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I’m a big fan of Australian Chardonnays. I prefer their weaker oak taste and stronger fruity notes. They are great for wine beginners. My favourite was the Cooralook Chardonnay from Mornington Peninsula (left), the Evans & Tate Chardonnay from Margaret River was a close second. Both are under $20.

As a beginner, I prefer the softer and lighter palates of Pinot Noirs. The Cooralook was the most easy-drinking of this category, but the taste of fresh grape is a bit too transparent, making it taste like grape juice.

This category is a bit confusing, it has a bit of everything. The bubbly moscat wines deserve a special mention. This was the first time I’ve ever tried moscat wine, and in sparkling form, it’s sweet, light and very pretty (in pink). Both the De Bortoli Emeri Pink Moscato (left) and Innocent Bystander Moscato are worth a try; the latter comes in a 375ml half sized bottle, which makes perfect sense since you can’t exactly save it after opening.

This category contained the more expensive wines of the group. The priciest wine, the E&E Black Pepper Shiraz from Barossa Valley (left) comes in at a hefty $100. Spicy, oaky, rich, full, dark, and deep are all good words to describe this wine. And although it’s likely a delectable treat for red wine lovers, it hit my taste buds like a grenade. It’s not made for beginners. The Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir of this category is an easy-drinking wine that I could get used to.

I have a pretty limited knowledge base for desert wines, but Hardys Whiskers Blake Tawny Port appealed to me out of the list. It’s mellow yet sweet, with a bit of a bite and a hint of coffee.