Scanning a bottle shop or menu for something other than your tried-and-true wine can be intimidating. With so many choices, it’s easy to throw in the towel and stick to the wines you know best. But while it may be tempting to turn to an old favorite, venturing off the beaten path and diving into the unknown may lead to discovering your new darling bottle.
In the spirit of adventure and looking to add a little thrill to our collective drinking experiences, we polled 20 sommeliers for the underappreciated, unconventional, and sometimes overlooked wines that deserve our attention. From a French grape that will satisfy any Pinot Noir-aficionado to a racy variety that rivals Riesling and Chardonnay, the experts’ answers below highlight just how exciting and expansive the world of wine can be.
The wines people should order more often, according to sommeliers: Cabernet Franc Wine from domestic producers Italian Rosato Merlot Wine from Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, and Serbia Amarone della Valpolicella Chardonnay Chilled reds Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Assyrtiko, Aligoté, Furmint, and Garnacha Prieto Picudo South African wines Whites from Southwest France and Languedoc-Roussillon Syrah Trousseau Franciacorta Austrian wines Nerello Mascalese, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, and Clairette Local grapes such as Cayuga, Chambourcin, and Vidal Blanc Blanc de Noirs Champagne from small producers Albariño
“Cabernet Franc! The mother of Cabernet Sauvignon is so complex, floral, fruity, and delicious. It has beautiful deep red and black fruit aromas, complemented with floral and bell pepper. Its higher acidity allows it
