New Year’s Buying Guide: The Best Wines to Celebrate
Whether you’re planning a champagne-style toast at midnight, a steak-and-cab dinner, or a cozy night in with friends, this guide features celebration-worthy bottles (and a few big-format showstoppers) to ring in the New Year in style.
How to Use This Guide
- Pick your “midnight moment” bottle (sparkling or a special red).
- Add 1–2 food-friendly bottles for the table.
- Go big-format if you’re hosting—it pours more, looks incredible, and feels like a party.
For the Midnight Toast
Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut Champagne
Price: $39.99 • Winery: $65
Why it’s great: This elegant Champagne delivers aromas of cherry plum, lemon, bergamot, and fresh honeysuckle, followed by accents of vanilla and toasted brioche. The palate is crisp and balanced, with vibrant citrus and stone fruit flavors, refined mousse, and a long, refreshing finish.
Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs 2022
Price: $31.99 • Winery: $44
Why it’s great: Crisp, elegantly textured Blanc de Blancs built predominantly from Chardonnay, showing lifted aromas of green apple, apple tart, and bright citrus. The palate offers vibrant grapefruit, golden apple and white-peach flavors with a hint of vanilla chiffon and ginger, supported by fine mousse and racy acidity. Clean and palate-cleansing, it’s an excellent aperitif and pairs beautifully with shellfish or light seafood dishes.
Roederer Estate Brut — 3L
Price: $119.99
Why it’s great: A festive, crowd-pleasing traditional-method Brut—bright, crisp, and celebratory. The 3L format is an instant party centerpiece.
Big, Iconic Reds for a “New Year’s Eve Dinner” Vibe
Quintessa 2021 — 1.5L
Price: $449.99
Also available: 750ml $299.99
Notable scores: 100 Wine Enthusiast; 98 James Suckling; 98 Jeb Dunnuck; 96 Robert Parker
Why it’s great: Elegant, detailed, and structured—an estate-driven Napa blend that feels perfectly “special occasion.”
Cliff Lede “Poetry” Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Price: $349.99
Why it’s great: Power with polish—dark fruit depth, fine tannins, and a long finish that pairs beautifully with beef.
Scarecrow “M. Étain” 2022
Price: $269.99
Why it’s great: Collectible Napa Cabernet intensity with serious structure and undeniable “wow” factor for a midnight pour.
Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red 2019
Price: $224.99
Why it’s great: Bold, layered, and built for aging—this flagship blend drinks like a celebration and loves rich foods.
BV “Georges de Latour” Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Price: $169.99
Why it’s great: A classic Napa icon—deep, velvety Cabernet with spice and tobacco-tinged complexity.
Groth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Price: $129.99
Why it’s great: Reserve-tier Oakville Cabernet with structure and polish—dark fruit, savory complexity, refined finish.
Barbour Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Price: $154.99
Why it’s great: Full-bodied yet elegant—blackberry/cherry depth, cocoa/tea nuance, and a long, silky finish.
Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Price: $99.99
Why it’s great: Mountain Cabernet intensity with freshness and savory lift—excellent with dinner.
Best “Value-to-Prestige” Picks
Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Price: $89.99 • Winery: $170
Why it’s great: An iconic label at a standout price—dense, structured Napa Cabernet that feels like a splurge.
DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 — 1.5L
Price: $99.99 • Winery: $150
Why it’s great: Big Paso richness with a reserve-level finish—great for hearty winter dishes.
Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Price: $59.99 • Winery: $85
Why it’s great: Classic-leaning, food-friendly Napa Cabernet—savory, structured, and versatile.
Caterwaul Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Price: $59.99
Why it’s great: Full-bodied and easy to love—an excellent “host bottle” with Napa character.
Sinegal Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Price: $69.99 • Winery: $90
Why it’s great: Sleek and polished—modern Napa Cabernet with a refined edge.
Bledsoe Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Price: $49.99
Why it’s great: A great alternative-region Cabernet—dark fruit, savory lift, and structure that overdelivers.
Pinot Noir & Zinfandel: Crowd-Pleasers for the Party
Brewer-Clifton “Machado” Pinot Noir 2023
Price: $79.99
Notable scores: 97 James Suckling; 96 Wine Spectator; 96 Jeb Dunnuck; 95 Vinous; 95 Robert Parker
Why it’s great: Vibrant, layered Pinot with dark berries, savory earth and spice—substantial yet lively.
Ridge “Lytton Springs” 2023
Price: $56.99
Why it’s great: Old-vine, Zinfandel-led field blend with spice and savory depth—perfect for a party spread.
Whites to Start the Night
Rochioli Chardonnay 2023
Price: $64.99
Why it’s great: Textured, bright Chardonnay with citrus/orchard fruit and a long, clean finish.
Miner “Wild Yeast” Chardonnay 2022
Price: $49.99
Why it’s great: Wild-yeast complexity—ripe orchard fruit, spice, and creamy texture balanced by freshness.
Continuum Estate “Sentium” Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Price: $59.99
Why it’s great: Mineral-leaning and mouthwatering—great as an opener or with lighter bites.
Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Price: $42.99
Why it’s great: Vibrant, flavorful, and easy to serve to a crowd—fresh, expressive, and food-friendly.
Big-Format Bottles
- Quintessa 2021 — 1.5L: $449.99
- Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cab 2020 — 3L: $374.99
- Caymus Napa Cab 2022 — 3L: $374.99
- Roederer Estate Brut — 3L: $119.99
Hosting tip: Chill sparkling early, decant bigger reds if time allows, and keep a backup bottle ready for the countdown.
