As we continue through 2023, we are excited to share the top 10 wine types favored by our online wine shop‘s members. From bold reds to crisp whites, these wines will satisfy every palate. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or a newbie, we invite you to join us on this indulgent journey and discover the unique flavors and aromas each type of wine offers. So let’s raise a glass and explore the world of wine together!
Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc from the wine region of Sancerre is a refreshing and crisp white wine with a range of tasting notes. Expect to taste citrus, green apple, and herbaceous notes. Its bright acidity and mineral finish make it a pairing with seafood, salads, and light pasta dishes.
This wine is a great option for beginners as it is not too heavy or sweet. It is a wine with a medium body and a low alcohol content, making it a perfect choice for those just starting to explore their preferred tastes.
Sancerre is a wine region in the Loire Valley of France, known for its unique terroir, including limestone and flint soils. This terroir contributes to the distinct minerality found in Sauvignon Blanc from this region. It’s no wonder this wine is a favorite among members of the online wine shop WTSO.com!
WTSO Wine Recommendation: Sancerre Blanc 2022 Bernard Reverdy et Fils
Brut Champagne
Sparkling wine from the Champagne region is a delicious and popular option for wine lovers. It has a crisp and refreshing taste with notes of apple, lemon, and brioche. The bubbles are fine and persistent, making for a delightful drinking experience. This wine is a great choice for beginners because it is easy to drink and pairs well with various foods.
One unique aspect of Champagne is that it is produced using the traditional method, also known as the méthode champenoise. This involves a secondary fermentation in the bottle, which gives the sparkling wine its signature bubbles. Champagne can also range in sweetness level from Extra Brut to Doux, making it a versatile wine for any occasion. Favored as a timeless classic that is perfect for celebrating life’s special moments.
WTSO Wine Recommendation: Champagne Philippe Prié Brut Tradition
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley region is a bold and full-bodied wine that is highly sought after by wine enthusiasts. It is a great wine known for its rich flavor profile, which includes notes of black cherry, black currant, and vanilla. The wine has a smooth texture with firm tannins and a long finish. This wine is a great option for beginners because of its approachable taste and versatility.
Cabernet wine has a low residual sugar content, allowing natural fruit flavors to shine through. Napa Valley is a unique wine region because of its ideal climate and soil conditions, perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. The region is known for producing some of the world’s best Cabernet Sauvignon wines. This red wine type is a favorite among members of wine website WTSO.com, who appreciate its quality and unique flavor profile.
WTSO Wine Recommendation: Titan Wine Company Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley is a popular choice among wine lovers. This region, located in Oregon, is known for producing high-quality Pinot Noir with notable tasting notes of cherry, raspberry, and earthy undertones. Willamette Valley’s cool climate and volcanic soil contribute to the wine’s unique flavor profile. The wine has a medium body with a smooth finish and moderate tannins, making it a great choice for beginners and experienced wine drinkers alike.
One of the unique aspects of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is its sweetness level. While it is not a sweet wine, it has a subtle sweetness that is well-balanced with its acidity and tannins. This balance enhances the wine’s overall complexity and depth, making it a favorite among customers of the online wine shop WTSO.
Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley is a delicious and complex wine perfect for those new to the wine world. Its subtle sweetness, balanced acidity, and notable tasting notes make it a crowd-pleaser among wine drinkers. With its unique growing conditions and rich history, any WTSO member would recommend this red wine type!
WTSO Wine Recommendation: 93 Pt. Big Basin Vineyards Coastview Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
Rhône Valley Grenache Blend
Red blend wines from the Rhône wine region are known for their robust flavors and rich texture. Grenache blends, in particular, offer notes of dark fruit, spice, and a hint of earthiness on the palate. Notable appellations in the Rhône region for red blends include Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas. These wines are aged in oak barrels, giving them a full-bodied and complex taste.
Unique facts about the Rhone region include its use of the mistral winds, which help dry out the grapes and prevent mold growth, and the region’s history of winemaking dating back to the Roman Empire. Rhône region red blend wines are a great choice for beginners because they offer a balance of fruitiness and tannins. They are not too sweet but still have a smooth finish. Wines from this region are a favorite among members of WTSO due to their high-quality and unique flavor profiles.
WTSO Wine Recommendation: 94 Pt. Châteauneuf du Pape 2019 Domaine du Grand Tinel
Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese
Brunello di Montalcino is a wine region in Tuscany, Italy, famous for producing Sangiovese wine. Sangiovese is the only grape variety used to make Brunello di Montalcino wine. The wine has a medium to full body, with flavors of red cherries, raspberries, earthy notes, and a hint of spice and vanilla. The tannins in the wine are firm but not overpowering, making it a great wine for beginners.
