new to wine

[Innkeeper]

Hi Yvonne, and welcome to the Wine Board. Cognac is a distilled beverage such as Scotch and Bourbon. It is distilled from grapes, with others are distilled from grain. Sherry and Port are wines that have been "fortified" with distilled spirits. They are higher in alcohol than table wine (non fortified, non sparkling wine), and are usually used as before or after dinner wine (sometimes with dessert).

Agree that Beaujolais is a good red wine to start with. If it is still too dry for you try Lambrusco. For whites try an off dry riesling from Germany or California. Most chenin blanc from California is off dry too. Most of these two from California that are dry will say so on the label.