Every year our team tastes a lot of wine. In 2026 we tasted over 700 wines, from En Primeur Bordeaux still in barrel in April to a June road trip through Northern Italy, Croatia and Slovenia, plus our own Summer Wine Festival, a sold-out Rioja Wine Festival and eight Meet the Winemaker dinners along the way. Every bottle gets scored on quality, value and our all-important "would I want another glass?" scale, from 1 to 10, where 10 means "pass me the bottle!"
Narrowing it down is never easy, but here they are: the 12 wines that inspired us most this year, six whites and six reds. They make up our shortlist for the 2026 Red and White Wine of the Year, and we'll crown the overall winners on Tuesday 17th November.
The white wines of the year
Domaine La Provenquière Vermentino, Hérault, France. Mediterranean sunshine in a bottle. Zesty citrus, ripe pear and white peach, with delicate floral notes and a lovely mineral finish. It comes from a family estate near Béziers and the Canal du Midi, and it's bright, elegant and incredibly easy to drink, with enough texture to feel genuinely premium.
Heaphy Estate Pinot Gris, Nelson, New Zealand. One of the stand-out favourites at our Summer Wine Festival in June. Heaphy's vines on the Moutere Hills were first planted in 1973, making them some of the oldest productive vineyards in New Zealand, and that age shows in the glass: fragrant and beautifully textured, with ripe pear, peach and apricot. Pinot Gris with real substance.
Casino Nitti San Paolo Fiano di Avellino, Campania, Italy. One of our favourite new finds of the year, discovered at a tasting in August. Campania's volcanic soils give this expressive white aromas of broom, acacia, chamomile and mandarin, followed by a rich, fresh palate and an exceptionally long finish. Brilliant with mussels and shellfish.
Bouza do Rei Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain. Made by Isidoro and his son Pablo, who purposefully include a little more press wine than most for a fuller body and a smooth, textured palate. Ripe citrus, crushed flowers and a lovely minerality, and it ages well too. We import it exclusively into Ireland, and it's superb with baked fish.
Gašper Sivi Pinot (Pinot Grigio), Goriška Brda, Slovenia. Our favourite wine from that June trip. Goriška Brda is the Slovenian side of Collio, where the Adriatic and the Alps give warm days and cool breezes. Pear, grapefruit and white flowers, fresh acidity, subtle minerality and a silky finish. A real step above the norm.
Domaine de Pellehaut Réserve Rosé, Gascony, France. We've long been fans of Pellehaut, and this year saw the release of their first ever Réserve Rosé, made only in small amounts. Ripe strawberry and grapefruit, a juicy, rounded palate from four months on its fine lees, and a crisp floral finish. Think prestige Provence rosé at half the price.
The red wines of the year
Château Cambon La Pelouse 2018, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux. Seriously impressive from an outstanding vintage. Blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco and graphite over polished tannins, with the warmth of 2018 bringing richness while the classic Médoc structure stays firmly in place. Jancis Robinson found it "delightfully well-balanced", and it's drinking beautifully now.
Vaquos Cosecha, Ribera del Duero, Spain. Ever fancied a full-bodied wine that's light on its feet? This is 100% Tempranillo from vines over 30 years old in Pesquera de Duero, at the heart of Ribera del Duero. Pure red fruit, spice, a light touch of oak and silky, structured tannins. Made for grilled lamb.
Adrián Serrano Rioja Reserva, Autol, Rioja, Spain. Beautifully mature Rioja, aged for 24 months in French and American oak. Red berries, warm spice, vanilla and a hint of cocoa, with a velvety texture and a long, satisfying finish. It's one of our favourites for its consistency and balance, and a fantastic partner for braised lamb shanks.
Domaine Alary Tradition Cairanne, Rhône Valley, France. We welcomed Domaine Alary to our portfolio in January, and Jean-Étienne Alary joined us in Dublin in March to show the wines. Rich and velvety, with ripe blackberry, liquorice and Provençal herbs, silky tannins and a long finish. A brilliant match for a beef daube.
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, California, USA. Destined for airline service across Europe this year, this wine was grounded by uncertainty over Middle East flights and landed in Ireland instead. Lucky us. Classic Californian richness, with blackberry, cassis, vanilla and mocha, smooth tannins and a silky finish.
Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy. From the historic Ricasoli estate around Brolio Castle, where Baron Bettino Ricasoli set down the original Chianti recipe in the 19th century. Violets, blackberry and ripe red fruit, a plush, spicy palate and silky tannins. Superb value, and perfect with wild boar ragù or a good steak.
Try them all: the Wines of the Year cases
The best way to taste the shortlist is our Wines of the Year mixed dozen, with one bottle of each wine for €235, saving €40 on the usual €275. If you're strictly a red or a white drinker, there's also an all red six for €130 (was €152) and an all white six for €110 (was €125), each with one bottle of each wine. Cases are limited, and with Christmas on the way they make a brilliant gift.
Winners revealed on Tuesday 17th November
On Tuesday 17th November we'll announce our overall Red and White Wine of the Year from this shortlist. Grab a case, taste along with us and let us know your winners before we reveal ours. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear.
Wines of the Year FAQs
How are the WineOnline.ie Wines of the Year chosen?
Our team tasted over 700 wines in 2026 and scored each one on quality, value and our "would I want another glass?" scale of 1 to 10. The 12 that impressed us most make the shortlist.
When will the Red and White Wine of the Year 2026 be announced?
We'll reveal the overall Red and White Wine of the Year on Tuesday 17th November 2026.
What is in the Wines of the Year mixed case?
One bottle of each of the 12 shortlisted wines, six whites and six reds, for €235, a saving of €40.
Can I buy just the reds or just the whites?
Yes. There's an all red six for €130 and an all white six for €110, each with one bottle of each wine.
Thank you for sharing another wonderful year of wine discoveries with us. We can't wait to hear which ones become your favourites.
Cheers!
