Simple Ways To Expand Your Wine Drinking Horizons In 2025

The New Year is almost here, and maybe you will be toasting it the traditional way with a glass of something cold and bubbly. Whether you are a seasoned wine drinker or just have the occasional tipple, this time of year is an excellent opportunity to look forward and plan some new varieties of wine to explore. Here are a few tips!

Explore lesser known European wines

Bulgaria is one of the world’s lesser known wine producers, but over the past decade it has been acquiring a strong reputation for high quality and affordable wines. If you are looking for an alternative to popular European wine producers in 2025, look out for Bulgarian wines online.

Recommended bottles include Chateau Burgozone Cote du Danube Viognier 2022, an excellent full-bodied white with delicious notes of apricot and and peach, and well balanced flavours and texture. Other European countries with overlooked wine regions include Portugal and Greece, so if you are holidaying in the vicinity this year, keep an eye out.

Organise or attend wine tasting events

Wine tasting events are an excellent way to experience new varieties of wine from around the world without needing to purchase whole bottles, and share your opinions with others. Take note of the grape varieties, regions, and producers that impress you most so you can add them to your shopping list.

Learn some wine tasting techniques

If you are new to the world of wine drinking, it’s helpful to learn a little about the art of tasting wine so that you can get the most out of the experience. First of all, hold up the glass and examine the colour. Look beyond the basic white, red, and pink wine colours and be more specific.

For example, full-bodied reds with rich complex flavours such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz tend to have deep crimson or even purple colours, while medium or light bodied reds such as Merlot or Pinot Noir tend to be paler shades of red. White wine can vary from full-bodied fruity flavours that tend to have a golden hue, to very pale crisp acidic whites. 

Next, swirl the glass to release the flavours, and put your nose to the rim to smell the wine. You may notice fruity, floral, spicy, or nutty aromas. Don’t worry if you can’t distinguish these immediately, as it can take a while to build a refined palate. 

Finally, take a small sip of the wine and swirl it around your mouth. Notice if the wine tastes sweet, acidic, or savoury. The texture will also vary, from almost as light as water to thick and velvety. You may detect multiple flavour notes such as fruits, species, or even flowers.

Learn more about grape varieties

The most common grape varieties used in wine production include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir. However, there’s a whole world to explore, so make 2025 the year when you try a wider variety of grapes, such as Riesling, Gewürztraminer, or Tempranillo.