As the days lengthen and the air warms, there's no better time to explore new wines that capture the essence of spring. This roundup features wines that will brighten your glass and elevate your gatherings.

Whether you're celebrating a sunny afternoon with friends or enjoying a quiet evening at home, these bottles… from a zesty Sauvignon Blanc to a complex Chianti Classico, promise something for every palate. Some of these wines were tasted by a group of women, and some tasted solo. There were a few surprises, including an unintentional boxed wine cameo that became a lesson in wine faults. A sharp "turpentine!" cry from across the table said it all. (The culprit was likely hydrogen sulfide, a common offender in younger wines, especially those aged in overly porous oak barrels.) While not dangerous, wines with these “mousy” off-notes are simply unpleasant — and impossible to recommend. Here are 8 wines tasted and highly recommended to purchase this spring:

#1 – Bread & Butter 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa, California

There’s something deeply satisfying about a wine that knows exactly what it wants to be. This Sauvignon Blanc is just that… a bright, easygoing California classic.

From the first swirl, it was obvious; this is like summer chilled in a glass. The nose is crisp and expressive: zesty lime and grapefruit meets the soft roundness of white peaches and the gentle juiciness of melon. On the palate, the acidity is more of a friendly nudge than a jolt, carrying those stone fruit and citrus notes with a lightness that makes it dangerously easy to sip. There’s no aggressive grassiness here, just pure, clean fruit with a subtle mineral edge that keeps things honest.

Pair it with friends who make you laugh. This wine is more smile than smirk. Bottle price: $15.99

#2 – Justin 2022 Chardonnay, Sonoma County, California

Some wines arrive like a gentle breeze. Others, like this Chardonnay, arrive with a golden glow and a quiet confidence that says, “Settle in. You’re in for something good.”

This Sonoma County Chardonnay is everything you want from the region: expressive, elegant, and impeccably crafted. In the glass, it shimmers a bright straw color with soft golden highlights, the kind of hue that hints at ripeness and richness.

The nose is layered and alive with citrus peel, pear blossoms, and the subtle smokiness of flint. Ripe Bosc pear and Meyer lemon mingle with soft hints of chamomile and vanilla bean. On the palate, the wine enters with a silky, almost creamy texture, balanced by a gentle acidity. Flavors of spiced baked apple, lemon verbena, poached pear, and nectarine offer a glimpse into this vintage. Ten months in French oak lends a soft kiss of vanilla and a warm, toasty spice.

The fruit is sourced from some of Sonoma’s most respected vineyards where cool mornings and sun-warmed afternoons give the grapes time to develop both structure and soul. The result? A Chardonnay that delivers with finesse. Best paired with seared scallops, citrus-glazed chicken, or even a quiet evening where the wine does most of the talking. Bottle price: $39 (featured photo courtesy of Justin.)

#3 – Rottensteiner 2021 Pinot Nero, Alto Adige DOC, Italy

This Pinot Nero (Noir) from South Tyrol is one of the most impressive wines I’ve tasted that surprised and delighted a group of women who prefer white wines but fell in love with this elegant sip from the hills of Bolzano.

South Tyrol may not be the first name that springs to mind for Pinot Noir, but for those in the know, this alpine jewel has long been a hidden trove. Pinot has been growing here for over 150 years, and it shows. Growing method of using the traditional Guyot trellis keeps yields low and quality high. Matured gently in large wooden barrels, the wine is given the space and time it needs to speak quietly, but clearly.

In the glass, this Pinot is a deep, luminous ruby. On the nose, it leads with unmistakable sour cherry, followed by hints of red currant, rose petal, and a whisper of spice from the oak. No heavy makeup, just the natural beauty of the fruit shining through.

On the palate, it’s full-bodied by Pinot standards, yet never overbearing. There's lift, elegance, and a firm core of minerality that reflects its alpine home. The balance is spot-on: freshness meets structure, brightness meets depth.

Drink it now with red meat or a wedge of aged mountain cheese, or age it for a few more years. Either way, this is a Pinot Noir with backbone, soul, and a quiet kind of nobility. If you can find a bottle for sale, you’re in for a treat.

#4 – Bonnet Cotton 2022 Côte de Brouilly Red Beaujolais, France

If Beaujolais had a house band, Bonnet Cotton would be the bassline: groovy, grounding, and essential. This red is a reminder that Gamay, when farmed with care and handled with a little reverence (but not too much), can still put on quite a show… think more jazz club than opera house.

Now, Bonnet Cotton is a collaboration between Pierre Cotton and Marine Bonnet, partners in both wine and life, which you could probably guess from the seamlessness of the wine. This is Beaujolais with swagger, a little rustic, but never rough around the edges. The nose is all brambly berries and violets, with a whiff of something herbal and flirtatiously feral, perhaps thyme?

The texture is light on its feet but not lacking in depth. The tannins are fine-grained, like good sea salt, and there's an energetic spine of acidity that practically dances up the glass. You’ll want to chill it slightly, just enough to make the red fruit pop (think sour cherry, wild strawberry, and the occasional cameo by a black raspberry that’s wandered in from the wrong vineyard).

Food-wise, it plays nicely with anything that’s been charred or grilled. I had it with a thick wedge of mushroom-laced polenta and it practically high-fived the plate. But honestly, this is a bottle that doesn’t demand an audience. It’s perfectly happy to perform solo on a Thursday night.

In short, this is a Beaujolais that is a little rebellious, very charming, and impossible to drink just one glass. Stock up! Your spring table will thank you. Bottle price: $45 on WineSearcher.com

#5 – La Selvanella 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva, Italy

Chianti Classico has come a long way since the days when it was more about the basket than the bottle. The 2020 Vigneti La Selvanella Chianti Classico Riserva is a perfect example of how far the region has come, and just how much depth and character Sangiovese can bring to the table.

