13 of the Year’s Best Wines from Around the World

A great bottle of vino can instantly transport you to various regions all around the world. Just a sip of Chianti will remind you of your summer in the Mediterranean, while a rich Syrah will take you back to northern France where you enjoyed gruyère with freshly baked baguettes.

Wine has come a long way over the years, with exceptional offerings hailing from all around the globe grown in various soils and climates. With so many bottles to sample, finding the best ones can be challenging. Take the guesswork out of selecting your next bottle by perusing this list of highly acclaimed international wines.

1. Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae Malbec 2016

Flavorful, nuanced, and aromatic, Adrianna Vineyard’s 2016 Fortuna Terrae Malbec is a genuine crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re looking for a bottle to enjoy with friends over dinner or simply need a treat for yourself after a long workday, this Malbec delivers. This decadent red is full-bodied and layered, featuring notes of roses and pine needles with hints of spice and tobacco. If you seek a wine that is as bold as you are, look no further than this 2016 Argentinian Malbec.

2. Masseto Merlot 2016

Masseto’s 2016 Merlot possesses all the qualities you look for in a fine Merlot. This 100 percent Merlot was aged for two years in oak barrels and has a delicious finish. The 2016 Tuscan wine combines silky and juicy tannins with notes of spicy, dark fruit, sweet tobacco, and black cherry. Though the flavor profile is quite concentrated, it is not overbearing, making it a suitable choice for those who delight in a dark red wine with a powerful aroma. Deep flavor with a bright acidity makes this Merlot a must-have bottle in any wine enthusiast’s repertoire.

3. Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Crisp and complex, Cloudy Bay’s Sauvignon Blanc 2019 is a fantastic choice. This vibrant wine features a bright aroma bursting with tropical fruits and fresh acidity. Though Sauvignon Blanc comes from a variety of notable regions, Cloudy Bay’s comes from Marlborough, New Zealand. It consists of different complex layers, including hints of gooseberry, guava, tropical fruits, and fresh herbs, joined together to create an enticing fruity white wine. This Sauvignon Blanc goes down smoothly and leaves your palate refreshed and ready for summer. The long finish and sweet, concentrated notes will have your taste buds yearning for more.

4. Robert Weil Kiedrich Grafenberg Riesling Spätlese 2018

Riesling is one of the most superior white grapes worldwide, and the most exceptional bottles typically come from Germany. Spring has sprung with the German Robert Weil Kiedrich Grafenberg Riesling Spätlese 2018. Bright, floral, and fruity, this Riesling is worth every penny. This Riesling is intensely rich and creamy, making it best enjoyed sparingly. The flavor profile boasts sweet mandarin orange, papaya, and mango throughout, with an intense bouquet of spring flowers. Its fermentation process occurs in stainless steel tanks, providing this dessert wine with acidity, clean flavors, and enduring potency.

5. Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz 2016

This 2016 Shiraz is renowned for its bold, earthy flavor and dry palate. It’s a robust wine with a lengthy finish, with every taste promising a broad range of flavors. The prominent flavor is dark fruit, but it is also brimming with hints of star anise, savory spices with oak, chocolate, and a vanilla finish. This intense wine is a blend of 95 percent Shiraz and 5 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, creating a full-bodied, dynamic drink. Elegant and intense, this creamy Australian wine fills your mouth with a delectable fruitiness.

6. Chateau Latour 2000

The Chateau Latour 2000 is a beautiful, deep, dark red wine made with 77 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 16 percent Merlot, 4 percent Cabernet Franc, and 3 percent Petit Verdot. It is broad, savory, and luscious with a unique subtlety in its fruity notes and complex tannins. This bottle of French Bordeaux is a powerful and balanced blend, best saved for life’s special occasions and celebrations. Keep it in your wine cellar until the perfect celebratory moment arises.

7. Sigalas Santorini Barrel 2020

Made with 100 percent Assyrtiko grapes, Sigalas Santorini Barrel 2020 is a delectable dry white wine. This Greek wine is fermented in French oak barrels and aged with wine lees for approximately six months, giving it a pronounced round, full, and creamy flavor. The color is bright gold and blonde, with an underlying presence of wood. Hints of citrus fruit are identified throughout, with a refreshing balance of acidity and a lingering aftertaste. This bottle pairs perfectly with fish, chicken, smoked cheese, and smoked salmon.

8. Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

A high-quality wine perfect for affluent wine lovers, Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 is a vintage worthy of discussion. This opulent Napa Valley wine is full-bodied with a dark crimson hue and contains a distinct perfume and flavor profile. It offers a range of deep flavors, including spring flowers, graphite, creme de cassis, kirsch, and licorice. It is aged in 65 percent new French oak barrels for nearly two years before bottling. Given its limited production and the brand only selling between 400 and 600 cases each year, getting your hands on a bottle is a worthy endeavor.

9. Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé

Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé sets the standard for sparkling rosé. Consumers and industry experts love this wine and for good reason. The wine is produced from a medley of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes in France. Its gorgeous pale pink hue, effervescence, and refreshing taste make it a popular selection among rosé lovers. Subtle, exquisite, and packed with red berry flavors, this crisp rosé boasts a zesty citrus flair with floral hints and a distinct brightness. Those lucky enough to enjoy this wine appreciate its creaminess and noble wild strawberry profile with a raspberry finish. It is best accompanied by salmon, sushi, or a fresh bowl of strawberries and cream.

10. Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2008

Celebrate life’s precious milestones with a bottle of Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2008. This dreamy French sparkling wine comes straight from Champagne and is genuinely the perfect blanc of blancs. The balanced bottle features hints of apples, pears, and peaches and is full-bodied with rich acidity and a dry fruit flavor profile. Deep, superb, and harmonious, this Champagne is a must-have in any growing wine collection.

11. Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio

A beloved wine easily accessible to most, Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio is always a great choice. Given that this white wine is an easy drink, Santa Margherita’s Pinot Grigio remains an iconic fan favorite. The grapes are grown in the Alto Adige region of northern Italy in phosphoric and calcareous soil. This dry wine has a straw yellow color and features a clean, crisp, acidic flavor. This wine is best enjoyed at the beginning of a meal, pairing wonderfully with fresh cheese, seafood, pasta, sushi, white meat, and rich, creamy sauces that complement its acidity. It is best served chilled between 50° F and 54° F within one to two years of production.

12. Storm Vrede Pinot Noir 2016

Touted for its classic earthy notes, Storm Vrede Pinot Noir comes from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley of South Africa. Hemel-en-Aarde is situated in the Western Cape and translates to “Heaven and Earth” in Afrikaans, within which most South African wines are produced. What distinguishes this Pinot Noir from others is its distinct herbal note at its forefront. Once your palate moves past the herbal flavor, you’ll taste red fruit, including plum, cherry, raspberry, and wild strawberry. This versatile bottle pairs well with anything from veal and venison to chicken and beef.

13. Lustau Palo Cortado VORS

Finish dinner with a glass of Lustau Palo Cortado VORS, a very mature, rare Sherry. This dry wine is aged 30 years on average and is ideally enjoyed at a leisurely pace, giving you ample time to appreciate the wine’s evolving aromas and sensations. This Palo Cortado comes from a selection of seven casks and possesses a slightly bitter taste, reminiscent of dark chocolate and walnuts. Gather around the fireplace with guests after a delicious homemade dinner to revel in the deep, distinct nutty flavor of this treasured Sherry.