The 2016 vintage of Sangiovese wine from Brunello di Montalcino is considered to be one of the best in recent years. The wine has a beautiful balance of acidity and tannins, and its flavors are more concentrated than previous vintages.
The vineyards in the Brunello di Montalcino region are planted at high altitudes, which helps to give the wine its unique flavor profile. Only producing a limited amount of wine each year, this is a highly sought-after wine. Sangiovese wine from Brunello di Montalcino is a favorite among members of the online wine store WTSO, who appreciate its complex flavors and versatility.
WTSO Wine Recommendation: Canneta Brunello di Montalcino 2016
Sonoma County Chardonnay
Chardonnay wine from Sonoma County is a popular and versatile wine that both beginner and experienced wine drinkers can enjoy. It is known for its smooth and creamy texture, with apple, pear, and tropical fruit flavors. Oaked Chardonnay has a richer, buttery taste with notes of vanilla and caramel, while unoaked Chardonnay has a crisper, fruitier taste with a lighter body.
One of the reasons Chardonnay is a great wine for beginners is because it typically has a lower sweetness level than other white wines such as Riesling. This means it is less likely to be overwhelming or sugary.
The wine region of Sonoma County boasts unique terroir that lends itself to producing high-quality Chardonnay. For example, the cool coastal breezes and warm inland temperatures balance the acidity and ripeness of the grapes.
Chardonnay’s popularity is partly due to its ability to pair well with a variety of foods, from seafood to poultry to pasta dishes. Whether you prefer oaked or unoaked Chardonnay, this white wine type will surely delight with its smooth, fruity flavors and unique characteristics from the Sonoma County region.
WTSO Wine Recommendation: Pedroncelli Chardonnay Dry Creek Valley 2021 Family Reserve
Western Cape Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc wine from the Western Cape region of South Africa is a perfect wine for beginners. This wine is known for its smooth texture and fruity taste, with notes of cherries, black currants, and green pepper that make it a truly unique experience. Cabernet Franc is a medium-bodied wine that is incredibly easy to drink, making it a great option for those who are just starting to explore the world of wine.
In terms of sweetness, Cabernet Franc is on the drier side, with a subtle sweetness that complements its fruity flavors. The Western Cape region of South Africa is known for its unique terroir, which contributes to the distinctive taste of the wine. The region’s Mediterranean climate and diverse soil types create a perfect environment for growing high-quality grapes used to make this delicious wine. Unsurprisingly, Cabernet Franc from the Western Cape is a favorite among WTSO members!
WTSO Wine Recommendation: 97 Pt. KWV The Mentors Cabernet Franc 2019 Stellenbosch
Galicia Albariño
Albariño is a white wine grape variety grown in the wine region of Galicia, in the northwest of Spain. This wine is known for its refreshing acidity, bright citrus flavors, and notes of peach, apricot, and melon. It has a light to medium body and a crisp finish, making it a great wine for wine drinkers looking for something easy to enjoy.
What makes Albariño unique is its origin in the Rías Baixas DO (Denominación de Origen), located along the Atlantic coast of Galicia. The region’s cool and humid climate, combined with its granitic soils, creates the perfect conditions for growing this grape variety. This wine is a favorite among the online wine shop Wines’ Til Sold Out members, who appreciate its versatility and food-friendliness.
Fun fact: the name Albariño comes from the Galician word “alba,” meaning “white,” which highlights the importance of this grape in the region’s winemaking tradition.
WTSO Wine Recommendation: Xovial Albariño 2021 Galicia Spain
Vintage Porto
Fortified port wine from the wine region of Douro in Portugal is a true delight for any wine lover. With its deep, ruby color and rich, complex flavor profile, it is sure to impress even the most discerning palate. On the nose, notes of dark fruit, such as blackberry and currant, mingle with hints of chocolate and spice. The wine is full-bodied and velvety on the palate, with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and nutty undertones. This wine is a great choice for beginners because its sweetness level and smooth finish make it easy to enjoy.
The appellation of Douro is known for producing some of the world’s finest fortified wines, and for good reason. The region’s unique microclimate and soil composition provide ideal growing conditions for the grapes used to make port wine. Additionally, the wine is aged in oak barrels for at least three years, imparting a distinctive nutty flavor and adding depth and complexity. Whether enjoyed on its own or paired with a rich, chocolatey dessert, this wine is sure to impress!
WTSO Wine Recommendation: Taylor Fladgate Classic Vintage Porto 2018