If you're new to the world of wine, trying out the most popular kinds is a good place to start. When you aren't sure what types of wine you like, you should try out a variety. Anyone can find the perfect wine for them — with so many different types available with unique characteristics and flavors, there's a wine for everyone.

The information below should help you figure out which types of wines you like the most.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied red wine. It's the most popular variety of wine in the world. If you have a discerning palate, you'll primarily taste black cherry and blackcurrant. Cabernet Sauvignon pairs great with beef, lamb, smoked meats and hard cheese.

Merlot

Merlot is similar to Cabernet Sauvignon but has its own unique flavor. It isn't as full-bodied as the Cabernet Sauvignon but has a medium weight. It has a combination of flavors that you might not think go together, but they blend together wonderfully. You'll taste red fruit prevalently but also eucalyptus, mint, and juniper. Merlot pairs great with steak, nuts, tomatoes, and even some desserts.

Pinot Noir

This mid-bodied red wine has the tastes of several red flavors — red fruit, red flowers, and red vegetables. You can taste red fruits like cherry and cranberry, rose, beet and rhubarb. If you're looking for some foods that will pair well with this type of wine, be sure to eat chicken, pork, veal, duck or cured meats. Try a dish that also has cream sauces or soft cheese.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is a medium to light-bodied, dry white wine. It has the flavors from lemon, pear, apple, banana, pineapple, cinnamon, butterscotch, and caramel. The tart tastes with just a hint of sweet make this wine extremely popular. Chardonnay pairs very well with shellfish, especially lobster and crab, as well as chicken, pork, mushrooms, cream sauces and both soft and medium-firm kinds of cheese.

Riesling

Riesling is a white wine with a lighter body. It's typically both sweet and dry. Riesling tends to be a wine that you either love or hate. The taste is made up mainly of flavors from citrus, peach, and nectarine, but it has hints of floral and herbal flavors too. Pair it with a dish of chicken, pork, duck, turkey or cured meat. It also tastes great alongside a cheese fondue.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is a light- to medium-bodied, dry white wine. The most powerful overall flavor in this wine is citrus, but it combines several different unique flavors — grapefruit, honeydew, passion fruit, and kiwi. There's also a slight taste of herb, like mint. Sauvignon Blanc pairs great with fish, chicken, pork, veal, goat cheese, and Gruyere.

At Forklift & Palate, we have a full bar with a variety of the most popular wines as well as a diverse menu. If you need a recommendation for food, wine or both, our staff will be happy to make a suggestion for you.

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