Winter Wines to Keep You Warm

It's the middle of January, and for a lot of us, that means that we are living and drinking in the midst of winter with plenty of chilly days still ahead. What do we drink when we would rather be at the beach? What about those of us who live in warmer climates and don’t have to worry about snow but want to transport ourselves to a winter wonderland through wine? Well, we all know we can drink whatever we want at any time of year because we don’t need to limit ourselves, but which beverage is the best for winter? We have quite a few recommendations. If you’re a fan of white wines and don’t think they are exclusive to warmer weather, check out Ellen Clifford’s article all about winter whites . Ellen shares, “Now that we are officially into the winter chills (happy belated solstice), I still want white wine. It is a matter of extremes. I either desire the rich, the nutty, the honey-layered and lees-y—the wine that fills me with almost too much muchness, like a Christmas cookie gone rogue…OR! I desire: Something so frosty that my snow-hued skin goes a shade of white unbeknownst to vampire-kind. A drink/wine with the pallor yet weight of a vodka martini with ample vermouth, lemon twist and dry ice finish. I’m goth, so I don’t dream of a white Christmas, so much as an ivory solstice. Go fig. For this column we are looking mostly to the first category I named—the full and fuller and fullest of white wines. All with good acid though. Gotta get that cut.” Now if you would like to feel the warmth of springtime in the middle of winter, maybe you should pick up some winter rosés. Ellen saves the day again with her Winter Rosé Wonderland recommendations. According to Ellen, “A rosé can warm you and also chill you so hard you’re hot. And at a holiday party, you may be a hot number in black satin filling the winter night with your warm vibe so hey! Why not spill some rosé? Also recommended in cold climes: a vodka martini with ample vermouth garnished with a lemon peel. Counter intuitively that’s a GREAT freezing cold winter drink. That or one of these rosés is gonna keep you warm. We all deserve rosé AROUND THE SUN. Pink knows nor gender nor season and I am here to prove it. #RoséAllYear.” Ellen has suggestions for traditionally thought, warm-weather wines, but what about red wines? Or cocktails perfect for drinking after spending time out in the snow? We’ve gathered notes from the Delectable community, and from Barbera to Grenache Blanc, Delectable users know how to pick their winter wines. If you’re leaning more towards cocktails, check out our cocktail series that features beverages such as the Sazerac , the Boulevardier , and much more. Enjoy all the beverages winter has to offer!

Christian Drouin (Domaine Coeur de Lion)

Calvados 1967

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.8

World class … baby-butt smooth at 55 years old. I’m speechless… gob-stopped…struck dumb…just a drop of good spring water to splash the tart-apple nose straight up your nostril. Pie spice, cinnamon, tobacco- pouch, dark brown sugar… then a blast of rounded alcohol that threatens to leave you breathless before it blasts its way to the back of your throat. Plenty of weight, oceans of complexity, and long, smooth ribbons of chocolate crusted caramels. Simply wonderful on this early winter evening.,, — 4 years ago

Josh, Peter and 4 others liked this

Josh Morgenthau

🤤

Chappellet

Mountain Cuvée Proprietor's Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2015

Sean Grullon

9.3

Great quality for the price. Firm tannins, dark fruits with menthol, herbs, vanilla, leather, and a hint of tobacco. Dense, this is a great steak wine in the winter time. — 4 years ago

Daniel and Sharon liked this

Heidi Schröck

Weissburgunder 2018

Adriana Fabbro

9.0

All hail, winter whites 🙌🏻🙌🏻.
An ideal pairing with a buttery, flakey, whole wheat chard, mushroom & ricotta galette. Great acid. Pear, lemon zest, butter, barely ripe white nectarine, a touch a marzipan/canided almond/candied pineapple and a pristine zing on the finish. Heidi Schrock is a master at her craft. Right now I’m loving these zingy whites (and a little RS doesn’t hurt so sue me) — 4 years ago

Severn, Rhonely and 4 others liked this

Bestheim

Exception Riesling 2016

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Star bright yellow gold. Inviting nose of honeycomb and honeysuckle. Firm acidity leads the medium-full palate of yellow apple and white flowers with (literal) stone fruit on the finish. Bone dry Alsatian Riesling that’s ready for winter meals. Pork dishes will fare particularly well, but firm flesh seafood shouldn’t be discounted. Drink now through 2030 — 5 years ago

