10 unconventional wines to drink now instead of your usual go-to

USA Today

08-08-2025

Wine bars like Little Thing in Seattle, Washington, are excellent for finding unconventional wines – Photo courtesy of Lesley Balla
Staring down a wine list or a bottle shop shelf can feel like sensory overload. So many names, regions, and varietals — it's tempting to play it safe and stick with what you know. But here's a little secret: Stepping outside your comfort zone could land you a new favorite.
The best wine bars and shops, such as Little Thing Wine in Seattle, Washington, highlight lesser-known regions and grapes, as well as unconventional wines that deserve to be discovered and savored. At Little Thing, if you say you love sauvignon blanc or chardonnay, owner Dylan Joffe might offer something similar (and usually better) if she doesn't have either on her shelf.
Joffe was the wine buyer for another popular shop for years before opening her Beacon Hill outfit. Every month, she offers a new selection of wines for the shelves and through the wine club. Little Thing is precisely what the wine industry needs right now: A place that attracts a new generation of wine drinkers with alternative wine picks while also catering to palates more set in their ways.
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Below, Joffe offers some alternative wines for moving beyond standard varietals, often pointing to domestic wines, emerging regions, and low-intervention wines with an eye towards sustainability. The best part: No matter where you buy them, these wines are usually super affordable, often priced under $40. If you like chardonnay
Chenin blanc is a good alternative wine if you like chardonnay – Photo courtesy of SrdjanPav / iStock Via Getty Images
'Chenin blanc is the first one that comes to mind,' says Joffe. 'Chenin and chardonnay are chameleon grapes that can be anything the winemaker wants them to be. They can both take on things like oak, or they can shine in stainless steel. They can be sweet or dry, and they can both be used for sparkling wines.'
Aligoté and roussanne are two other grapes she'll point to for chardonnay fans. 'Aligoté is like the black sheep of white grapes,' she adds. 'It's what Burgundy farmers drink after a long day of farming chardonnay. If you like Burgundy-style chardonnay, this is a much more price-focused option, and we're seeing small pockets in the U.S.'
If you like sauvignon blanc
Picpoul is a great alternative for sauvignon blanc drinkers – Photo courtesy of Reva Keller / Little Thing Wine
'Sauvignon blanc can be really different from many locations, but what most people like about it is the green, herbaceous, grassy quality. It's a bright, citrus, minerally, vibrant, easy-drinking wine,' says Joffe.
'I like to point people to things like Perdu Picpoul. Picpoul, a grape largely from Picpoul de Pinet in the Languedoc region of France, means 'lip stinger' in French. These wines can be super acidic and food-friendly,' she adds.
Joffe also likes dry rieslings from Germany, Austria, or Alsace, even domestic ones, for sauv blanc fans. "And if you want to take a chance, high-acid rosés made with cabernet franc or sangiovese have some lovely herbaceous qualities to them."
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If you like pinot noir
Pinot noir lovers might like other light-bodied varietals like gamay – Photo courtesy of LordHenriVoton / E+
'What makes pinot so adored is that it's lighter bodied in the world of red wine," says Joffe. "These wines have beautiful red fruit and earthiness, good acidity. It's hard to find all of that in one other varietal.'
Alternatives she likes to offer are gamay, frappato, and pretty Washington state grenache that "feels pinot noir" to her.
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'Gamay, which is synonymous with Beaujolais, has similar qualities to pinot noir, albeit with a little crunchiness. Meaning it's like biting into juicy, ripe fruit," she adds. "Gamay is twinkly; pinot is more serious. We're seeing some fun gamay production coming from the U.S., specifically Oregon."
Frappato is a red grape from Sicily, Italy, that Joffe feels is 'pinot-adjacent.' It has pretty red fruit, but instead of earthy, it leans towards spice and tobacco. 'In general, Sicilian reds are different than pinot noir, but this is an easy jump to make. It's very volcanic, so you get that mineral smokiness that can be intoxicating if that's your thing.' Pinot noir alternatives
Gurrieri Frappato, Sicily, Italy
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For many people, cabernet sauvignon is the only wine they know, so they gravitate towards it. It's an intro grape to wine, easy to remember, and easy to wrap your head around. 'People get attached to cab because it's an obvious grape in the best way possible,' says Joffe. 'Liking cab is code for liking full-bodied red wines.'
Cabernet sauvignon is bottled and labeled as such in the U.S.; that's why we know it. In Bordeaux, however, it's blended with many other varietals. 'If someone comes into Little Thing looking for a cab, I'll lean towards different blends, like a lovely Spanish blend or one out of Lebanon or central Italy. Wines out of these regions are fuller-bodied with tons of tannin, acidity, and vibrancy.' Cabernet sauvignon alternatives
Tenuta di Valgiano Palistorti Rosso, Tuscany, Italy