Winter, bye. After a long slog of a winter, I think it’s safe to say that we are all ready to toast warmer, sunnier days ahead with a nice glass of wine.
Wines are typically released in two major waves: Spring and Fall. In the Spring, we get wines that match the season: fresh, vivacious, crisp. Ideal for pairing with moderate sunshine, warming temperatures, and joy. They’re often whites or rosés, but many lighter reds fit the bill too.
We reached out to winemakers and wine lovers to find out which wines they’re most excited to uncork this spring. Read on for sipping inspiration!
Think Pink With Rosé
Millbrook Vineyards & Winery is nestled in the bucolic Hudson Valley and has been a premier destination for wine lovers since 1985, when it was founded in the footprint of an old dairy farm. Celebrated for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc, winemaker Ian Bearup crushes on the rosé when the sunny season rolls around.
“My favorite Spring wine is almost always our rosé,” Bearup says. “It is usually one of our first to bottle, and it’s bursting with smells of the upcoming summer, like strawberries and flowers. Our previous rosé is sold out, so faithful customers are excited to greet this new release.”
Lakewood Vineyards, a third-generation winery on the shores of Seneca Lake, crafts wine from estate-grown grapes in the Finger Lakes. Their portfolio is diverse, encompassing Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and a range of fruit wines.
For head winemaker and president Chris Stamp, it’s hard to pick his idyllic Spring wine.
“Even after 40 years of doing this, I still get excited about all of the wines,” Stamp says. But when pushed, “springtime is synonymous with Cab Franc Rosé. I feel like everyone in our tasting room gets really excited about the release, and that excitement rubs off on our visitors. The passion is infectious.”
Great Whites & Bubbles
The Lenz Winery is a historic, family-owned estate on Long Island’s North Fork. Established in 1978, Lenz is recognized for the exceptional French grape varieties that thrive there.
Thomas Spotteck, director of viticulture and enology at Lenz, is most excited for the release of the 2025 Estate Selection Sauvignon Blanc and the “fan favorite, our traditional method sparkling wine, the Lenz Cuvée.”
“These wines are always a good welcome to the warmer weather, and it’s always exciting to have the first wines from such a beautiful vintage to finally hit the shelves for everyone to experience,” Spotteck says.
Debbie Gioquindo, host of the wine podcast Uncork Your Mind, is priming her palate for the release of Millbrook’s Tocai Friulano Proprietor’s Special Reserve.
“I love the fresh, crisp character of the wine and its lively acidity,” Gioquindo says. “It’s bright, refreshing, and truly feels like spring in a glass.”
Fresh & Lively Reds
Arrowhead Spring Vineyards is a family-owned winery in the Niagara Escarpment AVA, specializing in Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah, among others.
Owner Duncan Ross is most excited about Arrowhead’s red releases.
“Our reds are aged for two years in barrel, which is labor intensive, with all of the topping and racking required,” Ross says. “The assemblage process begins in early Fall to determine blends. By late Fall, we are blending to tanks and filling those now-empty barrels again with the current harvest. Then, we bottle in February and March, after the wine has adjusted to being in a blend.”
The Niagara Escarpment’s warm temperatures and limestone soils are especially suited for reds, Ross adds.
Marika Vida-Arnold, who served as wine director of the Ritz-Carlton Central Park and now works as a wine educator at The Yale Club and as a consultant for wineries and festivals at Vida et Fils Consulting, is also excited to uncork a red after its two-year rest in the cellar.
“I love that Lenz holds onto their reds for a few years so they’re more approachable,” she says. “It’s a commitment and an expensive one, but it shows a thoughtful dedication to the varietal and the consumer.”
Which one will Vida-Arnold toast warmer temps to? “Lenz Old Vine Merlot,” she says.
Gioquindo will also be opening reds. She is greeting Lakewood’s Cabernet Franc with notable excitement.
“Their Cabernet Franc really stood out to me,” she says. “When I visited last May, I had a wonderful tasting that featured several vintages. What I found most interesting was how distinct each vintage was. They all clearly shared the same DNA, yet each expressed its own personality and strengths. It was almost like tasting siblings. They were related, but each had its own unique and wonderful attributes.”
Spring Fever
Speaking of getting out and doing tastings again, everyone has a little spring fever.
At Millbrook, Bearup says they are preparing to toast their 40th vintage this Spring.
“We’ll be doing a number of things to celebrate,” he says. “We will be offering three historic Millbrook tasting events this year, celebrating our favorite varietals: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cab Franc. They will be small, intimate tastings where we will taste through barrels, current vintages, and library wines while telling stories and walking the blocks in the vineyard.”
At Lakewood, Stamp is ready to go all out.
“I can’t be the only one with Spring fever,” Stamp says. “After this winter, there’s got to be some serious pent-up desire for outdoor grilling, in shorts and T-shirts, with a glass of Bubbly Candeo or Riesling. The Seneca Wine Trails Smokin’ Summer Kick-Off is a great way to scratch that itch.”
At Arrowhead, Ross says everyone is ready to transition from time by the fireplace in the cozy tasting room to sips outside on the patio.
“We have a series of wine dinners in the planning stages,” Ross adds.
Noted. Our glasses are ready to be filled with Spring wines, and our GPS is set for New York wine country. See you there?
