Having a picnic in the park? Going on a wine walk around your college town? Throwing a dinner party to celebrate the end of the semester? Wine is a must. However, if you aren’t a sommelier or have legitimate training in understanding flavors and quality of wine, then picking the correct wine for your spring celebrations can be difficult. As college students, our tendency is to buy the cheapest wine on the shelf, but the cheapest wine tends not to be the best, especially if you are looking specifically for one perfect for spring.
The possible wine choices can seem endless. Red, rosé, or white? Bubbly or not? Sweet? Smooth? What flavors do you want to taste? What flavors can you actually taste? There are a thousand different options that feel impossible to choose between. So, if you are looking for the perfect spring wine that is in your budget, you came to the right place. To better understand spring wine selection, I asked wine connoisseur Dan Sullivan about his thoughts.
Dan Sullivan studied for a Master of Wine, a certification that demonstrates a deep understanding of the wine industry and trade. Now, he owns a 15 year old wine business called Elevationwinefund, “an importer and online retailer of Fine & Rare wine.” “The things that I enjoy about a spring style wine include a delicate structure and lower alcohol content, making them easy to drink,” he said. “[Its] crisp acidity and light body [and its ability to] pair well with a variety of spring dishes, from salads to seafood.”
No matter what you are looking to drink, here’s a selection of the best spring wines under $20.
White Wines
When trying to pick a crisp and refreshing white wine, think light- to medium-bodied with alcohol levels at about 13.5%. Therefore, some of the most popular white wines include sauvignon blanc, known for its fruity flavors such as citrus, malvasia, known for its aromatic flavors, pinot grigio, known for its floral hints, or pinot blanc, known for its taste of peach and apricot.
J. Lohr 2020 Flume Crossing Sauvignon Blanc, $14
This wine has the perfect hints pear, peach, green pepper, and grass.
Sterling 2019 Vintner’s Collection Chardonnay, $12
This wine is the perfect blend of pear and vanilla with notes of butter and vanilla.
Fox Run 2019 Doyle Family Chardonnay, $13
This wine is sweet and flavorful with notes of orange blossom and lily along with pineapple and peach.
Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi NV Pinot Grigio, $8
For a cheap wine, this pinot grigio is a great choice for an affordable spring wine. It has fresh fruit flavors like pear and lemon blossoms along with great acidity.
Four Vines 2019 Naked Chardonnay, $11
Four Vines is made with impressive and unique flavors of jasmine and guava. The notes are both acidic and flavorful, perfect for a spring wine.
Dr. Loosen “Dr. L” Riesling, $13.99
This wine is not only affordable, but delicious with notes of peach and citrus.
Florian Mollet Sauvignon Blanc, $13.99
This wine is refreshing and light with sweet and fresh notes of melon, peaches, and gooseberry.
Red Wines
Although unexpected, there is a large range of affordable and delicious spring red wines. What makes for a successful spring red wine is something light bodied or tannic, meaning there are high levels of compounds commonly found in grape skins, stems, and seeds. Try to look for a red wine that is fresh and juicy, while still containing hints of earthiness and little, if any flavor of oak.
Anjou Rouge L’Ardoise, Domaine des Rochelles, $9.25
This wine has a 12.5% alcohol content and pairs perfectly with spring foods such as asparagus.
Saint-Pourçain Le Ficelle Rouge, $12.75
For a reasonable price and a 12% alcohol content, this wine is perfectly paired with baguette and some saucisson.
Brouilly Les Grillés Domaine Chevalier-Métrat, $14.95
This wine typically has a 13% alcohol content and contains hints of violet, cherry, and raspberry.
Rosé
When I think of spring wine, rosé definitely comes to mind. If you are a rosé lover, make sure to pick wines that are light, crisp, and refreshing and full of notes of citrus and red fruits.
Olema Rose Cotes De Provence, $17.99
This wine is definitely slightly more pricey, but is a light bodied blend with flavors of fresh berry and strawberry. It pairs perfectly with seafood, chicken, or even pasta.
Bougrier Rose D’Anjou, $12.99
This wine contains notes of raspberry and strawberry. It is the perfect refreshment for a warm day.
Dune Gris Rose, $10.99
This wine is the perfect summer pick because it’s delicious notes of grapefruit, strawberry, melon, and peach.
Guy Mousset Cotes Du Rhone Rose, $13.99
This wine is a dry and clean rose blend with light and fresh flavors of strawberry and cherry.