The 12 Best Wines to Stock Up On in 2022

When it comes time to update your home bar, stocking it up with a choice pick of wines is essential. In recent years, India has developed a well-balanced, all-around wine culture and also produced some great options of Indian pours, enticing even a younger audience. It's safe to say that wine has become a fundamental part of our alcohol reserve. If you are wondering what bottles to stock up on this year, we have curated a list of earthy, ripe, fruity, and fabulous wines for you. Scroll down for the ultimate list of the finest wines that triumphed at the Cosmo India SNAs to upgrade your inventory. 

1. The Source Grenache Rosé

India's most refined rosé winning accolades, the Source Grenache Rosé embodies lively summer evenings and the company of good friends. A peachy, fruity, luxuriant, and versatile rosé made in the Nashik Valley of Sula Vineyards displays flavours of citrus, tropical fruits, and white peach with bright acidity and an elegant finish. It pairs well with meats, fish, salads, and Lebanese dishes with a balanced complexity and controlled body.

2. Sula Dindori Reserve Chardonnay

From the house of Sula—comes this lemony, buttery, and rich style of Chardonnay, the Sula Dindori Reserve Chardonnay. It offers lovely notes of stone fruits, honey, lemon, tropical fruit, and vanilla. It's considered one of the best in India; with its sophisticated flavours, it pairs well with chicken, prawns, or Italian dishes.

Discover the Best Red Wines in India by clicking here.

3. Fratelli Chenin Blanc

The Fratelli Chenin Blanc is India's most awarded Chenin Blanc. It is pale yellow in colour and made with 100 percent Chenin Blanc grapes. It boasts a bouquet of fresh tropical fruit aromas, a smooth and elegant acidity, and a beautiful complexity enhancing this wine's elegance. It's a must-have 'in your stock' wine from Fratelli and will pair well with Indian appetizers or Italian dishes.

4. Grover Zampa Soirée Brut Rosé Magnifique 

Grover Zampa Soirée Brut Rosé Magnifique is a celebration in its own right—reflecting the good times! Salmon-coloured hues, an aroma of berries, a tinge of acidity, and a long finish—just perfect for the festivities. The beautiful label and packaging add to the captivating blend of the finest grapes, making it an excellent sparkling wine of enormous potential, longevity, and complexity. Perfectly balanced in age, elegance, and structure, it's a wonderful option for your home bar and wine lovers alike.

5. La Réserve Fumé Blanc

La Réserve Fumé Blanc from the Grover Zampa winery in Nashik is a great festive treat, part of the winemaker's La Réserve range. Its richness is complemented by the natural acidity, the slight minerality of the grape, and intense mouthfeel. Hints of mango and citrus with notes of dry herbs, lime leaf, gooseberry, and vanilla make this a rich, flavourful wine.
 

6. Fratelli Noi 

Created by the Nashik-based Fratelli's in-house winemakers, Noi is a sweet, spirited sparkling that is a crowd-pleaser and perfect for festive occasions, romantic getaways, and good times. The first whiff of this aromatic wine in its beautifully illustrated black and aqua bottle bursts with tropical passionfruit, a bouquet of flowers, a vibrant, crisp, fresh palate, and lots of character. Noi is delicious, succulent with easy drinkability, and pairs particularly well with dessert.
 

Meet the Best Sparking Wine winners at the Cosmo India SNAs here.

7. Danzante Pinot Grigio Igt 

The Pinot Grigio is a very particular grape loved by many; it's a relative of Pinot Noir. A 700-year-old winery from Tuscany brings us this delicate wine with intense perfumes and a certain silkiness. Fruity and citrus notes of citron are accompanied by light floral accents, green apples, and the sweetness of ripe summer fruits like apricots. A rich and persistent choice; it leaves a lingering and fresh citrusy finish.
 

8. Grover Zampa Soirée Brut 

The multi-award-winning cellars of Nashik's Grover Zampa bring you the Soirée Brut, an elegant wine made with the Chenin Blanc grapes. It boasts brilliant pale straw hues, citrus and floral aromas, persistent bubbles, fruity notes, and a creaminess that exemplifies classic elegance, craftsmanship, and finesse. Fresh lemon with hints of toasted bread and white fruit such as pear add to the long finish of this glamorous wine. It's a versatile wine with a dry finish and pairs well with Indian, Chinese, Japanese, or Thai cuisine.
 

9. Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2019 

The South Australian Penfolds Bin 389 is no ordinary wine; it's a beautifully balanced marriage of Cabernet Sauvignon with rich Shiraz. Most red-wine drinkers will love this vibrant wine, alive with flavours of fruit and oak that come together in a delicious, full-bodied way. Save this plush, polished wine for days you want to savour a glass of something special. This succulent pick will be a great addition to your personal stock and will not disappoint.
 

10. Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block 2019 

From the Boekenhoutskloof winery in Franschhoek, South Africa, The Chocolate Block comes with an unusual name and minimalist label. It's an exciting wine with a big fan following and even has its own graphic novel to understand the wine and its name! A blend of predominantly Syrah along with Grenache, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Viognier grapes—the makeup of the wine is constantly tweaked to reflect the season. The palate is full and layered; it's an aromatic wine with blackberry and blueberry aromas with hints of pepper and spice. Expressions of dark plum and notes of graphite and cocoa nib with fine-grained tannins add a unique structure. While the black currant and chocolate linger onto a silky finish—it's truly an exceptional choice for a striking red as part of your stock.

11. Jacob’s Creek Double Barrel Shiraz 

Shiraz, or Syrah as it's known in the Mediterranean, Jacob's Creek Double Barrel is the best Shiraz. Their unique process is to age the wine in whisky barrels to add intricate layers and create a richer, deeper, and smoother taste. The Double Barrel range uses the same method used in craft whiskies. It pinnacles into a complex variety with hints of cedar, vanilla bean, buttered toast, pecan nut, roast cashew notes, and an attractive, mouthwatering palate of blackberry and ripe plum, lending a delightfully smooth finish. 
 

12. Sensi Montepulciano D’abruzzo

Made in the heart of Tuscany, the Sensi Montepulciano D'abruzzo is one of those great Italian wines that have a long and storied tradition in winemaking. A wonderfully ruby-red wine with violet reflections, an aroma of violet, and hints of spice. On the palate, it's soft, structured, and gently tannic—overall a superbly smooth glass, perfect as an accompaniment to certain meat dishes. You'll find yourself regularly stocking up on this one!