The 18 Best Wines In 2023 So Far

Having a go-to bottle to reach for when you're shopping makes the task of choosing wine simpler, but it can quickly become monotonous. Even the best options can feel common if you're picking them every time. Thankfully, wine is produced year-round across the globe, with new releases constantly popping up on the market. Between the northern and southern hemispheres, you're likely to find new bottles appearing at your local wine shop on a regular basis.

Already in the first few months of 2023, numerous hits have made it on our radar. Whether you're eager to try a young and fresh rosé with the arrival of spring or have been anticipating a bottle that has spent multiple years aging in a winery cellar, our selection will suit your needs. We've compiled our favorite white, rosé, red, and sparkling wines that have recently become accessible to consumers. Try a few or sip them all — you're sure to find new favorites!

New Zealand is the place to go for some of the world's top sauvignon blanc wines, and Babich Wines has been a shining example of this for over a century. Since its beginning, the family-run winery has prioritized sustainability, care, and attention in the vineyard and cellar. As it gains increasing recognition internationally, Babich continues to prioritize a holistic approach that expresses the local terroir.

The Black Label sauvignon blanc is made with grapes sourced from its Marlborough vineyards. If you have yet to familiarize yourself with the island nation's wines, Marlborough is the area that put New Zealand sauvignon blanc on the global map. This white wine is bursting with flavor, with classic notes of passionfruit and gooseberry mingling alongside blackcurrant. A citrusy herbal streak keeps it crisp on the palate, making this a refreshing option with or without food. Serve it chilled with your favorite seafood dish or a salad loaded with spring produce.

You've heard of white, red, and rosé wines, and it's increasingly easy to find orange wine. That's it, right? Well, meet vin gris, aka gray wine. As it turns out, this is just a subset of rosé wine and describes the palest of pale hues, which ultimately kind of looks grayish. While there aren't too many specifications surrounding the style, a minimal maceration period is key. By reducing (and almost eliminating) the time that grape skins spend in contact with the juice, the resulting color is a shadow of its potential.

Vin gris is commonly made with pinot noir grapes, which offer sufficient pigmentation to imbue some color with barely any skin contact. Robert Sinskey Vineyards in Napa consists of various agricultural areas, including Los Carneros where its organic pinot noir vines grow. A quick press in the cellar yields a delicately colored wine that is brimming with flavor. Notes of red berries, guava, peach, and citrus brighten up every sip, while floral aromas round it out. Its simultaneous complexity and levity make it a versatile wine to pair with a wide range of foods. From light snacks to grilled fare, as well as spicy cuisines and seafood dishes, this vin gris fits it all.

It's easy to get in the habit of drinking the same few white wine varieties, but you'll be rewarded for trying something different. Viognier originated in the Northern Rhône Valley in France, so it's no surprise that it has been planted in Paso Robles, home to The Rhone Rangers, a group of winemakers eager to spread varieties from the French region. 

San Simeon viognier is from San Antonio Winery, the largest and oldest winery in Los Angeles which now owns vineyards across the state. The wine is produced from vines in Paso Robles, which offers a suitable climate for this aromatic grape. Daytime sunlight allows it to ripen sufficiently, while cooler nighttime temperatures maintain the acidity intact, a key characteristic of a well-made viognier wine. Peach, tropical fruits, and white flowers jump out of the glass, with notes of honey and minerality culminating in a full body with a long finish. You'll want to pair this sumptuous white wine with a sweet and spicy seafood pasta or a mildly spiced poultry dish.

Riesling is boxed into a category of sweet wines from Germany, but that's selling it very short. The grape is incredibly versatile and grows across the world, including in Australia. Yes, the land of bold shiraz is earning itself a notable reputation with its riesling wines, primarily from the Clare and Eden Valleys in the south. Jim Barry winery is located in the former, also home to the Riesling Trail for wine lovers who are equally fond of cycling and hiking.

The family-owned business oversees close to 20 vineyard sites, offering consumers a taste of the local complexities. Its Watervale riesling is a prime example and has been in the winery's portfolio for over 50 years. Optimal conditions allow the fruit to ripen fully while maintaining its characteristic acidity. Notes of lemon and grapefruit along with delicate aromas of white flowers round out this flavorful wine. A mineral streak brightens every mouthwatering sip, making this a refreshingly vibrant option to bring to the table. Serve it with seafood or creamy preparations; it will cut right through and cleanse your palate.

