9 of the Best Spring Wines, According to Sommeliers
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What comes to mind first when you try to envision a wine that personifies spring? Perhaps a bright and bubbly prosecco (paired with a vacation to the Amalfi Coast, please) or a refreshing chilled rosé?
Those certainly meet the mark of what we’re in the mood for as temperatures finally begin to rise. But as we discovered in our guide to the best summer wines and the best winter wines, there’s room for wines of every color any time of year.
It’s just a matter of knowing what to look for in that red, white, rosé or sparkler so it fits the conditions and the vibe of the hopeful season that’s prime for picnics and full of longer, brighter days.
What to Look for in the Best Spring Wines
“What do we love about spring? Everything of course! Everything just feels so alive— and that’s what I want in my spring wines,” says Luke Wilmoth, beverage manager at CUCINA enoteca. “They must be bright, vibrant and alive. Nothing heavy this time of year. Anything that is crunchy, fresh, clean and just plain tasty is going to hit the spot.”
That doesn’t mean it has to be white or pink to suit the season as the garden begins to come alive. Any wine can have you thinking spring if…
It’s light- to medium-bodied. Full-bodied wines have 13.5 percent or more alcohol by volume (ABV), and are better reserved for cooler and cozier months. Come spring, seek out light-bodied (less than 12.5 percent ABV) to medium-bodied (12.5 to 13.5 percent ABV) wines. These are not only less “heavy” on the palate, but are also better for day drinking, says Elyse Lovenworth, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based lead sommelier for the premium online wine shop and wine tasting experience Sommsation. “For spring, I’m looking for a wine that is a bit on the lighter side, and a welcome respite from deep, dark, and brooding ‘winter wines.’ I want my wines to be fresh and easy to drink,” adds Brianne Cohen, a Los Angeles-based certified sommelier and wine educator.
It offers some acidity. Grapes grown in cooler areas tend to showcase more acidity, so seek out wines produced in areas with less-intense heat. The presence of acidity in a wine makes it pair well with food and makes it hit different than a silky-smooth and sweeter wine that falls higher on the pH scale.
Bonus points go to anything with some spritz.
“There’s nothing like the excitement of spring—especially after a cold, dark winter. To pair with that excited feeling, I recommend bubbles,” Lovenworth says. “The wines have crisp citrus notes that leave you feeling refreshed after every sip.”
9 of the Best Spring Wines, According to Sommeliers
The Best White Wines for Spring
Best Spring Wine for Seafood: Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley
Similar to the wine version of sweater weather, “this wine dances between richness and brightness. It offers both this rich, creamy texture yet finishes with a delightful refreshing wash of acidity,” Wilmoth says. It’s a benchmark Sonoma sauvignon blanc, he adds, delivering white flower and orange blossom aromas and ruby red grapefruit essence flavor-wise. Try it with salmon, shrimp or any fare that falls on the lighter side.
Buy it: $49.99 at wine.com
Best Wine for Spicy Fare: Selbach’s Incline Riesling
“The level of elegance with riesling, in my opinion, is quite difficult to surpass since it has so many beautiful personalities that you don’t see quite often,” explains Bijan Ghiai, certified sommelier and beverage manager at Urban Hill in Salt Lake City, Utah. This bottle is from one of the most prominent riesling regions: Germany’s Mosel Valley, known for their fantastically “slate-y” wines that are relatively low in alcohol (here, 11.5 percent ABV) and smell like fresh apples, peaches and ripe pears. Since it’s dry, light and acidic, try serving this with spicy takeout or any home-cooked dinner with some kick.
Buy it: $15.86 at vivino.com
Best Spring Wine to Take Chicken Dinners From Okay to Unforgettable: Domaine Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet Burgundy
According to Mike Fayad, general manager and wine program designer at Hearth and Hill in Salt Lake City, Utah, white burgundy saw a couple of challenging vintages recently. So that means the already-rare wine is now “astronomically priced, in addition to being tough to find,” Fayad says. But if you can find it and you’re willing to make the investment, you’ll be rewarded with a natural partner to make your spring chicken dinners shine. Medium-bodied with a balance of buttery and mineral qualities, this beautifully balanced French white wine offers a clean and vibrant finish.