Tom, Josh and 3 others liked this

Poderi Colla

Barbera d'Alba 2018

Peter Sultan

9.2

2nd bottle in the last few months. Smooths out after starting out as a bit burly. Gorgeous black currants, sweet & broad. Enough acid to keep it all in balance. Perfect winter wine. Grand Cru importer. — 5 years ago

Severn, Lyle and 6 others liked this

Monsieur Touton Selection

Cooperativo Tra Produttori Barolo 2015

John Moccia

8.9

Great pairing with Sunday gravy, candlelight and Dino Crocetti. We’ll put this one into the regular winter rotation. Salud! — 6 years ago

Alex liked this

Husch Vineyards

Mendocino Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Kristen Grimes

8.9

A perfect winter white. Very aromatic with the characteristic grapefruit and grassy notes in the aromas and flavors, and a bigger body and lower acidity than expected. Dig Into "Green Wine" class; the sustainable wine. — 4 years ago

Laura liked this

Luyton Michéle

Saint-Joseph Red Rhone Blend 2018

Pooneet K

9.2

Really delicious St Joseph. Decanted just about 1 hour which worked well. Wonderful deep dark berry fruit with some nice minty herbaceous notes along with a slightly briney finish. Nice lifting acid and well balanced. Perfect pairing with a cassoulet on a cold winter Sunday. — 4 years ago

Jason, Severn and 3 others liked this

Bosco Agostino

Neirane Barolo Nebbiolo 2016

Kai Wright

9.2

Drown the winter blues — 4 years ago

Hugh, Ericsson and 7 others liked this

La Ca' Nova

Montestefano Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2016

Andrew Formi

9.3

Awesome for a winter Saturday home alone! — 5 years ago

Alex liked this

Domaine Chandon

Étoile Tête de Cuvée Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir

Matt Williams

9.0

More mellow and bready than the 2009, the last Tête de Cuvée vintage declared. Acids are attenuated though crisp apple still peaks out from behind sweet pear, wheat, and yeast. Sublime micro bubbles as expected from the Étoile series. Good for winter, evening sips, and lightweight chicken or fish pairings. Not the show-stealing stand-alone 2009 or the stunner 2008 tête des têtes. — 5 years ago

Alex liked this

Château Alvignes

Cahors Malbec 2015

Anthony Kluska

9.2

maraschino cherry, bitter cranberry black coffee and dark chocolate. This is a wonderful winter wine. It is fruit forward and Jammy enough to be interesting but not enough to be cloying. Pair with something gamey like lamb or duck. — 6 years ago

Alex liked this

Frog Kisser Wines

Walla Walla Valley White Blend 2016

Sandy Wolf

9.3

Not Cab Sav - white wine, lovely winter wire. Malo notes — 6 years ago

Alex liked this

Weingut Leon Gold

Pink Gold Trollinger Rosé 2020

Erin Merchant

9.0

For all your friends who say they don’t like bubbly. Or rose. Or both. (Are they really your friends?)

Crushable and dry with big watermelon energy and juicy nectarine booty. Get it in the winter when you want summer, get it in the summer and take the bottle in the pool with you. — 4 years ago

Zédé de Labégorce

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

Jack Petras

9.1

I’ve had this 2015 a few times. Everything a Bordeaux should be. Full of blackberry compote with a delicate Stoney structure keeping it lively and refreshing. Perfect for the winter hike on the mountain top. — 4 years ago

Trixie liked this

Weingut Gottfried Mittelbach

Pinot Noir 2019

Anthea Stephenson

9.0

Interesting and rich. Lovely winter pinot — 4 years ago

Severn liked this

Brown County Winery

Spiced Red Wine

Angela Tuell

Wonderful holiday/winter wine with spices to drink room temp or heat in crock pot. Semi-dry. — 5 years ago

Fulldraw Vineyard

Bamboo Grenache Blanc Clairette Blanc 2018

Eric L.

9.3

Really nice white for a snowy winter evening. Medium bodied and quite viscous with low acidity. Just very round and pleasant. Nice to sip by the fire after dinner. — 5 years ago

Hermes, Shay and 25 others liked this