The 50 Best Wines We Drank In 2015

There is a great deal of wine out there in the world, and sadly, we can’t drink it all. But we were lucky enough to encounter some delicious wines this year, especially those of us at VinePair, who are in the business of tasting. So we asked five VinePair writers what their top ten bottles of the year were. These are bottles that helped create great memories, may have marked a special occasion, or were just simply delicious. Hopefully their choices will help you pick great wines in the new year, too!

Keith Beavers – VinePair’s Resident Wine Geek

I am an ADD wine lover. From year to year I always seek out wines that have balance, no matter the weight and body, or where the wine is from. My wine list at In Vino is all over the place and populated with whatever I am jiving on at the moment. Acidity is that one element that opens a wine up, whether it is subtle or prominent, and harmonizes the fruit and tannins, along with the other phenolic compounds that wind through and around it. Whether the wine is a deep red or white and soulful, I want to feel that soulfulness, and the acidity is what brings that contrast and complexity. If the wine is light and bright, red or white, I want the acidity to pronounce the aromas and liven my palate. The following wines are ten of the most balanced bottles I have tried this year.

Joshua Malin – VinePair Co-Founder

I guess I’m a creature of habit — just look at my Seamless order history — so I wasn’t surprised that half of my favorite wines this year would have made my list last year. In general I favor lighter, lower alcohol wines with earthiness or lots of minerality.

Don't Miss A Drop Get the latest in beer, wine, and cocktail culture sent straight to your inbox.

Laura Burgess – VinePair Columnist

I’m in love with wines that combine high acidity and earthiness–yes, even that stinky brand of earthiness often described as “barnyard” or “funky.” That said, I live in California, surrounded by bold, fruit-laden bottles where oak often trumps earth when it comes to flavor. This year, I sought out wines that combined the best of both worlds, regardless of their country of origin. My favorite bottles combine bright, distinctive fruit flavors balanced by laser-sharp acididity or cold, stony minerality, unclouded by new oak.

Adam Teeter – VinePair Co-Founder

This year I found myself seeking out soft white wines and reds that were bright and high in acidity. This was an about face from 2014 where I found myself drinking a lot more Bordeaux, Brunello and the like. It’s probably thanks in large part to the weather. This year was hot, and we all know this fall and early winter is still experiencing record highs, so I wanted wines that weren’t as big and rich as the wines I sought out in the previous year. If you’re someone who drinks a lot of Pinot Noir you’ll probably like many of the wines in my top 10.

Rachel Signer – VinePair Columnist

For me, the best wine isn’t necessarily aged, or from the world’s best vineyards. I love quirky, subtle wines that display really great fruit, care in the winemaking process, and surprising flavors. That means that most of my favorite wines are from very small producers who farm their grapes biodynamically or organically, and are fairly minimalist in the cellar. Most of the wines I enjoy are dry, lower in alcohol, and fairly high in acidity, which means they pair well with all sorts of food and cheeses. Of course, there are exceptions — I do love off-dry wine with cheese or Asian food. Examples of wines that I go crazy for are: Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley, Riesling from Germany, and Chardonnay from cool-climate regions, as well as various New World wines from up-and-coming natural producers like Brianne Day and Kris Matthewson of Bellwether. I am also obsessed with sparkling wines — Crémant or pét-nat all day for me, please!