Red Sea Of Sweetness

Lambrusco is a sparkling Italian red wine. It's also the name of the family of grapes used to make this wine in the medieval region of Emilia-Romagna.

It's literally one of the most refreshing Italian wines, filling a cup with a bubbly red sea of sweetness.

Lambrusco is typically made using the Charmat method. It may be the most inexpensive production method, but it's what a person who doesn't like wine will enjoy. Some producers use the traditional or ancestral methods instead. Either way, check the label: Lambrusco comes in dry (secco) and sweet (amabile or dolce) styles.

Pairing Lambrusco With Food

Lambrusco makes a delectable pairing with various foods (as it should be) and is also affordable.

It's almost certain you'd enjoy pouring a glass of Lambrusco while serving any food for a perfect night. Sweet Lambruscos soothe your taste buds when you order spicy Thai or Indian dishes. And they pair well with sugary desserts as well.

If you want to pair with meats, you'd have a better experience with dry options, like Lambrusco Grasparossa. Or if you're having pizza!

Unlike most red wines, you should serve Lambrusco chilled. Refrigerate or cool the wine in an ice bucket for about 20 minutes before you pop it.

Similar Wines

There are quite a number of sweet red wines like Lambrusco, but I hold Brachetto and Ruby Port in high regard.

High Points

• Pairs with sweet, spicy, or beefy meals
• A pizza delight
• Fruity and lively
• Inexpensive date night or everyday wine

Turnoffs

• High acidity
• Best enjoyed with food

Moscato – Sweetest Of Them All

Moscato is usually among the first wines recommended to people who don't like wine by aficionados.

It's also the Italian name for Muscat, the group of grapes used in the manufacture of said wine. They happen to be one of the oldest wine grapes, famous for sweet floral flavors, as with their wines.

If you want to throw a person who doesn't like wine off their feet with a heavenly-scented and rich wine, a bottle of Moscato will do. Moscatos usually contain low alcohol since they are made sweet, but you'd also find dry variations.

Food Pairings

Moscato isn't a typical main dish wine but a dessert wine. It also pairs with spicy foods, due to its low alcohol and relatively high sugar content.

So, you can serve Moscato with hot spices, like Thai and Indian food, vegetables, light fish fillets, BBQ pork, etc.

Moscato is extremely easy and sweet on the palate, so it's not unusual to have a glass alone. (don't get carried away; Moscato d'Asti still has around 5% alcohol, and many other Moscatos have more). And it makes a delightful aperitif.

If you want the fruity and floral scents of Moscato dancing in a flute, serve it chilled. About thirty minutes in an ice bucket does the trick.

But never serve Moscato warm. It's even better to drink Moscato that's too cold.

Similar Wines

Sometimes, Moscato can make a zesty alternative for Champagne. Riesling also exhibits the sweet fruity aromatic appeal and taste of Moscato.

High Points

• Perfumed fruit and berry aromas
• Rich and fruity taste
• Affordable
• Perfect for someone with a low alcohol threshold

Turnoffs

• Some styles can be tart

Riesling - Sweet German White Wine

If wines had siblings, Riesling would be a sister to Moscato. It's an aromatic grape wine with a flowery scent like Moscato's, but with much higher acidity. Well, Riesling is a German wine, for the most part.

Riesling is typically listed as one of the "top 3" white wines, alongside Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. This wine can taste like apples and peach or lime and citrus, or even have notes of petrol (aged ones), depending on its place of origin.

But you most likely won't be keeping a bottle for years, will you? So, you don't have to worry about serving someone who doesn't like "petrol" to drink.

Pairing Riesling With Food

Due to its high acidity and sugar content, you can pair Riesling with a variety of foods - especially chili-laced and spicy cuisines. Also, you can pair it with white fish and pork because it's light.

The sharp and crisp taste of Riesling also goes well with salty foods, cheese, and vegetables.

Similar Wines

Riesling is quite similar to Moscato, and you'd also like a Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc if you like it.

High Points

• Fruity and grapey aromas
• Delicate and sweet
• Thirst-quenching crispiness

Turnoffs

• Sour notes from its high acidity

White Zinfandel – California Pink Wine

It's hard to make a list of wines for people who don't like wine and leave out White Zinfandel - a wine that's hated by wine lovers because people drink it when they don't actually like wine.

This blush wine is Sutter Home's invention, and the winery still sells White Zinfandel to this day. White Zinfandels are made from red zinfandel grapes that normally make bold and spicy red wines. The sweet pink-colored wine we've come to like results from a fortunate calamity (a stuck fermentation) at the winery run by Bob Trinchero.

It's as full of life as its pink hue. The White Zinfandel is an "easy-drinking, sugary juice" like it’s the best wine for non-wine drinkers, and they would get accustomed to it immediately. It's comparable to drinking chilled fresh juice with a sweet tropical accent and crisp freshness.

Pairing White Zinfandel With Food

White Zinfandel, like most wines, is produced in different styles. For this purpose, you'd prefer a sweet to semi-sweet style, so you don't "foul" your palate. The fruity will go with white meats like pork and fish fillets, and all kinds of seafood.

Like most white wines, White Zin would pair with cream-based desserts, spicy continental foods, and sauces, like tomato sauces.

Always serve White Zinfandel cold. It accentuates its sweetness and flavors.

