January always feels like a pause button…

Before the rush of resolutions, new routines, and fresh arrivals, let’s take a moment to look back; not just at what happened, but at what actually stuck. At Vino Fine Wine & Spirits, we don’t need algorithms or trend reports to tell us what mattered most this past year. We saw it in real time, bottle by bottle, across countertops, dinner tables, celebrations, and quiet nights in.

That’s where 2025 Vino (Un)Wrapped comes in.

This isn’t about what was rare, buzzy, or hyped online. It’s about what you chose again and again. What you trusted. What made it home with you more than once. These are the best wine bottles, spirits, and ready-to-drink favorites that defined 2025 at our shop — not because they were flashy, but because they fit into real life.

What “Bestseller” Actually Means to Us

When we talk about bestsellers, we’re not just talking about volume. We’re talking about connection.

A bestseller is a bottle that:

• Gets picked up without hesitation
• Gets recommended friend-to-friend
• Works across occasions
• Feels dependable without ever feeling boring

Most importantly, these are bottles that made sense whether the plan was a dinner party, a weekday meal, or no plan at all.

Champagnes You Kept Coming Back To

Some bottles don’t need a reason. Champagne was proof of that this year.

R.H. Coutier Tradition Brut (2019) NV
Ployez-Jacquemart Champagne Extra Quality Brut NV
Laherte Frères Champagne Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs NV

The Champagnes that moved fastest weren’t just reserved for milestones. They became staples; opened on a Tuesday, shared without ceremony, poured because the moment felt right. Crisp, precise, and endlessly drinkable, these bottles reminded us that Champagne doesn’t need permission to show up.

What stood out wasn’t extravagance, but balance. You reached for bubbles that felt celebratory without being precious. The kind that could anchor a meal or start one without stealing the spotlight.

Sparkling Wines That Expanded the Category

Not everything that pops needs to be Champagne.

Ca’ del Doge Prosecco DOC NV
Sektkellerei Ohlig Rheingau Sekt Brut Weiss Latitude 50 NV
Avinyó Reserva Brut Cava 2021
Domaine Pierre Richard Crémant de Jura Blanc Brut “Harmonie” NV

Prosecco, Cava, Crémant, and Sekt all had their moment this year; and not as substitutes, but as choices in their own right. These bottles proved that sparkling wine has range: casual when you want it, layered when you need it, and always versatile.

They were opened for brunches, poured for guests who “don’t usually like bubbles,” and reached for when Champagne felt like too much commitment. In other words, they earned their place.

Whites That Became Weeknight Staples

White wines quietly did a lot of heavy lifting in 2025.

Rouvalis Roditis Asprolithi Greece 2023
Tapi Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Jean Marie Berthier Sancerre 2023
Seven of Cups Rubicone Pinot Grigio 2023
Denthis Lost Peloponnese White Blend 2024
Daniel Dampt & Fils Petit Chablis 2023
Produttori Vini Manduria Salento “Alice” Verdeca 2024
Myburgh Bros. Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2024

These were the bottles you didn’t overthink. You trusted them with takeout, with leftovers, with last-minute plans. They showed up chilled, dependable, and ready to work with whatever was on the table.

The common thread? Versatility. Bright enough to refresh, structured enough to hold attention. These wines didn’t demand focus — they earned it naturally, glass after glass.

Orange Wines You Leaned Into

Orange wine is no longer just a curiosity.

Biddizza Skin Contact Catarratto & Zibibbo Abruzzo 2024 1L
Rosha Winery Rkatsiteli–Mtsvane Timothee Qvevris Dry Amber Wine 2022
Domaine Bechtold Pinot Gris “Nef des Folles” 2022

This year showed us something important: once people find an orange wine they trust, they come back. The bottles that resonated weren’t extreme or polarizing. They were textured, expressive, and grounded. They were wines that felt different without feeling unfamiliar.

These were picked when drinkers wanted something with personality, but still wanted balance. Wines that rewarded attention without demanding it.

Rosé Without a Season

Rosé proved, once again, that it doesn’t care about the calendar.

Château La Coste Rosé d’une Nuit Provence 2024
Domaine Rimbert Le Petit Cochon Bronze Rosé 2024 (sold out/out of stock)
Domaine de Sulauze Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Pomponette 2024 (sold out/out of stock)
L’Archetipo Rosato di Susumaniello 2024

These bottles stayed in rotation long after summer ended. They worked because they were serious enough to sit at the table and relaxed enough to pour casually. Not poolside-only rosé, but food-friendly, layered bottles that made sense year-round.

They were opened because they felt right, not because it was warm outside.

Reds That Reflected How We Actually Drink

If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that red wine isn’t one mood — it’s many!

