Skip to content

Top Navigation

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Recipes & Cooking
  • Drinks
  • Travel
  • Holidays & Events
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Food & Wine

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Explore

    Explore

    • F&W Cooks

      Food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online. Read More Next
    • Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes

      Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? A slow cooker can can take your comfort food to the next level. Read More Next
    • 50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust

      We’ve assembled a list of 50 of the world’s most reliable, inexpensive wines – bottles that offer amazing quality for their price year in and year out. Read More Next
  • Recipes & Cooking

    Recipes & Cooking

    See All Recipes & Cooking
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Comfort Food Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Pasta & Noodle Recipes
    • Chefs
    • Meat & Poultry Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Fruit Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Special Diets
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Steal This Trick
  • Drinks

    Drinks

    See All Drinks
    • Wine
    • Cocktails & Spirits
    • Coffee Drinks & Recipes
    • Juices
    • Beer & Brews
    • Champagne & Sparkling Wine
    • Tea Recipes & Ideas
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    • Wine Regions
    • Restaurants
  • Holidays & Events

    Holidays & Events

    See All Holidays & Events
    • Valentine's Day
    • Halloween
    • Passover
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • Gifts
    • Super Bowl
    • Easter
    • Thanksgiving
    • New Year's Eve
    • Holiday Entertaining
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Wine Chevron Right
  3. Drink These 25 Bottles and Become a Wine Master

Drink These 25 Bottles and Become a Wine Master

By Food & Wine
Updated February 08, 2019
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Credit: Courtesy of Andre Brunel – Domaine les Cailloux
Ask any wine expert what’s the best way to learn about wine, and they’ll tell you to taste as much as you can. But where to start? And for that matter, where to finish? There are almost 20,000 different wines for sale in the U.S. at any given moment. So even if you’re a zillionaire with a ton of spare time, tasting more than a tiny fraction of what’s available clearly is not an option.To save you from getting completely overwhelmed, here’s a 25-bottle starter guide to wine wisdom. You’ll need a budget of roughly $1,000, which sounds like a lot, but you don’t have to buy all of the bottles up front—one a week will suffice. Also, the point here isn’t to drown you in technical wine geekery. If you are keen to know the geological origins of Portugal’s Douro Valley, Google’s your friend. The purpose of this exercise is to leave you with a mental library of tastes that you can refer to anytime you try a new wine.Related: 18 Wine Racks We Love From Amazon and WayfairIn fact, maybe the thing to do is to think of this as a game rather than a rigorous course of study—like The Game of Life for wine. Follow the path in order. Each bottle leads to the next. You accumulate experience. But instead of retiring at the end, you wind up with a bunch of wine smarts and the rest of your days ahead of you. Not bad, right?
Start Slideshow

1 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Drink These 10 Bottles and Become a Wine Master

1 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

1. Champagne

Credit: Courtesy of Frederick Wildman and Sons, LTD.

Every journey needs a good send-off, so begin with Champagne. It’s the ur–sparkling wine, the one after which all others are modeled. For a benchmark, open the NV Pol Roger Brut Réserve White Foil ($50), a brioche-scented bubbly from one of the last major houses that’s still family owned.

2 of 23

3 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

2. California Chardonnay

Credit: Courtesy of La Crema

Chardonnay is the most popular grape variety in the US. Familiarize yourself with the classic California style—ripe fruit, spicy oak notes—with a wine like the 2015 La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($23).

3 of 23

Advertisement

4 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

3. Burgundy Pinot Noir

Credit: Courtesy of Domaine Parent

To set your palate definition for Pinot Noir, go to the source: Burgundy. The 2014 Domaine Parent Bourgogne Pinot Noir ($30) shows how this grape, grown with care in the French region’s gently sloping vineyards, can offer intensity but remain light and graceful.

4 of 23

5 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

4. Napa Valley Cabernet

Credit: Courtesy of Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet is California’s iconic red wine. Try a standard-bearer like the 2014 Joseph Phelps Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($75), full of blackberry and black currant fruit.

