Top Twelve Favorite Wines of 2025

As 2026 approaches, it's time once again to reflect upon the past year, to remember and savor pleasant memories. Previously, I posted three of my food-related Favorites lists and it's now time to cover my Top Twelve Wines of 2025. 

This list includes wines that not only I enjoyed, but which I also found to be particularly compelling for various reasons. They might be especially delicious, something more unique or just excellent values for the price. They all stand out, for some particular reason, above the other wines that I've tasted this past year. This list also includes only wines I reviewed on my blog, although I tasted some excellent wines that I didn't write about.

As I've mentioned before, I currently work at Victoria Hill Wine, Spirits & Gourmet, in Melrose, and I preside over their Wine Tastings on Thursdays (from 5-7pm) and Saturdays (from 1-4pm). During the past year, I've poured plenty of excellent and diverse wines, a number which are worthy of being on this list, although I haven't written about them on my blog this year. So, you can always stop by the shop and ask me for some of my top wine recommendations from those tastings. In 2026, I'll try to keep a list of my best recommendations from these tastings, noting them on my blog, to make it easier to find such wines.  

The following is a purely subjective list, based on my own preferences, and makes no claims about being the "best" wines out there. It's primarily the wines which spoke to me the loudest, even when they were subtle wines. These are all wines that I strongly recommend and which I believe many other wine lovers would also enjoy.

The wines are not listed in any particular order and each choice is linked to my more detailed prior review. All of these wines are worth your consideration but please also note that the prices are approximations and the actual price may vary in your area. In addition, some of the wines might not be available in your local region, though you might be able to order them from the winery or an online store, dependent on your state's shipping laws.

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1) 2022 Bocale Trebbiano Spoletino ($20-$25)

I enjoyed this wine at a wine dinner at A Tavola in Winchester. It's a white wine made from 100% Trebbiano Spoletino, which is a different type of Trebbiano, grown in Umbria, than many have experienced before. The winery was established in 2002, and their vineyards are sustainably farmed. The wine matured on the lees for several months, and saw only stainless steel. It was a fascinating wine, with complex and intriguing flavors, including citrus and stone fruit, with a strong herbal streak and hints of saline. A very unique tasting wine and its flavors seem to evolve over time in the glass.  

2) 2019 Torrevento Castel del Monte Bolonero ($15)

I also enjoyed this wine at the same wine dinner at A Tavola as above. The winery, whose history extends back about 100 years, practices sustainable farming practices. This wine is a blend of 80% Nero di Troia and 20% Aglianico, which aged for about 8 months in stainless steel. Nero di Troia is a lesser known grape from Puglia, whose origins may extend back to the ancient Greeks. However, it's said to produce quite delicious wines and is said to be deserving of much more attention. The wine was silky smooth, with a complex melange of flavors, including ripe plum and black cherries, accented by spice notes and savory herbs. Restrained tannins, excellent acidity, and a lingering, satisfying finish. Pure deliciousness and a great value.

3) 2022 Pere Mata Cupada Rosé Cava Reserva Brut Nature ($20-$25)

Produced more in a style like a Grower Champagne, this Cava Rosé is composed of a blend of 30% Macabeo, 25%, Parellada, 20% Xarello, and 25% Monastrell. The wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel for about 24-30 months. It was disgorged without any dosage and possesses a 12% ABV. It's a pale pink in color with an enticing aroma of red fruits, which makes you desire a taste. On the palate, it's crisp and dry, with clean tastes of red fruit, especially strawberry, with hints of citrus and rose petals. Plenty of tiny bubbles, a lengthy, pleasing finish, and overall, an air of elegance and deliciousness. For the quality and taste of this Cava, it's very reasonably priced, and can be enjoyed on its own, although it would pair well with a variety of foods as well. Seafood, chicken, pasta, and more. 

4) 4 Kilos Vinicola Motor America ($25)

Produced on the Spanish island of Mallorca, this wine is made from 100% Callet, a grape indigenous to Mallorca. Their Callet comes from organic vineyards, which are over 50 years old, and which grow in Cal Vermell soils, which are reddish, iron-rich and porous. The grapes are foot trodden, a rare practice nowadays, and fermented with native yeast. It's then aged in clay amphora and stainless steel for about five months. The resulting wine is also bottled unfined, unfiltered, and without any added sulfur dioxide and at an 11% ABV. With a fruity aroma, this wine is light bodied with delicious red fruit flavors, especially raspberry, with hints of black olive and herbs. It's smooth and easy drinking, with a satisfying finish and a rather unique taste. This is the type of wine which could also be slightly chilled if that's your preference. It's excellent on its own, but would pair well with foods suck as roast chicken or duck, or a roast pork loin. 

