Sommeliers like to reinvent the lexicon. One minute they’re touting bone-dry Riesling and the next they’re coveting a tension-filled Rose. An adjective the camp has been throwing around quite a bit lately is crispy.
What makes for a crispy wine? A freshness, a brightness, a certain snappiness, perhaps. Essentially, a radiant wine that tends to offer both high acid and vigor. It’s alive and makes you feel alive as well.
Your mind might be jumping to Oregon Chardonnay brands or Pet-Nat wines. Frankly, that’s fair. But there are a lot of other great crispy wines out there, just waiting to accompany your spring adventures. Some come from regions you’ve overlooked, or include varietals you may be unaware of. Regardless, the following list will both blow your mind and not break the bank.
Read on for four picks endorsed by sommelier LeeAnne Arnold, you can hand your hat (and glass) on this spring. Oh, and they’re all under $30. You can impress even your most hard-to-please guests, without going into debt.
NV Batiso Prosecco
This wine comes from Italy, the land of Prosecco. It’s another reminder that there are many sparkling wine types, well beyond that chatter devoted to Cava, Champagne, etc. This one can sometimes even be found for less than $20 and is an ideal wine for brunches, Mother’s Day, spritzes, and more.
As the sommelier suggests, buy it in bulk and keep your cooler and fridge stocked. It’s going to be a long, hot summer, so it’s best you’re prepared. Prosecco has long been appreciated for its value, but not always for its personality. Here, you win both contests.
NV Armorica
A northern French blend featuring white varietals like Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Sauv Blanc, the Armorica is a remarkable lively wine. This writer stumbled into the wine at a bottle shop over the holidays and promptly returned the next day to stock up. Priced around $20, it performs like a wine marked two to three times that rate, at least. Full of character, it reminds me of a lunch on the beach, with a saline quality and bright-as-the-sun fruit qualities. Oh, and it’s immensely food-friendly.
The label is a work of art, the wine is an overachiever, and you can show it off to friends as a new discovery, as they’ve likely yet to try this standout. While showing plenty of nuance on its own, the wine is also great with seafood, sushi, salty snacks, charcuterie, and grilled poultry and vegetables.
La Spinetta 2023 Derthona
Timarosso is a fun-to-say Italian varietal you might not be familiar with – yet. It’s a start white in Piedmont, perhaps most famous for providing the pomace base for grappa. Well, it makes for an excellent standalone still white as well, as this one proves. Think pear and white flowers with some minerality. As the sommelier says, it’s like a Chenin Blanc, only with an Italian accent. We suggest enjoying it on its own or pairing it up with some grilled oysters, bruschetta, or prosciutto and melon.
What’s so fun about this one is that you can get all of the detail (and perhaps even more) of a good red wine, while still maintaining the sleekness in body and build of a white. Floral, herbal, nutty, you name it. It’s a wine that’s very, very generous. Get acquainted.
2025 Müller-Ruprecht Rosé
This pink wine from Pfalz in Germany is made solely from Pinot Noir. Rose has long been synonymous with regions like California and Provence, but even more intriguing options are cropping up everywhere. This option shows the varietal’s bracing side, with bright stone fruit notes and a bit of peppercorn for good measure. If you need a spring and summer go-to for backyard and deck gatherings, you’re welcome.
Don’t overchill, as you might a bottom-shelf pink wine, as this one has a lot to give and can be constricted a bit when ice cold. However, if you’re hanging out on a 100-degree day with friends, we understand. Look to the Pfalz for other good wines, too. It’s an underappreciated region, at least from an American standpoint, with a ton of winners. Known primarily for its Riesling, the land is also home to some barn-burning Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and more.
With wines like these, you’re in good company this spring. They fit the season and dishes and produce that we tend to covet when things are a little milder, days are a little longer, and evenings are a bit more social. Per usual, let them be gateway wines into new regions and varietals that you can explore in detail. That’s at least half the fun of enjoying wine, especially in the company of others.
The above should be available at most robust bottle and wine shops all over the land. You can also procure them online with a little research (Harvest Wine Market is a safe bet). Here’s to spring gatherings worth savoring.