5 of 23

6 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

5. Bordeaux

Credit: Courtesy of Château Sociando-Mallet

Bordeaux is the most famous wine region in the world—don’t skip it. Most Bordeaux are blends, anchored by Cabernet or Merlot. And, contrary to the region’s image, you don’t have to pay a lot for an excellent bottle, like the tobacco-scented 2014 Château Sociando-Mallet ($40). If you taste this and the Phelps at the same time, try the Bordeaux first.

6 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

6. French Chardonnay

Credit: Courtesy of Domaine Laroche

Remember the oak-inflected taste of the La Crema? Now try its opposite: a crisp, lighter-bodied, almost chalky Chardonnay from France, like the 2016 Domaine Laroche Chablis Saint Martin ($26). Same grape, two distinctly different styles.

7 of 23

8 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

7. California Pinot Noir

Credit: Courtesy of Dutton-Goldfield Winery

As a counterpoint to the Pinot from Burgundy, open a more lushly fruity version from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, California’s premier source for Pinots. Seek out the 2015 Dutton Goldfield Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir ($44), from one of the AVA’s best vineyards.

8 of 23

9 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

8. Chianti

Credit: MundoVino / The Winebow Group

Time to leave the US and France behind and head to Italy. First stop: Chianti, because you can’t say you know Italian wine without having a sense of Chianti’s bright, taut character. A quintessential example is the 2015 Castellare di Castellina Chianti Classico ($24).

9 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

9. Barolo

Credit: Courtesy of Frederick Wildman and Sons, LTD.

Step up your Italian game with a bottle of Barolo, which is made from the Nebbiolo grape in northern Italy’s Piedmont region (and sometimes referred to as “the wine of kings, the king of wines”). The 2012 Marchesi di Barolo Barolo Tradizione ($53) captures the wine’s signature floral delicacy as well as its underlying tannic power.

10 of 23

11 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

10. Rioja

Credit: Courtesy of Marqués de Murrieta

Europe’s third great source for reds is Spain, and Rioja is its most celebrated wine area. Go for a reserva from a traditional producer, such as the 2012 Marqués de Murrieta Reserva Rioja ($29). Its hints of vanilla and spice come from being aged in American oak.

11 of 23

12 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

11. & 12. Sancerre and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

Credit: Courtesy of Cloudy Bay

France’s Sancerre has been a premier location for Sauvignon Blanc since the early 1900s; New Zealand is the new kid on the block. Buy a couple of top bottles to compare: the flinty, citrusy 2016 Domaine Vacheron Sancerre ($34) and the peppery, grassy 2016 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc ($31). Odds are you’ll like one better than the other; use that knowledge as a guide.

12 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

13. & 14. Sweet and Dry German Riesling

Credit: Courtesy of Loosen Bros

Not all Rieslings are sweet! For a comparison—and to understand why sweeter-style Rieslings can be just as vibrant as dry ones—open two bottles from top German producer Dr. Loosen: the 2015 Dr. Loosen Red Slate Riesling Dry ($18) and the 2015 Dr. Loosen Blue Slate Riesling Kabinett ($22), which has a slight amount of residual sugar.

13 of 23

14 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

15. & 16. Rhône Syrah and Australian Shiraz

Credit: Courtesy of E. Guigal

Hint for this step: First roast a leg of lamb (you’ll want something hearty to go with these wines), then pour a savory, cool-climate northern Rhône Syrah like the 2013 E. Guigal Crozes-Hermitage Rouge ($25) alongside a more luscious, fruity, warm-region Aussie Shiraz, such as the2015 Hentley Farm Barossa Valley Shiraz ($28). And maybe invite a few friends over, too.

14 of 23

15 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

17. Rosé

Credit: Courtesy of Domaine du Gros ‘Noré

All rosés taste alike, right? Light, simple summer sippers, perfect for poolside quaffing? Think again. The rosés of France’s Bandol region have the depth and character of great white wines. Open a bottle of the 2016 Domaine du Gros Noré Bandol Rosé ($32) and see for yourself.

