The fly-half claimed the opening score as Wales’ Capital Region kicked off the Guinness PRO12 season in style at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park.
John Lacey also awarded a penalty try while number eight Nick Williams and scrum-half Tomos Williams also crossed in the second-half.
The victory ensured the Blues collected maximum points from the season opener, going one match point better than the final fixture of last campaign against the same opposition.
The hosts made a series of scrappy mistakes in the opening exchanges and Duncan Weir booted Edinburgh into the lead on four minutes.
But it was Wilson’s side that displayed the sharper attacking edge with Shingler slicing through the Edinburgh defence, but unable to find captain, Ellis Jenkins, in support.
However, the fly-half, making his first competitive start for Wales’ Capital Region, did not take long to conjure up another break as he ghosted through the defence to score.
He converted his effort to make it 7-3 after nine minutes at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park.
Shingler fired wide from a penalty moments later and Edinburgh went back in front when Solomoni Rasolea crashed over from close range after hitting a flat pass at pace.
The Scotland fly-half stretched his side’s lead further with a penalty from the half-way line on 19 minutes.
Cardiff Blues were displaying plenty of attacking intent and were causing Edinburgh plenty of problems but the last pass was failing to stick.
The fighting spirit was typified by Nick Williams, who continually rampaged into the heart of the Scots, to the delight of the home faithful.
Shingler cut the deficit to three points following another Williams charge and the Blues set up camp in opposition territory.
They were beginning to take a hold on the game, with the back-row a constant nuisance without the ball and a handful with it, and they went in front thanks to a penalty try on 33 minutes.
After dinking a penalty into the corner, the pack rampaged forward and following a succession of phases John Lacey lost patience with the Scots’ incessant infringements.
Shingler made no mistake from under the sticks to bring the scores to 17-13. Weir missed two further long-range shots at goal as the Blues held onto a four-point half-time lead.
The fly-half booted the scoreboard back into action four minutes into the second-half following a dominant shove from his pack at scrum-time.
Weir responded for the visitors on 51 minutes and Wilson began to ring the changes with Cardiff Blues captain Gethin Jenkins and Gareth Anscombe coming on.
Anscombe quickly sliced through the Edinburgh defence but Cardiff Blues were unable to capitalise on the breakthrough.
However, they remained in Edinburgh territory and took a major stride towards victory on 61 minutes.
Again the damage was done with a kick to the corner and a driving lineout. They were held at bay but went through the phases and Wiliams powered over to cap a fine performance with a try.
Anscombe converted to stretch the lead to 27-16 and he added the extras once again as Cardiff Blues secured the try-scoring bonus-point.
The pack once again flexed their forward muscle with another driving lineout to put Edinburgh on the racks.
And lively scrum-half Williams sniped over to secure a five-point haul on the opening day of the season.