10 Wines You Oughta Try in 2025
Ever find yourself reaching for the same bottle of wine? You're not alone. While Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay dominate wine shelves, some seriously amazing wines are waiting to rock your world. Here are 10 exceptional wines that deliver serious bang for your buck.
Nero d'Avola: Sicily's Bold Red
This powerhouse red from Sicily offers the boldness of Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of Mediterranean swagger. Despite being one of Italy's top 10 grapes, it remained overlooked while Sicily focused on Marsala production. This sun-loving grape pumps out gorgeous cherry, black plum, and tobacco notes with polished tannins. The best part? You can snag amazing bottles for under $20.
Touriga Nacional: Portugal's Hidden Strength
Port's secret weapon has gone solo; Touriga Nacional is an inky, powerful red grape that produces dry wines with intense blueberry, violet, and plum flavors. Its concentrated character and aging potential rival many prestigious wines at a fraction of the price.
Carignan: France's Comeback Kid
Once the most planted grape in France, Carignan fell from grace due to bulk wine production. However, old-vine examples showcase incredible complexity with flavors of black cherry, tobacco leaf, and baking spices backed by mouthwatering acidity. Perfect for BBQ lovers who dig bold reds.
Montepulciano: Italy's Misunderstood Red
Not to be confused with Tuscany's Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, this crowd-pleasing grape from Abruzzo delivers rich black plum, boysenberry, and sweet spice notes. When properly produced, it offers the kind of depth usually associated with much pricier wines; it's one of Italy's best-kept secrets.
Cinsault: The Mediterranean's Elegant Red
Meet Pinot Noir's Mediterranean cousin. Light, bright, and seriously food-friendly, this red brings strawberry-perfumed elegance without the Pinot price tag. Look for bottles from old vines in Southern France or South Africa.
Pinotage: South Africa's Unique Expression
South Africa's signature grape has grown up. Forget what you heard in the past - modern Pinotage (a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault) is all about rich blackberry, dark chocolate, and subtle smoke. Some serious winemaking has transformed this underdog into a world-class performer boasting complexity and character.
Chenin Blanc: Loire's Versatile White
Often typecast as just a sweet wine grape, Loire Valley's chameleon can do it all - sparkling, sweet, and killer dry whites. Honey, quince, and zippy acidity make Chenin Blanc the wine insider's white of choice. Its aging potential and complexity rival fine white Burgundy.
Vermentino: Italy's Coastal Beauty
This Mediterranean white offers all the zesty appeal of Sauvignon Blanc plus distinctive minerality and texture. Coastal examples show bright citrus flavors with a characteristic salty finish that screams for seafood.
Albariño: Spain's Atlantic Gem
Recently gaining international attention, this Spanish white delivers bright fruit flavors and distinctive minerality. Its combination of refreshing acidity and surprising depth makes it a worthy alternative to Pinot Grigio.
Marsanne-Roussanne: RhĂŽne's Dynamic Duo
These traditional white RhĂŽne varieties create age-worthy wines with remarkable complexity. Together, they offer rich texture and elegant aromatics that develop fascinating nutty and quince notes with age.
Here's the truth bomb: following the crowd means missing out on some of wine's best-kept secrets. These alternatives aren't just cheaper - they're unique, delicious wines with stories to tell. Ready to break out of your wine rut? Grab one of these bottles and prepare to impress both your palate and your wallet.
Wines Mentioned

Florian Le Capitaine
2021 Vouvray Sec
Vouvray | France
From the first slopes of Rochecorbon just above the Loire, a fresh white wine with citrus notes, a hint of mandarin and a lovely salinity.
The palate shows distinct freshness with an enticing salinity.

Buil & Giné
2017 17 - XI
Montsant | Spain
A dry red wine, complex due to the combination of aromas originating from the grape and the wood.
Endowed with the kind of richness derived from old vines (maximum age 45 years) this beauty sings of stone fruits and a distinctive minerality.

San Rucci Winery
2021 Montepulciano
San Benito | California
A bold red wine with tons of dark fruit aromas.

Micro Wines
2022 Cinsault
Barossa | Australia
A fragrant and floral nose. Light and gulpable, yet complex with lots of interest.
On the palate, the wine is light on its feet, juicy but fresh, with ultra soft tannins. Flavors of tart raspberry, lilly pilly (a native stone fruit reminiscent of sour plum), saltbush, and pickled watermelon rind. Light and gulpable, yet complex with lots of interest.

Firriato
2020 Harmonium
Sicilia | Sicilia
Harmonium is the winning combination of Nero dâ Avolaâs strength and Firriatoâs style. The goal with Harmonium was to create the âcru of crusâ that offered all the manifestations of this eclectic vineâs richness.
Unparalleled body and freshness. It has a soft and enchanting entry that leaves a trail of balanced tannins on the palate.

Quinta de Lemos
2015 Touriga Nacional
DĂŁo | Portugal
An indigenous Portuguese variety from the DĂŁo region.
In the mouth it is a full bodied and powerfull wine, balanced andwith a great personality.

Kaapzicht
2021 The Steytler Range Pinotage
Stellenbosch | South Africa
Pinotage began in Bottelary. This wine is a homage to our passion for making refined Pinotage that is typical and worthy of its birthplace. A perfumed wine that is forceful yet possesses ample subtlety and detail.
Only released in superior vintages.
Spice and richness create tension on the palate leaving an earthy and elegant ïŹnish.

Surrau
Sciala
Vermentino di Gallura | Italy
Sciala is a term of Arabic origin that refers to an abundant harvest and generous fruit production.

Bodegas GranbazĂĄn
2023 âEtiqueta Ămbarâ Albariño
RĂas Baixas |
It enters the mouth explosively, its unctuousness envelops its vibrant acidity, with a very marked salinity and long persistence.

Lionel Faury
2021 Les Ribaudes Saint-Joseph Blanc
Saint-Joseph | France
The delicate notes of hawthorn, green tea or flower honey come from the Roussanne, which brings breadth and depth to the mouth.
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