Nestled in the hills of Radda, between the scenic villages of Panzano and Volpaia, La Selvanella has been a benchmark for Chianti Classico since 1969, when it became the first single-vineyard wine from the region. Since then, it’s earned a reputation for authenticity and precision, gaining serious acclaim along the way.

The estate’s 123-acre vineyard, planted exclusively with Sangiovese Grosso, is perched at 1,300 feet. The 2020 vintage brings depth to the fore with aromas of ripe cherries, dried herbs, and a subtle tobacco edge. On the palate, it’s full-bodied yet elegant, with just enough tannic structure to keep things interesting without overwhelming the wine’s finesse. It’s the kind of Chianti Classico that knows how to hold its own.

What sets La Selvanella apart isn’t just its history, though; it’s its ability to balance tradition with modern winemaking techniques. This is a wine that’s as much about terroir as it is about craftsmanship. As you sip, you can practically feel the centuries of Tuscan heritage woven into each drop. If you’re still thinking of Chianti Classico as a simple table wine, it’s time to think again. Bottle price: $38.99

I found this bottle on Wine Searcher, available to order online at Gary’s Wine & Marketplace.

#6 – Champagne Billecart-Salmon Le Sous Bois, France

Le Sous Bois isn’t just another pretty Champagne. It’s a study of how tradition, when carefully revived, can feel utterly modern. This entire blend is fermented and aged in oak barrels, a method now more often whispered about than practiced. The result? A wine of remarkable depth and nuance, where the classic freshness of Chardonnay and the sturdy backbone of Pinot Noir and Meunier are wrapped in the softest cashmere of oak. It’s as if the bubbles themselves have learned a little sophistication.

On the nose, there’s an elegant layering of toasted brioche, hazelnut, and vanilla, drifting over a foundation of ripe orchard fruit and just a breath of spice. Take a sip and you’ll find a round, creamy palate, a finely textured mousse, and a finish so long and saline it practically demands a second glass, or in the case of a group of women enjoying these bubbles… a second bottle! Crucially, the oak influence is gentle and seamless; it frames the wine rather than overpowering it, adding warmth and shape without sacrificing vibrancy.

It’s worth noting that there’s a structure and savoriness here that makes Le Sous Bois as much a food wine as it is a celebration in a glass. Roasted chicken? Seared scallops? A slab of aged Comté? Yes, yes, and yes. Our group of tasters enjoyed a glass with a Brie and apple puff pastry, a plate of Marcona almonds, and Castelvetrano olives (the latter was my preferred pairing). Even a wild mushroom risotto would find a willing and able partner in this richly textured cuvée.

This bottle purchase will not be the kind of splurge you’ll regret. In fact, it might just ruin you for simpler Champagnes altogether. Bottle price: $109.99 at Total Wine & More.

7. Arista 2022 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California

Here’s a Pinot Noir that proves sustainability isn’t just a marketing slogan, but a genuinely delicious philosophy. This wine from California’s Russian River Valley is as much about how it’s made as how it tastes.

At Arista, mindful farming isn’t an afterthought. It’s the bedrock. Collaborating with growers, they champion soil health, biodiversity, and long-term vineyard vitality. Minimal irrigation, organic and biodynamic techniques, and a clear-eyed respect for drought resilience are all part of the program, and this is no small thing in California’s ever-thirstier vineyards.

The 2022 vintage captures the sweet spot between elegance and energy that Pinot Noir lovers prize. In the glass, the wine glows a radiant ruby, practically beckoning. Aromatically, it’s all crisp red fruits… cherry, cranberry, wild strawberry, lifted by floral notes of rose petal, a flicker of forest herbs, and a bright snap of citrus zest. It smells like a walk through a berry patch after a spring rain.

The palate is equally juicy, with a tangy freshness and a clean, finely drawn structure. There’s a precision to this wine that proves that seriousness and joy can coexist quite happily in a single glass.

Food-wise, it’s versatile: herb-roasted duck, mushroom risotto, or even a chilled salmon tartare would make excellent companions. Our group of tasters enjoyed this wine with hand-rolled gnocchi with ricotta and Amatriciana sauce, tomato, pancetta, and Pecorino. Bottle price: $70

#8 - Akido 2021 Saperavi Red Dry Wine, Kakheti Region, Country of Georgia

This wine feels like it was handed down through the centuries rather than simply bottled. From Georgia’s Kakheti region, it offers a vivid reminder that wine’s story didn’t begin in Burgundy or Bordeaux, but in the craggy, ancient soils of the Caucasus.

Saperavi is no ordinary grape. It’s one of the world’s few naturally red-fleshed varieties (a teinturier, for those who like wine trivia), prized for its inky hue, muscular structure, and soulful depth. This grape speaks in bold, earthy tones.

Fermented dry in the traditional Georgian style, the Akido delivers a dark-fruited core: black cherry, plum skin, dried herbs, with undercurrents of anise and black tea. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied with a savory richness… just enough rustic grip to make you sit up and pay attention. This isn’t a wine designed for casual sipping while answering emails; it’s a wine meant for a real meal and a real conversation.

A word of warning: you might have trouble finding this exact bottle tucked among the usual suspects at your local wine shop. But don’t be discouraged. Ask your merchant for a well-made Saperavi from Georgia. You’ll almost certainly be pointed toward something equally soulful and satisfying. (Bonus: many are excellent values.)

At around $30–$40 per bottle, the Akido is a minor splurge that punches far above its weight, especially when paired with grilled lamb, roasted eggplant, or a wedge of well-aged cheese.

Charlene Peters is a wine writer and author of "Travel Makes Me Hungry."