Abbondanza Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2022 1L
Poppy Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2021
Piemaggio Le Fioraie Chianti Classico 2020
Jax Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2022
Field Recordings Fiction Red Blend Paso Robles 2023
Louis Liger-Leblanc Pinot Noir VdF Chevalier de la Toison d’Or 2023
Heartland Wines Cab Sauv Spice Trader Langhorne Creek 2021 (sold out /out of stock)
Beulah Violetta Vineyard Stesso Stesso Rosso 2023

Some nights called for structure and depth. Others just wanted comfort. The reds that moved most reflected that reality. From casual, generous pours to bottles opened slowly and deliberately, this category showed range.

These wines weren’t about impressing. They were about showing up; at dinners, at gatherings, and at nights that ran longer than expected.

Tequila & Mezcal That Got Poured Neat

Agave spirits earned their place this year by being honest.

La Gritona Tequila Reposado 750mL
Arette Tequila Blanco 700mL
Madre Mezcal Espadín y Cuixe 700mL
Catedral de Mi Padre Mezcal Espadín 750mL

The bottles that resonated weren’t loud or overly styled. They were expressive, balanced, and rooted in where they came from. These were poured neat, sipped slowly, and shared with people who wanted to taste something real.

They reminded us that great agave doesn’t need dressing up. It speaks clearly on its own.

Vodka, Gin & Rum That Stayed Useful

Not every bottle needs to be the star.

Gary’s Good Vodka 1L
Fort Hamilton Fortress Vodka 1L
Himbrimi Winterbird Dry London Gin 750mL
Christian Drouin Le Gin 750mL
Don Q Cristal Rum 375mL
Chairman’s Reserve Original Spiced Rum 700mL

Vodka, gin, and rum showed up because they worked. They anchored cocktails, lived in freezers, and made appearances when no one felt like measuring or overthinking.

These weren’t background players; they were reliable collaborators. Bottles you reached for because you knew exactly what you’d get.

Whiskey You Took Your Time With

Whiskey was about mood this year.

Fort Hamilton Double Barrel Bourbon Whiskey 750mL
Noah’s Mill Bourbon Whiskey 750mL
Willett Family Pot Still Reserve Bourbon 750mL
NYDC Jaywalk Heirloom Rye Single Barrel 114 Proof 700mL
Finger Lakes Distilling McKenzie Rye 750mL
Shinshu Mars Distillery Iwai Japanese Whisky
Aberfeldy Single Malt 12 Year

These were bottles that stayed open on the table. Pours that led to longer conversations and slower evenings. They weren’t rushed, and they weren’t flashy.

You chose whiskies that rewarded patience. Ones that made sense to revisit, not just finish.

Vermouth, Amari & Aperitif That Changed How People Drank

This category quietly rewired habits.

Destilerías Acha Atxa Red Vino Vermouth 750mL
Bordiga Vermouth Rosso 375mL
Dolin Vermouth Dry 750mL
Oddero Vermouth del Kamerlengo Bianco NV
Cocchi Americano Bianco 750mL
Contratto Aperitif 1L
Santa Maria al Monte Amaro Antica Specialità Ligure 700mL
COS Naturale Orange Vermouth NV

Suddenly, aperitivo lasted longer. Cocktails became more intentional. Vermouth stopped being an ingredient and became the pour. These bottles didn’t demand attention; they grew on people, slowly and completely.

Once they found their way into home bars, they didn’t leave.

Sake That Found Its Crowd

Sake didn’t explode overnight. It settled in.

Kiku-Masamune Kinushiro Junmai Nigori “White Silk” 500mL
Niwa No Uguisu 60 Junmai Ginjo 720mL
Bijofu Junrei Tama Label Junmai Ginjo 720mL
Yucho Kaze no Mori TsuyuHakaze Junmai Nama Genshu
Kato Sake Works Kappu 7.5oz Can

What started as curiosity turned into confidence. These bottles proved how versatile, food-friendly, and comforting good sake can be. Once people understood it, they kept coming back. Not because it was novel, but because it worked.

Ready-To-Drink That Earned Its Spot

Convenience doesn’t have to mean compromise.

Social Hour Cocktails Yuzu Sunset Fizz Can 250mL
Wandering Barman White Negroni “Ghosted” 100mL
Greenhook Ginsmiths Gin & Tonic 200mL Can
AriZona Vodka Iced Tea (Mixed Flavors) 12oz
St. Agrestis Phony 1 Proof Negroni 200mL
Madre Mezcal Desert Water Mushroom Sage & Honey 12oz Can
TaKaRa CHU-HI Sparkling Sake Cocktail Lemon 355mL

These ready-to-drink picks were grabbed for park hangs, last-minute plans, and nights when opening a bottle felt like too much effort. They earned trust by delivering quality without friction.

Simple, reliable, and better than expected — every time.

What 2025 Really Showed Us

This year wasn’t defined by trends. It was defined by taste.

Not theoretical taste. Real taste. The kind that shows up when people open the same bottle again because it made sense the first time.

Thank you for trusting us with your tables, your gifts, your celebrations, and your curiosity! Whether you stopped in once or a hundred times here at our wine shop in NYC, you shaped this year more than you know.

Here’s to another year of bottles that surprise you, comfort you, and fit exactly where you need them.