Let’s face it: there is a new generation of wine drinkers out there and they love it. This generation is in a discovery phase and is not afraid to try something different. Thus, you are seeing more shelf space devoted to varietals such as viognier, bordeaux, vinho verde, zinfandel, chenin blanc, pinotage, etc.

Obviously, bottle shops will continue to service consumers’ needs with the mainstays, but it’s this new era of discovery that makes wine drinking so much fun. Let’s look at a few examples to get you started on your own personal path of discovery.

One to Try:

Justin Monmousseau 2013 Vouvray Blanc de Blancs (France)

Straw yellow in color and a nose of white fleshed and tropical fruit, this wine has a good balance between structure, vivacity and freshness.

Starting with a white wine, Vouvray is a wine from the French region of the Loire Valley. Loire Valley wine is tended from the Chenin Blanc grape and produces a tender dry wine that is excellent with fish, seafood or white meat if served chilled around 47 to 50 degrees.

One to Try:

Grey [Glacier] 2011 Carmenere (Maipo Valley, Chile)

This carmenere is sourced from a single block in La Trinidad Vineyard and spent 18 months in French oak barrels. The result is an outstanding wine of elegant character with silky tannins and intense black fruit flavors.

Carmenere is a red grape with an interesting history. Originally planted in the Medoc region of Bordeaux, France, it was once considered extinct after the Phylloxera plague in 1867 nearly wiped out the vineyards of Europe. Roughly 20 years ago, carmenere was rediscovered growing in Chile and has since help Chilean wines rise to prominence.

One to Try:

Pi-3.1415 Red Wine 2011 (Aragon, Spain)

As unique as the number pi, this wine comes from handpicked concejon grapes aged for 12 months in new oak barrels. It possesses a deep, black ruby-red color with blue highlights. The blueberry fruit dominates and the black and red cherry flavors blend with strawberry, spices and a hint of milk chocolate.

The concejon grape (also known as moristel) is a minor Spanish red grape variety and is found mainly in the region of Aragon. It has compact bunches with medium-sized, cylindrical-shaped berries with a blue hue and is traditionally used for blending with other varieties to add body and color to a wine.

Enjoy!