15 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

18. Merlot

Credit: Courtesy of Pepper Bridge Winery

It’s been 13 years since the movie Sideways came out, and yet, thanks to it, some people are still locked into the idea that Merlot is...bad. Or, at the very least, uncool. Dispel this prejudice with a layered, world-class example like the2014 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Valley Merlot ($50) from Washington state.

16 of 23

17 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

19. Australian Cabernet

Credit: Frances Andrijich

There’s more to Australian wine than cheap and cheerful Shiraz—Cabernet Sauvignon from the far western Margaret River area being a case in point. Indulge in a bottle of the graceful, red-fruited 2014 Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($45) to get a sense of Australia’s surprising range.

17 of 23

18 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

20. Malbec

Credit: MundoVino / The Winebow Group

Argentina’s Mendoza region made its name on bargain Malbecs, but there are impressive, ageworthy bottles produced there, too. Invest a little extra on a wine like the rich 2013 Bodega Aleanna El Enemigo ($30) to understand the potential of these vineyards in the Andean foothills.

18 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

21. French Chenin Blanc

Credit: Courtesy of Domaine François Chidaine

Chenin Blanc from France’s Loire Valley is a variety that many people aren’t familiar with, but its vivid acidity and substantial pear and apple flavors have made it a sommelier darling. Get a sense of why from the racy 2015 François Chidaine Clos du Breuil Montlouis-sur-Loire Sec ($30).

19 of 23

20 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

22. California Mourvèdre

Credit: Steve Fisch

California is home to lots of famous wineries, but it also has an abundance of boundary-pushing young winemakers working outside traditional styles. Track down the tongue-prickling, spicy 2016 Donkey & Goat Twinkle Mourvèdre ($26) to experience a different vision of what the state’s wines can offer.

20 of 23

21 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

23. Natural Wine

Credit: Courtesy of Agricola Arianna Occhipinti

Natural wine is a flash point for controversy. The term refers to wines made with minimal human intervention (little or no sulfur, no industrial yeasts and so on). Sometimes they’re wonderful, sometimes funky, often both. Test out the exotic 2016 Arianna Occhipinti SP68 Bianco ($28) from Sicily.

21 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

24. Aged Wines

Credit: @Millesima

As wine ages, it trades in direct, fruity flavors for more subtle, savory ones. Find a reputable retailer (such as K&L Wines in San Francisco or Millesima in NYC) and splurge on an older red like the cedary 2006 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste ($79) from Bordeaux.

22 of 23

23 of 23

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

25. Truly Great Wine

Credit: Courtesy of Andre Brunel – Domaine les Cailloux

Finally, taste a truly great wine. (You’ll overshoot your budget by a little, but what the heck!) What defines great? Nuance, complexity, history—on some level, greatness is indescribable, but it is tasteable. Open the 2010 André Brunel Les Cailloux Cuvée Centenaire Châteauneuf-du-Pape ($195), a spectacular Rhône red from a stellar vintage.

23 of 23

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Food & Wine

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 23 Drink These 10 Bottles and Become a Wine Master
2 of 23 1. Champagne
3 of 23 2. California Chardonnay
4 of 23 3. Burgundy Pinot Noir
5 of 23 4. Napa Valley Cabernet
6 of 23 5. Bordeaux
7 of 23 6. French Chardonnay
8 of 23 7. California Pinot Noir
9 of 23 8. Chianti
10 of 23 9. Barolo
11 of 23 10. Rioja
12 of 23 11. & 12. Sancerre and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
13 of 23 13. & 14. Sweet and Dry German Riesling
14 of 23 15. & 16. Rhône Syrah and Australian Shiraz
15 of 23 17. Rosé
16 of 23 18. Merlot
17 of 23 19. Australian Cabernet
18 of 23 20. Malbec
19 of 23 21. French Chenin Blanc
20 of 23 22. California Mourvèdre
21 of 23 23. Natural Wine
22 of 23 24. Aged Wines
23 of 23 25. Truly Great Wine

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Login

Food & Wine

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Books from Food & Wine
  • Contact Us
  • Media Kit
  • Content Licensing

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Food & Wine is part of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.foodandwine.com

View image

Drink These 25 Bottles and Become a Wine Master
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.