You don’t have to spend a fortune or spend hours reading labels to make good wine selections for your dinner guests. Here is a concise wine guide for beginners.cheese types Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc grapes make white wines. Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir grapes make full, rich red wines. Merlot grapes produce lighter, softer red wines. Most red wines improve with a bit of aging, some for as long as ten years. Most red wines are not distributed until about two years after they are put in the bottle. Sparkling wines, such as Champagne or Spumante can also be served with mild cheeses, appetizers, and desserts. Enjoying wine is a life-long process because there are always new sights, aromas and flavors to discover along the way.