The Impossible Question: What's Your Favorite Wine?

Don't make me choose just one!

What’s your favorite wine? It’s often the first question people ask when I tell them I’m a wine writer. And I always find it impossible to answer. Don’t get me wrong; I prefer certain winemakers, varietals, regions, and styles, but I don’t have an absolute favorite.

Unlike my favorite chips or ice cream, the pleasure I get from drinking wine is greatly influenced by the setting. The bottle of Sagrantino I shared with my beau as the sun set in Umbria, the Lambrusco I sipped while eating pizza and watching Netflix, and the never-ending flow of Pinot Noir I sampled at a salmon bake in Oregon are all favorites. Yes, there are moments when I crave the taste of a familiar wine, but discovering new favorites is a thrill. Wine is a mood.

So, please forgive me if I can’t choose just one. But, in case you’re wondering, here are three bottles that I’ve recently enjoyed. Cheers!

Aperture Barrel-Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2022 ($50)
Sonoma County, California

I visited Aperture last summer, and tasting this bottle on a chilly day in NYC whisked me back to that sunny day in Sonoma. Winemaker Jesse Katz’s interpretation of Sauvignon Blanc was inspired by his experience at the esteemed and trés chic Haut-Brion in Bordeaux. Yes, it has the zest and zip one expects from Sauvignon Blanc. However, the addition of 16% Sémillon and barrel aging gives it an elegant heft, rounds out the texture, and adds some beautiful creamy notes without sacrificing any freshness.

Leyda Coastal Vineyards - Las Brisas Pinot Noir 2022 ($20)
Valle de Leyda, Chile

The freshness of this pretty Pinot Noir lives up to its name — Las Brisas refers to the sea breezes that caress the slopes where the grapes are grown. The bright red flavors and pops of herbs and spice make this wine infinitely quaffable. It is delicious proof that you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy an authentic expression of Pinot Noir.

Las Moradas de San Martin, Initio 2013
Madrid, Spain

2013 Initio is an older vintage that I recently pulled from my collection, and I'm so glad I did. It instantly transported me back to my 2017 visit to Las Moradas de San Martín winery, about one hour from Madrid. And when I opened the wine, I was stunned. I honestly didn't know what to expect from an eleven-year-old bottle of inexpensive Garnacha — I checked my notes from when I last tasted this wine in 2020, and it retailed for around $12.99 then. When I tasted it a few nights ago, it was still vibrant and had layers of rich fruit, earth, and spice flavors; I was astounded. Las Moradas produces their Garnacha from old vines, some over a century old, and Initio 2013 adds credence to the idea that old vines enhance a wine's character.

And it justifies me nicknaming winemaker Isabel Galindo La Reina de Garnacha (Garnacha Queen). Maybe you won't be able to find this specific vintage, but I encourage you to give wines from Las Moradas a try. And let this be a reminder to go through your wine rack and open up those forgotten treasures.