We all have our wine skeletons. Maybe it was a suspiciously sweet Riesling at a wedding, a Chardonnay so oaky it felt like chewing on a splintered fence post, or a rosé that resembled diluted bubblegum. Whatever the offending glass, the conclusion was swift and dramatic: “Never again!”

But wine, like people, deserves a second chance. The world of wine doesn’t sit still. Techniques improve, styles evolve, and winemakers, bless them, keep tinkering. So here’s your chance to uncork some buried prejudice and discover five much-maligned wines that might just win you back.

Riesling: Not Just Sweet Tooth Juice

Let’s start with the grape most people write off as dessert in a bottle. Yes, Riesling had a sticky patch in the 70s and 80s, when cloying exports like Blue Nun dominated the shelves. But modern Riesling? It’s a different beast altogether.

Bone-dry, razor-sharp, and food-friendly, today’s Rieslings are crafted with a balance that makes them perfect partners to spicy Asian dishes, sushi, or roast pork. Look for the words “Trocken” (dry) or “Feinherb” (off-dry) and prepare to be pleasantly surprised. High acidity is Riesling’s secret weapon—it keeps even the sweetest versions zippy, not syrupy.

Still sceptical? Think of Riesling as the lemonade of the wine world: crisp, refreshing, and incredibly versatile.

Chardonnay: The Comeback Queen

Remember when Chardonnay meant being hit over the head with a vanilla-scented oak plank? That buttery bruiser from the 80s gave the grape a reputation it’s only just shaking off.

But Chardonnay is a chameleon. Unoaked styles (think Chablis or cool-climate Australia) are lean, crisp, and elegant. Even oaked versions today are more Grace Kelly than Pamela Anderson—refined, balanced, and structured.

Don’t let past trauma ruin your relationship with a grape that’s essentially a blank canvas. Want proof? Try a glass of Chablis with oysters, and just try not to smile.

Merlot: Blame It On Sideways

Merlot’s fall from grace can be traced back to one man: Miles Raymond, the grumpy wine snob in Sideways who famously refused to drink it. But if you’re still avoiding Merlot based on that one line, it’s time to let it go.

Merlot, at its best, is silky, juicy, and plush. It delivers black cherry, plum, and a touch of cocoa, with tannins as smooth as a Sinatra serenade. From the Right Bank of Bordeaux to Washington State, winemakers are proving that Merlot can be complex, age-worthy, and utterly seductive.

It’s time to forgive, forget, and fill your glass.

Rosé: Not Just a Summer Fling

Ah, rosé. The pink drink that marketing turned into the official wine of summer selfies. But this blush beauty deserves more than a beach cameo.

Modern rosé ranges from whisper-pale Provençal styles to bold, berry-laced bottles from Spain and Italy. And here’s the kicker: some of the best rosés are food wines. Yes, food wines. Thanksgiving dinner? Rosé. Sushi? Rosé. Roast chicken with herby potatoes? You guessed it.

The sweet blush wines of decades past are fading into history. Let them go. Today’s rosés are dry, crisp, and confident—just like you on a good day.

Lambrusco: The Fizzy Red You Never Saw Coming

Lambrusco’s been dragged through the mud more than most. Blame the cheap, sweet, fizzy reds that flooded shelves in the 80s. But here’s a secret: the real Lambrusco is fantastic.

From Emilia-Romagna in Italy, true Lambrusco is dry, gently sparkling (frizzante), and bursting with tangy cherry, blackberries, and a hint of earth. Some versions (like Sorbara or Grasparossa) even have a pleasant tannic bite. It’s the perfect pairing for pizza, charcuterie, or a plate piled high with pasta and parmesan.

Find a good bottle, chill it slightly, and prepare to become the person who introduces Lambrusco to friends like it’s a private discovery.

A Final Swirl

The wines we think we hate often have more to do with bad timing, poor examples, or out-of-date reputations than the grapes themselves. Wine is about exploration, about coming back to old haunts with new eyes (and a better bottle).

So next time you’re perusing the wine list, give one of these five another shot. You might just fall in love with the wine you loved to hate.

Cheers to second chances—and better bottles.