Having spent many years living in Northern Europe, where the winters are dark, damp and seemingly never ending, the arrival of spring always feels like a breath of fresh air. Winter’s grip loosens, and suddenly, the world expands again. The sun sticks around a little longer, the air smells of flowers and damp earth, and people emerge from their homes like they’ve forgotten what life outside feels like.

Something about this shift in energy makes me feel lighter—almost younger. And just as I’m trading thick sweaters for lighter layers, I find myself reaching for wines that mirror the season’s vitality. Winter was for rich, brooding reds and the kind of whites that felt like wearing a weighted blanket. But spring? Spring is a time for wines with lift, wines that hum with freshness and possibility.

In my family and friend circles, I’m the de facto 'wine guy'—this is the time of year when the requests start rolling in: What should I bring to Easter brunch? What pairs with asparagus? I don’t want rosé, but I also don’t want red—help! Whether it’s my mom, who would happily bathe in buttery Chardonnay, or my dad, whose loyalty to high-octane Napa Cab borders on religious, picking a bottle that keeps everyone happy is no small feat.

So this time, I’m handing the reins over to you.

This is my personal selection of spring-ready wines, spanning styles, regions, and price points—but all bound by one thing: they match the energy of the season. Whether you’re in the mood for a razor-sharp white, a wild aromatic curveball, or a red that can handle a chill, you’ll find something here.

Now grab a glass. Let’s drink.

Crisp Whites – Bright, Refreshing, & Electric

(For when the air is crisp, and you want a wine to match)

Balea Rosé Getariako Txakolina (Basque Country, Spain)
While technically a rosé, this lightly fizzy, high-acid Basque wine tastes like wild strawberries, grapefruit zest, and salty sea air.

Nikolaihof 'Hefeabzug' Grüner Veltliner (Wachau, Austria)
This biodynamic estate makes laser-focused Grüner—lime peel, white pepper, and a streak of flinty minerality.

Liquid Farm ‘White Hill’ Chardonnay (Santa Rita Hills, USA)
Not your usual California Chardonnay. Lean, mineral, and citrusy, with a cool-climate saltiness and an aromatic brightness that lingers.

Weingut Keller 'Limestone' Riesling (Rheinhessen, Germany)
If Riesling were an electric current, this would be high voltage.

Tatomer ‘Kick-On Ranch’ Riesling (Santa Barbara, USA)
A California Riesling with tension. Meyer lemon, green apple, and a long, ocean-breeze finish.

Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie (Loire, France)
Briny, mineral, and bone-dry—I challenge you to find a better oyster wine.

Textured Whites – Skin-Contact & Bold Beauties

(For when you want a white with grip, weight, and a little wildness)

Sandhi “La Rinconada” Chardonnay (Santa Rita Hills, USA)
Grilled peaches, crème brûlée and a mineral-driven core that can stand up to the finest white Bourgogne.

Radikon ‘Slatnik’ (Friuli, Italy)
Golden-hued, nutty, and slightly tannic—a gateway into the world of serious orange wine.

Azienda Agricola COS ‘Pithos’ Bianco (Sicily, Italy)
Grecanico aged in amphora, bringing out a salty, honeyed depth.

Domaine Huët Vouvray Sec ‘Clos du Bourg’ (Loire, France)
Chenin Blanc at its best—salted apple, honeycomb, and cardamom, wrapped in a texture that feels both generous and precise.

Jolie-Laide Trousseau Gris (Russian River Valley, USA)
Silky and aromatic—nectarine, white tea, and delicate florals.

Tiberio Pecorino (Abruzzo, Italy)
Zippy, herbal, and textured, with citrus peel and fresh sage.

Aromatic Wildcard – Floral, Textured, & Unexpected

(For when you want a white that keeps you guessing)

Foradori ‘Fontanasanta’ Nosiola (Trentino, Italy)
You already know I love Foradori, and this is a symphony of subtle florals, mountain herbs, and a hint of nuttiness—like a meadow in bloom, bottled.

Domaine Ostertag ‘Les Jardins’ Pinot Gris (Alsace, France)
Silky, aromatic, and layered with pear, spice, and honeysuckle.

Larkmead ‘Lillie’ Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley, USA)
Lush yet structured, with citrus zest and a mineral core—Sauv Blanc, elevated.