Similar Wine For People Who Don't Like Wine

Rosé has to be the closest one since they are relatively the same wine. If White Zinfandel was a cake, Rosé is practically the same cake, but with fancy icing on the top.

High Points

• Smooth sweet taste
• Great for spicy foods
• Romantic pink hue
• Cheap

Turnoffs

• It varies among its many products

Champagne - Celebratory Wine For Anyone Or Any Occasion

It's safe to say Champagne is the godfather of sparkling wines.

Fast fact:

In the European Union and many other countries, only sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France may be called Champagne. In the US, only brands whose labels were approved before 2006 may keep using the name on American wine.

Talk about classy.

Champagnes are made mainly from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier, or a blend of them. Only Chardonnay is a white grape, and a handful of other permitted varieties are rarely used.

Bottom line... Champagne is a fizzy bottle of tastiness that can be enjoyed alone or paired with a meal. It's the "most celebratory bubbly beverage" for a reason. You would enjoy it.

Foods To Pair With Champagne

For a person who doesn't like wine, Doux Champagne - the sweetest of champagne styles - is more appropriate. It shines with desserts and sweet treats.

Serving Champagne with almost any dish, from seafood to roast chicken will appeal to your palate. It can also be paired with cream-based sauces and equally sweet desserts. This would cancel out any trace of sourness from the high acid content of its grapes.

Serving Champagne

That said, Champagne is best served chilled. Often, it's cooled in an ice bucket, thirty minutes before pouring it into the glass. This helps to keep the renowned bubbles intact and exposes the flavors.

Also, tilt the glass at an angle if you want to keep the bubbles further locked in. It's best to serve any sparkling wine this way.

Similar Wines

For a person who doesn't like wine, Doux - the sweetest champagne style - is more appropriate.

High Points

• Symbol of luxury and celebration
• Goes with daytime or nighttime entertainment

Turnoffs

• Can be expensive
• High acidity

Chardonnay

Long before ever trying out this wine, I've been a fan of its name. Unsurprisingly, Chardonnay is also one of the most popular white wines in the world. Dave says "it's easy to say and it sounds like it ends with a smile." Well, when you toast to loved ones or alone.

Chardonnay's versatility and adaptability are what make it so popular. Its green-skinned grapes can produce a crisp, fruity wine or an oaked, buttery one. There's a Chardonnay for everyone. Essentially, it's a blank canvas waiting for the wine producer to paint a work of art.

Warm-climate Chardonnay exhibits the popular bold and boozy flavor, thanks to California. But cooler climates, like Burgundy - Chardonnay's hometown, produce lean, citrusy, and easy-drinking wines that would shock a naysayer.

Foods to Pair With Chardonnay

Being an all-around wine, you can pair Chardonnay with many food options. You just need to have the right bottle, for the right type of food.

Regardless, they'd go with all sorts of meat pairings (mostly whites), vegetables, soft cheeses, and spices like parsley and tarragon. And even buttery popcorn.

Similar Wines

If you like Chardonnay, you should try out similar varieties like Marsanne, Viognier, and Roussanne.

High Points

• Goes well with a host of dishes
• Toasty flavor in oaked styles
• Creamy texture in buttery styles
• Good conversation starter

Turnoffs

• Oaked Chardonnay might have "in your face" flavors
• Zesty Chardonnay can be "sour" or medium acidic
• Taste and quality are based on the terroir of the grapes

Other Wines To Try If You Like Beer

If you enjoy beer but don't really like wine, you wouldn't mind drinking a bottle of Champagne. However, Champagne is more of a celebratory drink and costs a fortune compared to beer.

Folks enjoying a "fun" night out might have a look at their empty wallets after downing a couple of glasses of Champagne. But there's a much more affordable option called Cava. It's made by the same traditional method, with a second fermentation in the bottle. It's bubbly, tastes crispy, and has a citrusy aroma, just like Champagne.

The kicker: premium Cava costs only a fraction of the price of Champagne.

Also, you can try Shiraz, Bordeaux, or Carmenere if you drink Belgian Ale. They are opulent, masculine wines you'd love.

Wines To Try If You Like Hard Liquor

Any hard liquor sipper would love the taste of a single malt scotch. Many a wine exhibit the quick high, and strong, but flavorful undertones of most liquors. The list could be unending when you consider different gins, whiskeys, cognacs, and their unique flavors.

So, you can either research an identical wine alternative to your favorite liquor or try out high-boozy wines. Well, I'll go with the latter and recommend Syrah, Zinfandel, and Grenache.

Rarely do I see a liquor drinker turn down a strong alcoholic drink. So, I'll recommend even stronger wines like Amarone, Port, Marsala, or Sherry - real Sherry is actually sipped like fine Whiskey.

Taste Test: Joining a wine club will lessen the pressure of having served wines you don't like at all. Try this one for starters -- Firstleaf Review.

Sipping Up

All these wines and you're unable to find one that could sit well on an inexperienced palate?

Let's do it this way:

Trust me, try out two recommendations off this list for dinner or while binge-watching your favorite tv show. Preferably, a white first, then a red later.

Also, be sure to pour yourself a glass at the recommended temperatures. Or stick to chilled for sweet, low-bodied white wines, and warm for tannic full-bodied reds.

Tried any yet? Which wine tastes better: red or white wine?

We'd love to hear from you! 😉

Sources

• Grape varieties, Comité Champagne
• The Traditional Method of Cava, D.O. Cava