5 & 6) Alileo Wines: Sicilian, Organic Boxed Wines ($19.99/1.5 liter)
Boxed wine on this list? Why not? These two boxed wines are made in Sicily, use organic grapes, and wine production uses spontaneous fermentation. The wine is also boxed unfiltered. Alileo offers four different varietals. The Alileo Wines Young Bianco is produced from young Grillo grapes. With a bright yellow color, and a 12.5% ABV, the wine had a pleasing nose of citrus and floral notes, both which come out on the palate as well. It is fresh and clean, with good acidity, savory and herbal notes, and a pleasant finish. An excellent summer wine. The Alileo Wines Rosato Bronzato is produced from 100% Syrah and has a 12% ABV. "Bronzato" means "tanned by the sun," but it's also a slang term for "someone who partakes in some sporty imbibing." With a dark pink color, and a fruity aroma, the wine is fresh and crisp, with a medium-body and tasty, bright flavors of red fruit, especially cherry, and a savory element. Excellent on its own, and perfect for the summer, but it's very food friendly as well.

7) 2015 Valdespino La Especial Manzanilla En Rama (about $30)

This is a rarity, a Vintage Sherry (Jerez de Añada) which is also En Rama. With a 16% ABV, it possessed an alluring nose, with a touch of the sea, almonds, subtle citrus notes, and hints of herbs. On the palate, it was complex and compelling, delicious and intriguing. It was bone-dry, with plenty of acidity, a prominent briny character, and notes of apple and lemon. There were also hints of almonds, olives and herbs. It possessed a lengthy and satisfying finish. This Manzanilla would pair well with fried foods and seafood, especially oysters. An impressive wine, its complexity and taste would appeal to many wine lovers.  

8) Bodegas Yuste Conde de Aldama Palo Cortado Sherry ($120+)
This is another rarity, a Palo Cortado Sherry which possesses an average age of at least 130-150 years!  I have to begin noting that words are truly inadequate to depict the totality of drinking this extremely old Palo Cortado. However, I will try to encapsulate some of its wonders. First, it possessed a fine, dark amber color. Second, the nose possessed a complex and intense melange of harmonious aromas that seduced and tantalized me. I could identify some of the notes, but others were more elusive, exotic hints of rare aromas. Third, my palate was overwhelmed with pleasure, such an incredible taste. Complexity and harmony, pure elegance and balance. There was even a measure of freshness to this sherry, which is amazing considering its great age. It also possessed a diverse melange of flavors, both familiar and not, including briny notes, almonds, caramel, dried figs, subtle citrus, and much more. An extremely long and pleasing finish. I never wanted to stop drinking this Sherry and it possessed everything I might desire in such a wine. Perfection in a bottle. 

9) 2024 Varvaglione 1921 Susumaniello Rosé ($19)
From the Puglia region of Italy, this Rosé is which is produced from 100% Susumaniello, a rare grape of ancient lineage, and has a 13% ABV. The wine is aged in stainless steel, with periodic suspension of the lees. With a vibrant pink color, the nose is alluring with plenty of red fruit aromas and hints of spice. On the palate, it is crisp and dry, with bright red fruit flavors of strawberry, raspberry and cherry, along with subtle spice notes. On the lengthy finish, there's hints of minerality, and it's simply delicious. This would be excellent on its own, although it would also be an excellent food wine. Overall, this was an impressive Rosé, perfect for the summer, but which would be great year round.  

10) 2020 Zuccardi Poligonos Paraje Altamira Malbec ($30-$35)
A Malbec with a sense of place, from grapes in mountain vineyards, and aged in concrete. Produced from 100% Malbec, this wine was fermented with native yeasts in concrete vessels. It was then aged in concrete, and possessed a 14% ABV. It was fresh and bright, with a rich purple color, and a nose of black fruits and hints of herbs. On the palate, the fruit dominated, with flavors of ripe plum, black cherry and blueberry, but is supported by mineral notes (a stony element) and a subtle herbal accent. It was medium-bodied, with restrained tannins and good acidity. The finish was long and satisfying, and this was an excellent wine with a hearty meal. A complex and intriguing wine, the lack of oak helps you better understand the terroir, how the Malbec of his particular region differs from Malbec from other areas. Those who already enjoy Malbec will be thrilled by this wine, and others, who may not know much about Malbec, will also be thrilled by its taste.  