I Clivi ‘Galea’ Friulano (Friuli, Italy)
Textural with orchard fruit, wildflowers, and a hint of almond.

Ovum ‘Big Salt’ (Oregon, USA)
Grown in volcanic soils. Salty, floral, and citrusy with a touch of spice—wild yet balanced.

Domaine Matassa ‘Cuvee Marguerite’ (Roussillon, France)
Muscat and Macabeo blend—floral, lightly oxidative, and wildly expressive.

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Serious Rosé – Structured, Age-Worthy, & Complex

(Not your average poolside pink—these have real depth)

Château Simone Palette Rosé (Provence, France)
A historic Provence rosé from the tiny Palette AOC—structured, savory, and built to age, with aristocratic finesse.

Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé (Provence, France)
An iconic, full-bodied rosé that’s as serious as they come. Layers of wild strawberry, crushed herbs, and a saline edge—built to evolve in the glass (or in the cellar).

Benanti Viticoltori Etna Rosato (Sicily, Italy)
Salmon-hued and smoky, with the freshness of a Mediterranean breeze.

Matthiasson Rosé (Napa Valley, USA)
Crisp and mineral, with wild strawberries and an herbal, citrus-tinged finish.

Clos Cibonne Côtes de Provence Rosé ‘Tradition’ (Provence, France)
Savory and rich, with the elegance of aged rosé and a streak of salted peach.

Envinate ‘La Santa de Úrsula’ Rosado (Canary Islands, Spain)
Laced with volcanic minerality and tart red fruit, this is rosé with an edge.

Lighter Reds – Chillable, Fresh, & Full of Energy

(For when red feels right, but you need something that won’t weigh you down)

Bernard Baudry 'Les Granges' Chinon (Loire, France)
Bright and juicy, with red berries, wild herbs, and just the right amount of green pepper bite. The definition of effortless drinking.

Combe "Stolpman Vineyard" Ballard Canyon Trousseau (California, USA)
Jura who? This California-grown Trousseau is light, earthy, and silky, with a touch of spice. Best served chilled and poured generously.

Envínate ‘Benje’ Tinto (Tenerife, Spain)
A volcanic masterpiece. Savory, smoky, and wild, like crushed raspberries licked by an open flame.

Weingut Weninger ‘Ponzichter’ (Burgenland, Austria)
A biodynamic Austrian red that drinks like Pinot with a little extra spice—cranberry, anise, and pure lift.

Arianna Occhipinti ‘SP68’ Rosso (Sicily, Italy)
Frappato and Nero d’Avola in perfect harmony—crunchy red fruit, a touch of pepper, and the taste of Sicilian sunshine.

Broc Cellars ‘Love Red’ (California, USA)
California Carignan with serious personality—bramble fruit, bright acidity, and just enough funk to keep things interesting.

Savory & Earthy Reds – Deep, Herbaceous, & Mineral-Driven

(For when you need a red with depth, but not heaviness)

Ravines Cabernet Franc (Finger Lakes, NY, USA)
Cool-climate Cabernet Franc—savory, structured, and endlessly drinkable.

Domaine de L’Anglore Lirac (Rhône, France)
A Grenache-based red with soul. Silky, peppery, and brimming with wild berries.

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso (Sicily, Italy)
Nerello Mascalese grown on volcanic slopes—bright red fruit and flinty minerality.

Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny ‘Terres Chaudes’ (Loire, France)
Dark, herbal, and laced with minerality.

Domaine du Pélican Arbois Rouge (Jura, France)
Think bright red berries, forest floor, and a whisper of smoke, with a kind of lift and energy.

Thymiopoulos ‘Earth & Sky’ Xinomavro (Naoussa, Greece)
Bright red cherry, sun-dried tomato, black olive, and a firm tannic backbone—savory, lifted, and endlessly complex.

One of the things I love most about wine is its ability to bring people together. To spark conversations, forge new friendships, and rekindle old ones. At its best, wine isn’t just something you drink—it’s something you experience, something that pulls you into a story worth listening to.

So here’s my challenge to you—try something new. Pick a bottle from this list that feels unfamiliar, something outside your comfort zone. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite. Maybe you’ll swear off Chenin Blanc forever. Either way, you’ll have learned something.

And that’s the beauty of it. Because wine, much like spring, is all about new energy, fresh perspectives, and a little bit of adventure.

The Wines I’m Excited to Drink This Spring