Buy it: $185 at cultwine.com
The Best Red Wines for Spring
Best Spring Wine for a Host Gift: Brewer Clifton Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
Falling at the lighter end of the red wine spectrum, pinot noir is like a little black dress: ideal for any season. This one is particularly perfect for spring since “there is no excess to this wine,” according to Wilmoth. “Everything is exactly as it should be; it has grace, elegance and classic beauty. Close your eyes and envision Audrey Hepburn at the Oscars. This wine is timeless just like that.” The freshness and vibrancy hits you with the first sip, Wilmoth adds, along with flavors of pomegranate and ripe bing cherry. Near the finish, you’ll discover a hint of “briny savoriness that helps the wine's versatility with most any food pairing,” Wilmoth says.
Buy it: $45 at bygregbrewer.com
Best Spring Wine for Early-Season Barbecues: Produttori del Barbaresco's Nebbiolo Langhe
Gamay is the more en vogue lighter-bodied red right now, but Ghiai is partial to surprising his guests with nebbiolo in spring. “Along with nuances of cherry, pepper and leather all wrapped in one, the tannins and intense floral savoriness in it are right up my alley, and its lighter body makes this bottle racy enough for the picturesque spring months,” he says. Add friends, a warm spring evening and some barbecue ribs—or anything from the grill—and you have an ideal seasonal dinner.
Buy it: $29.99 at vivino.com
Best Spring Wine for Charcuterie Boards: Solo Per Amore from Sori Della Sorba
“Fun, fruity and just a little feisty,” Wilmoth says, dolcetto is a delightful grape that offers notes of brambly fresh fruit (like blackberries) along with an element of savoriness. Since it’s medium-bodied (13.5 percent ABV), Wilmoth suggests serving it slightly chilled so it feels fresher and allows the fruitier sensations to shine. Those play nicely with a meat and cheese board and a colorful sunset.
Buy it: $63.99 at wine.com
Best Spring Wine for Those Who Think They Don’t Like Red Wine: Piazza Family Wines Carbonic Graciano
Another best-served-chilled red, this wine “is zingy and lively, which is a product of the ‘carbonic’ winemaking process,” Cohen says. As part of carbonic maceration, grapes are placed into fermentation tanks whole—stems and skins included—and once the steel tank is sealed and oxygen can no longer get in, the grapes ferment in the presence of carbon dioxide and crush themselves due to the alcohol they’re creating. This process makes the wine fruitier and softer in tannins. This one has notes of red fruits, florals, and even a cherry cola, Cohen says, and is ideal for drinking on its own or with anything from delivery pizza to a spread of tapas.
Buy it: $30 at piazzafamilywines.com
The Best Rosé Wines for Spring
Best Spring Wine for Chips and Dip: Commanderie de la Bargemone Rosé
“Rosé is your perfect spring sipper, with notes of stone fruit—including peaches and apricots—plus watermelon and raspberries,” Cohen says. “Rooty tooty, fresh and fruity; this easy drinking, versatile wine pairs well with almost all lighter fare,” including appetizers and other happy hour snacks. Seek out a pink wine from Provence for the ultimate spring option, Ghiai advises. Provence is not only the birthplace of rosé, but also produces “stunningly crisp but incredibly balanced wines,” he says. This bottle is a harmony of wild flowers and fresh red fruit. Don’t be fooled: it tastes far fancier than its price might let on.
Buy it: $19.99 at wine.com
Best Spring Wine for Before or After Dinner: Soter Mineral Springs Brut Rosé
Equally appropriate as a welcome toast or a dessert partner, bubbly rosé hits you with fresh citrus and juicy apricot flavors, and of course, a burst of effervescence. “The first sip transports you to a strawberry patch, then it finishes with this very subtle creaminess that hits like a dollop of whipped cream on your favorite strawberry shortcake,” Wilmoth says. Sounds like a dreamy pairing.
Buy it: $72 at purchase.sotervineyards.com
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