11) 2022 Olivier Roten Dôle Coteaux de Sierre ($25)
Produced in Switzerland, this wine is a type called Dôle, a traditional blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay. The Olivier Roten winery is seeking Organic certification and is otherwise sustainable. This wine is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Gamay, with a 13% ABV. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and then aged for at least 6 months in concrete tanks. It has a light red color, translucent, and an appealing nose of strawberry, black cherry and a touch of earthiness. On the palate, it's a light bodied and elegant wine, with fresh flavors of red fruits, such as raspberry and strawberry, a touch of earthiness, and hints of minerality. It possesses good acidity, mild tannins, and a lengthy, satisfying finish. Would be a nice pairing with salmon to roast chicken, pizza to burgers. An easy-drinking wine, but not a simple one. 

12) 2024 Tetramythos Agrippiotis Orange Nature
This fascinating Greek wine is certified organic, has a 11.5% ABV, and is made from a rare Greek white grape, Agrippiotis (also known as Curisti). It grows in the Peloponnese peninsula and the Ionian Islands, and is known for its high acidity, low yields, and the ability to grow well even in challenging environments. This wine underwent skin contact maceration for about 20 days, and was fermented with indigenous yeasts. It was bottled unfiltered, unfined and with the addition of minimal sulfites before bottling. The wine has a fine golden hue, slightly cloudy, with an alluring and complex nose of citrus, dried fruit, and floral elements. The promise of the nose is fully realized on the palate, which is elegant and complex, with bright acidity and an intriguing taste. The fascinating and complex flavors include citrus, dried fruits, baked apple, subtle herbal notes, and a touch of salted nuts. Each sip brought something new and exciting to my mouth. It's a well balanced wine, with mild tannins, and a lengthy, satisfying finish. An excellent food wine. It's a compelling wine that mere words cannot adequately describe, and which must be experienced to fully understand its beauty and wonders.

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Five countries made the list this year, with Italy in first place, occupying five spots on the list. Spain is in second place with four spots, with Argentina, Switzerland and Greece  each occupying one spot on the list. As for wine types, the list is also broken down into 1 Sparkling Rosé, 2 Rosé,  2 Whites, 4 Reds, 1 Orange, and 2 Fortified Wines. 

I have other wine recommendations on my blog and you just have to search for them. If you have some of your own recommendations for excellent wines you've enjoyed in 2025, please add them to the comments.

2022 Olivier Roten Dôle Coteaux de Sierre: A Swiss "Blood of Hell" Wine

In Switzerland, wine production extends back at least to the ancient Romans. Today, the two most commonly planted grapes in Switzerland are Pinot Noir and Chasselas, which total almost 60% of their plantings. However, Switzerland currently exports only a tiny percentage of their wines, so it's difficult to find their wines at local wine shops. Some are available in Massachusetts, and they are worth seeking out. 

Including the Blood of Hell.

In Valais, a canton and AOC in Switzerland located in the southwestern part of the country, there is a municipality called Salgesch. There's a legend that a group of knights once came to Salgesch to visit the Knights of St. John. The visiting knights were given wine, the Knight of St. John had produced from their own vineyard. The visitors drank so much wine, they apparently got quite drunk, wondering what they had consumed, referring to it as a "real wine from hell." This wine then acquired the nickname of "Sang de l'enfer," meaning "blood of hell" in French. This wine was Dôle, from the Valais AOC. 

The Gamay grape was introduced in the Valais region around 1859, and a Geneva botanist, Augustin Pyramus de Candolle, gave the name “Dôle” to the Gamay grape, naming it after a French city, which was also the birthplace of Louis Pasteur. Over time, Dôle began to refer to more just Gamay, but rather a wine blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir. It also eventually became a protected appellation in Valais, with specific regulations as to the composition of the blend.

However, in 2021, the regulations about Dôle changed, so that the blend must now consist of at least 51% Pinot Noir and Gamay, although Pinot must dominate. In addition, the rest of the blend, up to 49%, can consist of other red grapes such as Cornalin, Humagne, Rouge, Syrah and others. 

I recently enjoyed a Dôle wine, with a more traditional blend of only Pinot Noir and Gamay. The 2022 Olivier Roten Dôle Coteaux de Sierre (about $25) was produced by the Caves du Paradis, which is located in the township of Sierre, along the Rhône River in the Swiss Alps. The winery was founded in 1959 by Alex Roten, and 30 years later, in 1989, his son, Raphaël Roten, took over the estate. Most recently, Olivier Roten, the son of Raphaël, took over. The winery now owns about 25 acres of vineyards, about 600-800 meters above sea level. The winery has seeking Organic certification and is otherwise sustainable.

