Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

Wines for Anytime: Five of the Best 2015 Releases

By

With so many wines on the market, it’s hard to pick one these days unless you know your stuff. Yes, a Caymus or a Chateau Margaux is always a good bet but they can be pricey. Sorting through the myriad choices in wine shops can prove difficult, especially if you have to impress your dinner guests.

Recommended Videos

With new releases entering the market every month, you can feel overwhelmed. We’ve chosen five of the best releases, from five vastly different wineries, showcasing five different varietals that are sure to please. Don’t worry rosé and dessert wine lovers—we’ve got you covered, too!

Blanco Nieva Verdejo 2013

Related: 
Upgrade your daily routine with the best smartwatches for men

Vedejo is a little-known varietal Stateside, most closely related to Sauvignon Blanc. Primarily grown in Spain, it tends to be herbaceous and minerally. This Verdejo by Blanco Nieva, released in April, boasts an apple and melon bouquet. The palate offers hints of orange peel and grapefruit and crisp acidity. It’s great paired with fish and shellfish such as scallops.

Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé 2014

Since the 1970s, Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé has been a fixture on the American wine scene and has dominated the Provencal rosé market—with good reason. Wine lovers in the know have relished its drinkability, whatever the season (I have long been a year-round rosé drinker). This vintage is crisp and balanced with hints of orange peel. It works perfectly with roasted lamb.

Inman Family 2013 “Whole Buncha Love” Pinot Noir

Inman Family Winery is a small operation in Santa Rosa, California, known for its small-lot Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. Owner and winemaker Kathleen Inman has been making wine here sine 2002 and the groovy “Whole Buncha of Love” is one of her most popular Pinots. This vintage, bottled in January 2015, is pale garnet in color and has dried cherry notes on the nose. The palate features pomegranate, dark berries and forest floor notes, making it ideal when paired with a hearty gumbo or cassoulet.

CrossBarn Paul Hobbs 2013 Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley

CrossBarn is the newest operation by fabled winemaker, Paul Hobbs, boasting sustainable vineyard practices. Founded in 2000, the winery is known for hand harvesting its grapes and it definitely shows in its wines. The CrossBarn Paul Hobbs 2013 Cabernet Franc features a cassis and lavender bouquet. The palate boasts red raspberries with just a hint of earthy clay and graphite, and the tannins are as smooth as velvet. This wine goes well with traditional steak frites or roast chicken.

Hauner Malvasia delle Lipari Passito 2012

Dessert wine gets a bad rap but serious wine lovers know that it’s the perfect choice to end an amazing meal. Muscatos and Sauternes dominate the American market but this lesser-known Sicilian dessert wine is truly worth the effort it takes to find it. The color of the Hauner Malvasia delle Lipari Passito a lovely amber, almost like a good scotch. The tannins are smooth, and the wine offers sweet fig notes and has a nice acidic finish. Savor a glass as you bite into a piece of deep, dark chocolate.

Shandana A. Durrani
Shandana A. Durrani
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Shandana A. Durrani has been a magazine editor and travel writer for more than two decades. Her work has appeared in numerous…
Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

This historic US winery can legally call its wine champagne
Dive into the 150-year old history of this unique south jersey spot
Renault Winery

I lived in South Jersey for most of my life, yet I was completely unaware that such a popular winery with a rich history was right here in my backyard. The Renault Winery's story dates back nearly 156 years, when Louis Nicholas Renault left his hometown in France to set sail for California and later settled in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey. Since then, the winery has changed hands a few times but still retains one unique trait that sets it apart from other wineries.

While most wineries in the U.S. are not allowed to call their sparkling wine champagne, Renault Winery has a notable historical exception. This historical privilege dates back to when Louis Renault requested a special permit from French authorities in the 1870s that allowed his wines to be labeled as champagne. Since the winery is grandfathered in, it can still safely call its blueberry sparkling wine "Blueberry Champagne", unlike other companies in the U.S. that must refer to it as a sparkling wine. Today, visitors can take a walking tour of Renault Winery and experience a wine tasting, diving into the history of this special winery.

Read more
Aquavit: the centuries-old spirit that’s more than just “black death”
What exaclty is aquavit?
Alcohol tasting: Aquavit, Bitter orange snaps, Bask, Arrack punsch

If you’ve ever been to Iceland, there’s a chance a local tour guide has offered you a chance to partake in a less-than-appealing local rite of passage. I’m talking about eating fermented shark followed by a shot of Brennivin. I, like many travelers to Iceland, have taken part in this life-changing experience. I can tell you that the shark is the biggest acquired taste I’ve ever been a part of.

The Brennivin, on the other hand, was actually memorable in a good way. Even though it’s referred to as “black death,” this strong Icelandic spirit is a neutral spirit made from potatoes. It gets its unique flavor from the use of caraway seeds. It’s the country’s main type of Aquavit and it's the national drink. But it’s definitely not the only country that makes this unique spirit. You might be wondering what Aquavit is.

Read more
Oskar Blues dresses up its beer in denim for the summer
A timeless look for some classic ales
Dale's Denim Pale.

Colorado brewery Oskar Blues is bringing back a limited-time favorite with the return of the Denim Dale's line. The release features a couple of flagship beers treated to cans inspired by your favorite pair of jeans. The light summer beers are available now through Labor Day Weekend.

"Last year’s denim beer case was a statement of rebellious independence – and people got it. This year, we wanted to take it even further,” says Aaron Baker, Oskar Blues brand director. “So we wrapped the can itself in denim. It’s a celebration of individuality, utility, and American grit – all things denim and Dale’s share at their core. Whether you’re cracking one open at a dive bar or tossing it in your cooler for a weekend outside, this is a beer that wears its character on its sleeve – or in this case, its can.”

Read more