For friends that don't drink wine often.

Australian wine has a funny predicament.

We have more supply than demand, far too many brands for one type of Varietal or blend each (look at the shelves of your local bottle shop to see what I mean) yet what we have produced in quality in a number of decades has taken the Old World producers centuries. We also live on a very climate diverse continent where we are blessed that we are able to produce various varietals in optimum conditions for the fruit to grow and be produced into wine.

So, with such a large choice available - why are people reluctant to crack open a bottle with a meal more often or just out with friends? Could be a number of reasons, but I think for people new to it all, I feel it comes down to intimidation and a fear they will almost gag from something as foreign sounding as Shiraz Cabernet being consumed by themselves. I completely understand this. It's a smell and taste they're not familiar with. Their olfactory (the thing in your nose that identifies smells) and palate (your tongue) try to identify what it is they've just tasted, and if it is something as big, spicy and full bodied as a Shiraz the first time they try it, chances are they're going to consider it 'sour' or like 'vinegar' and consequently not want to try it again, which is a real shame.

There's also the problem of commitment to the purchase of a full bottle you are not familiar with. Sure, bottle shops offer tastings but can you honestly get to try what it is you want most of the time? Unlikely. You test drive a car before purchasing it, you try on clothes before buying them - so why can there not be a similar mindset with wine purchases?

Well, hopefully I can steer you in the right direction anyway for trying out wine for the first time or you don't drink it often because of similar reasons above.

Start with sweet white or red wine. Gone are the days when people would turn their nose up at it and say, "Oh, I would never drink sweet wine....but I'll have a Moscato!" How much you want to spend is entirely up to you, though you really don't need to spend more than $15 on a bottle.


I recommend:

Brown Brothers Moscato (around $13 a bottle).

This in my opinion is a great place to start in wine. It is a lighter straw hue in colour and you have the familiar characteristic aroma of fresh fruit, followed onto the palate by caramelized character and candy with the spritz bubbles in it making it lively and fresh to drink. An absolute winner. A must try with gourmet Ice cream cake.


Brown Brothers Cienna (around $15 a bottle).

Considered the 'white drinkers red', Cienna is a wonderful transition from white wine to red. It is sweet and refreshing with a mixed berry aroma, following to the palate with Cherry characteristics. Highly recommended with warm sticky date pudding.