The 2022 Olivier Roten Dôle Coteaux de Sierre is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Gamay, with a 13% ABV. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and then aged for at least 6 months in concrete tanks. It has a light red color, translucent, and an appealing nose of strawberry, black cherry and a touch of earthiness. On the palate, it's a light bodied and elegant wine, with fresh flavors of red fruits, such as raspberry and strawberry, a touch of earthiness, and hints of minerality. It possesses good acidity, mild tannins, and a lengthy, satisfying finish. Would be a nice pairing with salmon to roast chicken, pizza to burgers. An easy-drinking wine, but not a simple one. Highly recommended.

2006 Provins Fendant du Valais

This is the final one of my recently purchased wines from Switzerland.

The most planted white grape in Switzerland is Chasselas, which is also planed in Chile, France, Germany, Hungary, and the Ukraine. In Switzerland, it may also be known as Fendant or Perlan. Its origins are said to extend back to ancient Egypt. In some places, Chasselas has a poor reputation for making boring wines. But when it is produced in certain areas of Switzerland, it acquires interesting mineral notes with a crisp acidity. It is said to well reflect its terroir. It is also usually aged in stainless steel rather than oak.

I was not familiar with Chasselas before so was intrigued to try a new varietal. The 2006 Provins Fendant du Valais ($15.99) is from the Valais region in southwestern Switzerland. It has an alcohol content of 12% and was a light yellow in color with a mild nose of citrus. On the palate, it was crisp with flavors of pear and peach with a pronounced minerality, especially on the finish. There was also an elusive fruit flavor in the mix, something that I could not identify yet seemed vaguely familiar as well. It did not seem one of the usual fruity suspects. The wine certainly had its own unique character and I enjoyed it. I drank the wine with some chicken and noodles and it was a good food wine.

A Drink & Buy Recommendation.

Now, of the three Swiss wines I recently tasted, two of the three were Drink & Buy Recommendations. The third just seemed too pricey for what you got. That means I definitely will seek out other Swiss wines to try and I hope that you give them a chance as well.

2006 Dubaril Gamay Romand

Yesterday, I posted my review of the 2006 Jean-Rene Germanier Dole Balavaud, the first of three new Swiss wines I recently purchased at Salem Wine Imports. Today, I move on to the second wine, a Gamay.

The 2006 Cave de La Côte Dubaril Gamay Romand ($13.99) is a Vin de Pays made from Gamay grapes in selected vineyards in Romandie (Western Switzerland) in the cantons of Vaud and Geneva. It has an alcohol content of 12% and a listed aging potential of two years.

Gamay, its full name actually being Gamay Noir a Jus Blanc, is the foundation of French Beaujolais, including the Beaujolais Nouveau. Yet do not judge all Gamay by Beaujolais Nouveau as it can make wines of character and depth. This Dubaril is one such wine.

On the nose, you get cherry and blackpepper smells with a bit of a floral accent. It is a light colored wine, medium bodied and easy drinking. On the palate, you get bright red fruits, cherry, and raspberry, but with hints of black pepper and mineral notes. The tannins are mild and the finish is moderately long. I had this wine with some thin crust cheese pizza and it did pair well with it.

Overall, I enjoyed this wine. It is a simple wine but with character. It has some depth to it though nothing profound. It is just a solid, good wine. A fine everyday wine that would go well with light foods. The price is reasonable, much better than the value of the previously reviewed Dole. A Drink & Buy recommendation.

2006 Jean-Rene Germanier Dole Balavaud

Have you ever tasted a Swiss wine? They are certainly not easy to find locally and, in fact, Switzerland only exports about 2% of their wines. So when I found three different Swiss wines at a new wine store, Salem Wine Imports, I had to buy one of each to try them.

Switzerland has the highest vines in Europe. Most of their wine is produced in the western cantons and Valais is their most productive one. The Swiss produce far more red wine than white as they consume almost twice as much red as white. The most planted white grape is Chasselas, and one of the wines I bought is made from that grape. Pinot Noir, also known as Blauburgunder and Clevener, is probably the most planted red grape though Switzerland also has numerous indigenous grapes such as Amigne, Reze, Cornalin, and Bondola. I had never heard of those grapes before.

So, I begin my explorations of Swiss wine with a red, one that possesses mostly Pinot Noir. The 2006 Jean-Rene Germanier Dole Balavaud ($24.99) is from the Valais AOC and has an alcohol content of 13%. The Balavaud vineyard was begun in 1896 by Urbain Germanier. It is located at the heart of the Swiss Rhône valley called Valais. Interestingly, Dole is the Swiss name for a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay where the Pinot must dominate.

