The 6 Best Wines for Winter
Here in Sonoma County, the weather has begun to cool, and we’re all beginning to head indoors for a season of holiday celebrations, dinners with friends, and cozy nights at home with the ones we love. It’s time to pull out the winter wines and start making the most of all that this time of year has to offer — but which wines do you plan to have on hand throughout the season?
No matter what the winter season holds for you, we believe that the best winter wines can compliment any occasion — and we can’t wait to share our favorites with you, along with our go-to food pairings for each wine.
Read on to discover the wines that we’ll be serving at our table throughout the winter months.
Our Guide to the Best Winter Wines
It can be easy to fall into a habit with your wine patterns, always serving the same favorite bottles time and time again. But by embracing the season and choosing wines that truly highlight the time of year, you’ll enhance your dining experience and discover that you’re more in tune with the season around you.
Wine is meant to elevate daily life, and we believe that these wines are perfect to carry you through the winter. Here are our favorite wines for the cold weather months.
Cabernet Sauvignon
When the weather turns cold and dreary, most of us just want to curl up with a glass of red wine and watch the rain or snow fall. Perhaps the most iconic of red wines is Cabernet Sauvignon — and it happens to be the perfect choice when searching for the ideal winter wine.
This full bodied dry wine often features deep fruit and spice flavors. It can be savory and smoky, and its rich, intense nature is the perfect broody blend for the winter months.
Cabernet Sauvignon pairs beautifully with rich, salty, fatty foods. The most classic pairing is to serve Cabernet Sauvignon with steak, but any red meat will work well. This wine is also a great choice to pair with mushrooms, roasted nuts, or other intense, sharp favorites. It’s a favorite for stews and savory soups, making it the perfect choice of winter wines.
Zinfandel
A bold, rich Zinfandel is one of our go-to wines when we’re looking for something to chase away a case of the winter blues. This smooth, rich wine elevates any winter evening with its elegant yet exotic combination of fruit and spice.
Like Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel pairs well with hearty winter dishes like stews and soups, but it’s also a fantastic choice to pair with a charcuterie board. Bring out a bottle for your next girl’s night or to complement your dinner party appetizers and see for yourself how beautifully it goes with the spicy meats, creamy cheeses, and salty nuts.
There’s a reason it’s one of our go-to winter wines — Zinfandel is ideal to serve with the many spices that make the season come alive.
Pinot Noir
The most prized grape in the world, Pinot Noir promises exceptional quality in every sip. Rich in depth and complexity, this exquisite red wine is the perfect companion for cozy nights in and evenings hosting friends alike.
This subtle, silky wine is light to medium-bodied, with high acidity and low tannins. It’s best served after it’s been mildly decanted to more fully release its aromas.
Unlike Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, this red wine can be paired with lighter fare than the standard red meat that’s associated with red wine. Try pairing it with salmon, turkey, mushrooms, duck, or lamb chops. Cheese and dried fruit also pair well with Pinot Noir.
Chardonnay
Winter isn’t just for red wines! White wines can be enjoyed just as well in the winter months, as its full, rich, creamy flavor is perfect for curling up on cozy evenings.
Crisp, fresh, and mildly acidic, the comforting notes of apple, vanilla, butter, and baking spices are a classic winter choice, especially Chardonnays that have been aged longer and have taken on hazelnut aromas.
Chardonnay pairs well with light, subtle foods. Seafood and chicken are a bottle of Chardonnay’s best friend, along with comfort foods like pasta, risotto, and buttery sauces. It also pairs well with vegetables such as corn, sweet potatoes, or butternut squash.
Petite Sirah
An often overlooked red wine, Petite Sirah is a great choice for the winter months. It features delightful flavors — primarily dark fruits — and is grown primarily in California, making it easy to find a world-class bottle here in Sonoma County.
Named for its small grapes that grow in tight clusters, Petite Sirah is a bold wine with medium acidity that is highly tannic.
This rich wine is best served with bold flavors that aren’t too sweet. It’s the perfect accompaniment to red meat with smoky spices. Think strong flavors — black pepper, aged gouda, caramelized onion. Petite Sirah can take it — and can do so with style.
Syrah
One of the darkest, most full-bodied wines in the world, Syrah is a perfectly broody choice for the winter months. While this wine originated in France, it’s now grown all across the world — it’s actually become the most planted grape in Australia!
Syrah is known for notes of dark fruit and peppercorn with occasional sweet hints of chocolate and tobacco. It’s moderately acidic and tannic, with intense flavor.
Syrah’s bold, spicy nature pairs well with Indian and Middle Eastern dishes. It can also pair well with dark meats and vegetables rich in umami flavor.
FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About the Best Winter Wines
Ready to start stocking up on wine for the upcoming dreary winter nights? Here are a few of our most frequently asked questions.
What food should I pair with winter wines?
Your choice of food pairing when serving wine in the winter time is entirely dependent on the wines you choose. Bold red wines pair well with meat and hearty stews, while winter whites pair well with comforting chicken dishes or creamy pastas.
Should I drink red wine in the winter?
The rich, bold flavor of red wine is perfect for the winter months, and pairs well with many seasonal dishes. But don’t be fooled — there’s a place for white wine in the winter as well. Chardonnay is an ideal winter wine, and makes the perfect choice for a comforting night in.
What is the best wine to serve for the holidays?
When choosing wine for your holiday celebrations, select a wine that will best pair with the dishes you plan to serve — or vice versa. In our family, we have certainly been known to plan our holiday meals around our wine selections!
Experience the Best Winter Wines at Bricoleur Vineyards
Whether you’re drinking a glass of your favorite white wine with friends or curling up to watch a movie under a blanket with your favorite bottle of red, at Bricoleur Vineyards, we want to be a part of all of your most special memories this winter.
Shop our wines to explore our favorite winter whites and cozy reds today.