England is becoming an ever-exciting source of sparkling wines, with an upward trajectory as regions to the south become too warm to guarantee suitable acidity for the grapes. Trotton Estate Vineyards is owned by a husband and wife who dreamed of producing a traditional method sparkling wine from French grapes on English soil. With the experience of two talented French winemakers, the Spectacular sparkling brut was released following five years of production and maturation.

The result has surpassed the expectations of everyone involved, and the bubbly wine was even chosen over certain bottles of Champagne in various blind tastings. Made with a classic blend of chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier, this wine certainly follows the path of the famous French wine. Lengthy aging on the lees (dead yeast cells) is evident in the toasty biscuity aromas on the nose. With minimal residual sugar, every sip is creamy, refreshing, and utterly crisp. Served with or without food, you'll want to pour a glass of British bubbles to celebrate something big or simply because it's Tuesday.

Famed California producers Steve and Jill Klein Matthiasson are farmers first and foremost. Their agricultural background and work ethic are evident in their vineyard sites sprawled around Napa. With typical varieties like chardonnay and merlot, as well as less common grapes like ribolla gialla and schioppettino, the couple is exploring the multitude of possibilities available in the local terroir.

The recently released 2022 rosé is just the bottle you'll want to have chilling in the fridge as temperatures start to increase. Made with a blend of grenache, mourvèdre, counoise, and barbera, the combination is a unique twist on southern French styles. Delicate fruit notes with a hint of minerality and balanced acidity mingle in this rosé that's remarkably easy to drink. A citrus background brightens up every sip, making this a winning bottle to enjoy chilled on a sunny day or with a dish featuring fresh spring produce, like green peas and salad greens.

Australian shiraz is a recognizable style of wine, which makes it extra great to find a bottle that stands out from the pack. Charlotte Dalton has been making wine around the world for almost 20 years, and the result is a unique perspective on the varieties she grows in South Australia. Not to mention, her philosophy that wine is meant to evoke joy is perceivable in her soulful wines.

Love me Love you shiraz is a charming take on the grape, highlighting it in the best possible way. A velvety texture with juicy notes is balanced by subtle tannins, keeping this wine alive on the palate in every sip. Fruity notes of raspberries, blueberries, and plums are pleasantly contrasted by a hint of oak. Serve this rich wine with game meat, beef, or a smoky vegetarian chili. Or, give it a light chill and savor it solo in all of its splendor.

Certain grape varieties speak so strongly of a place that it is surprising to find them outside their element. That is the case with grüner veltliner, Austria's darling white wine grape. Nevertheless, it has found success in various places, including Edna Valley in San Luis Obispo County, California. Family-owned Talley Vineyards takes pride in its regional terroir, highlighting numerous varieties and styles. Its grüner veltliner adds a novel element to the familiar varietal wines it produces and is a welcome change for consumers ready to venture beyond chardonnay and sauvignon blanc.

Thanks to the cool surrounding climate of the valley, the wine expresses a bright and lively nature with crisp fruit aromas. The wine is aged in stainless steel tanks and neutral oak barrels, allowing the variety's characteristics to shine through. Notes of stone fruit, citrus, and melon mingle with hints of rose and orange blossom. Grüner veltliner is known for being a great match for vegetable dishes that are tricky to pair. Serve it with salads, fresh asparagus, artichokes, or subtly spiced meals.

Old vine wines tend to offer a deeper more complex flavor profile and Big Basin Vineyards' old vine carignane is no different. The family-owned California winery consists of vineyards scattered along the central coastline at varying altitudes. The viticultural practices are organic, and all efforts seek to showcase aspects of the Santa Cruz and Gabilan Mountains where the vines grow.

The 2020 Wirz Vineyard old vine carignane is grown at an altitude of 1,000 feet, where dramatic shifts in day and nighttime temperatures maintain freshness and acidity in the fruit. Unlike most of the winery's 2020 vintage, these vines were thankfully shielded from the damaging effects of smoke from the wildfires. Instead, the heat and dry conditions of the season resulted in a rich and vibrant wine brimming with dark fruit aromas.

Cranberry, pomegranate, black currant, and blackberry are present, with a notable intensity balanced by the freshness from the high altitude. Tannins are displayed on the palate, countered by a pleasant juiciness that softens the bold taste. Serve this tasty wine with roasted or grilled meat dishes, like pork, poultry, or beef. Vegetarians will love pairing it with hearty root vegetables and savory spiced dishes.