I found this wine to be very light red in color. It had a nose of cherries and strawberries and that came through on the palate as well. It was a medium-bodied wine, smooth and easy drinking. The finish was long. It was an intriguing wine as it did not taste like a Pinot or a Gamay. It had its own unique identity and the two grapes seemed to pair quite well. I definitely enjoyed this wine, though it might be a bit pricey. Though I have read that Swiss wines are generally more expensive than comparable wines in other countries. Maybe it just did not seem complex enough to justify its price. Though it certainly is a wine that work please many people.

Tonight maybe I will open the Swiss Gamay.

Italian Wine Tasting: Salem

Last night, at my first wine tasting at Salem Wine Imports, was very enjoyable. And I even met a couple other wine bloggers.

Before the tasting began, Eric, the owner of the store, offered me a taste of Lindeman's Framboise Lambic. I generally dislike all beer so I was a bit hesitant to try it but gave it a shot anyways. I was pleasantly surprised though as it really lacked a beer taste. It had a light effervescence and a pleasant raspberry taste with only a hint of sweetness. Though it is a beer, I actually liked it. This would be most enjoyable on a hot summer day.

For the wine tasting, Eileen Wright of Adonna Imports presented six Italian wines from her portfolio. Four of the wines were new to me and two of those really impressed me. I am always excited to try whatever new wines Adonna has added to their portfolio.

I started the tasting with the white, a 2006 Azienda Agricola Martilde "Gelo" Bianco ($12.99) from Lombardia, Provincia di Pavia. This wine is made from the Riesling Italico grape and has a 12.5% alcohol content. The label has the picture of a sheepdog named Gelo, owned by the wine maker. The wine is bright yellow in color and a mild citrus nose. You taste citrus flavors too and it is not really sweet at all. It has a crisp acidity with a dry finish. I liked this wine and it would be best chilled in the summer.

Next up, a 2004 Le Piane La Maggiorina ($12.99), Colline Novaresi Rosso DOC from Boca in the Piedmont. This wine is made from three unusual Italian grapes and one common one, including Croatina, Vepsolina, Uva Rara and Nebbiolo. It has an alcohol content of 12%. I loved the lush berry flavors of this wine. It was just bursting with bright fruit. There is some acidity and it does pucker your mouth a little bit. This would be a great food wine, from pizza to veal parmigiana. At this price, this is an excellent value for an everyday wine. It should please everyone.

I then moved on to the 2004 Solatione Chianti Classico ($22.99). This wine has a 13.5% alcohol content. This is a very good example of Chianti. There are solid cherry and raspberry flavors though they are more subdued. It has a full body and sufficient acidity to make this an excellent food wine. It has a decent length finish and is a bargain at this price.

I was very impressed with the next wine, the 2005 ReDondel Teroldego Rotaliano ($22.99) from Trentino. Teroldego is both the name of the grape as well as the region it comes from. It has a 12.5% alcohol content and 2005 is supposed to be a very good vintage. The wine is very dark red, almost inky. It has a potent aroma of black berries and plums. It is a full-bodied wine with a complex melange of flavors, including dark berries and spice. The tannins do not overpower and the finish is very long and satisfying. This reminded me a little of a good Zinfandel. I absolutely loved this wine and highly recommend it.

After the tasting, while wandering around the store, I decided to buy a few wines from Switzerland. I recently read that Switzerland exports only a small percentage of their wines so I was pleased to see that the wine store had three different wines in stock. I bought all three, one white and two reds. This includes the 2006 Provins Fendant du Valais, 2006 Jean-Rene Germanier Vetroz Dole Balavaud, and the 2006 Cave de La Côte – DuBaril Gamay Romand.

I can't wait to see how those wines taste. Have any of my readers had any wines from Switzerland?

Lastly, I had the pleasure at the tasting to meet two local wine bloggers, Taster A and Taster B from Smells Like Grape. It was not a planned meeting. We all just happened to be at the same tasting and Eric introduced us to each other. They were a very nice couple and we spent a little time talking about wine and the local wine scene. I expect we will run into each other at future tastings and I look forward to further chats with them. If you have not checked out their blog, then take a look.

The tasting was quite busy and it already seems that this new wine shop has attracted a good clientele. If you are in the Salem area on Tuesday nights, then stop by and taste some wines. You never know who you might meet.

Salem Wine Imports
32 Church Street
Salem, MA
Phone: 978-741-9463