Wine

The Best Wines to Drink This Spring (and What to Serve Them With)

Put away your winter coats (and heavy winter wines). This spring, give your at-home wine list a spring cleaning and take your pick of this fresh crop of wines that are just right for the season.

By Food & Wine Editors

Published on April 14, 2021

With spring right around the corner, it's finally time to grab a bottle and head outdoors. These wines are some of our favorites to sip in spring, and range from crisp and light to fuller-bodied. We hope you'll discover new favorites to sip solo or to pair with anything from freshly grilled ribeye to vibrant salads that make the most of springtime produce.

wine bottles — Greg DuPree / Jennifer Causey

Light Whites

There's no wrong time to open a chilled light white when the weather warms up, but we especially recommend pairing a skin-contact white with our new staple, shrimp toast.

2019 Elvio Cogno Anas-Cëtta Nascetta, Langhe, Italy

2019 Robert Weil Riesling Trocken, Rheingau, Germany

2019 Pazo Señorans Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain

2019 Domaine Sigalas, Assyrtiko, Santorini, Greece

2018 Matassa Cuvée, Marguerite, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Medium-Bodied Whites

We find ourselves pairing the lightly honeyed, savory Clos Lapeyre Sec with smoked trout and a bright fennel and radish salad, or a natural Spanish chenin blanc with crispy rice salad from Night + Market in Los Angeles.

2019 Orgo Dila-O Rkatsiteli-Mtsvane, Kakheti, Georgia

2018 Clos Lapeyre Sec, Jurançon, France

2018 Nikolaihof Hefeabzug Grüner Veltliner, Wachau, Austria

2019 Alzinger Ried Mühlpoint Federspiel Grüner Veltliner, Wachau, Austria

2019 Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups Remus, Loire Valley, France

2019 Escoda-Sanahuja Els Bassots Chenin Blanc, Catalonia, Spain

Full-Bodied Whites

Hold that bias––chardonnay is an especially fantastic pairing for your springtime cheese and charcuterie board.

2016 Nicolas Joly Clos de la Coulée de Serrant, Loire Valley, France

2016 Dario Princic Sivi Pinot, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

2020 Giant Steps Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, Australia

2018 Sterling Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay, Los Carneros, California

2018 Talbott Kali Hart Chardonnay, Monterey, California

2018 Lingua Franca Avni Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, Oregon

2017 Mount Eden Vineyards Estate Chardonnay, Santa Cruz, California

2017 Mi Sueño Chardonnay, Los Carneros, California

Rosés

Light but vibrantly flavored foods like Thai-style shrimp cocktail work terrifically well with rosés.

2020 Mas de Gourgonnier Rosé, Les Baux de Provence, France

2019 Whispering Angel Rosé, Provence, France

2018 Laurent Saillard La Valse Pineau d'Aunis Rosé, Loire Valley, France

2019 Black Girl Magic Rosé, California

Light-Bodied Reds

These versatile, playful reds play just as nicely with bucatini with mushroom ragu and greens as they do with grilled chicken wings with jaew.

2019 Birichino Bechthold Vineyard Cinsault, Lodi, California

2019 Clos du Tue-Boeuf Pineau d'Aunis, Loire Valley, France

2018 Noëlla Morantin Mon Cher Gamay, Loire Valley, France

2019 Jean-Paul Thévenet Morgon, Beaujolais, France

2018 Fratelli Alessandria Prinsiòt Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont, Italy

Medium-Bodied Reds

Medium-bodied reds are arguably the ultimate shape shifter, effortlessly sidling up beside tuna croquettes, burgers, or even just a post-work drink. There's something for everyone here.

2017 Tornatore Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy

2018 Passopisciaro Passorosso, Sicily, Italy

2019 Comando G La Bruja de Rozas, Gredos, Spain

2016 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills, California

2019 Arianna Occhipinti SP68 Rosso, Sicily, Italy

2018 Stoller Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon

2018 Raúl Pérez Ultreia Saint Jacques, Bierzo, Spain

2019 Masciarelli Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, Italy