When the summer heat really sets in, little sounds more refreshing than a crisp, bountiful salad paired with a lower-alcohol, easy-drinking white, rosé or sparkler. No wonder these vino types held court in our guide to the best summer wines.
As the temperatures dip, a different cast of spirited characters are ideal to pair with a warm pair of slippers, a big bowl of Bolognese—and later, one of the best books of the season.
Ahead, discover the qualities to seek out in a cold weather wine, no matter the brand or varietal. Then score tasteful suggestions for the best wine pairings for winter from three expert sommeliers.
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What to Look for in the Best Winter Wines
Winter wines should make you feel cozy, comforted and warm, advises Brianne Cohen, a Los Angeles-based certified sommelier and wine educator. So what does that mean in the glass? Don’t be fooled by the color. The somms we spoke to agree that you can feel free to break the white after Labor Day “rule.” Any color can feel comfy as a winter wine as long as it checks these boxes:
- It offers some acidity: “This element makes for a food-friendly wine that can sit with all kinds of rich and flavorful foods that make regular appearances on winter tables,” Cohen says.
- It's fuller in body: Just like liquid dairy is available in a range from skim to whole milk to cream, wines can be categorized into light, medium or full in body. The fat in the dairy contributes to how viscous it feels on your tongue, as does the alcohol level in the wine. Light-bodied wines are under 12.5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), medium-bodied wines contain between 12.5 and 13.5 percent ABV and full-bodied wines have more than 13.5 percent ABV.
“Think about what you eat when it’s cold outside or what vegetables are in season—hearty root vegetables, stews, comfort food. So you need wine that can stand up to those things,” says Kara Flaherty, a certified sommelier and the beverage and retail director for Take Root Hospitality in St. Louis, Missouri.
7 of the Best Winter Wines, According to Sommeliers
Best Winter Wine for Charcuterie: 2021 Quentin Harel “Les Grandes Terres”
A young winemaker recently took over his French family estate where they make “soulful fresh aromatic wines from his organic vineyards,” explains Ashlee Aubin, owner of Pompette, a wine bar and all-day cafe in Chicago. Since this juicy Beaujolais made with gamay grapes has soft tannins, elevated acidity and red currant aromas, Aubin deems it “perfect for a grazing table filled with Alpine cheese, saucisson, grilled shrimp and olives.”
2021 2021 Beaujolais-Villages “Les Grandes Terres”
2021 2021 Beaujolais-Villages “Les Grandes Terres”
Best Winter Wine for Gifting: 2019 Trapiche Medalla Malbec
“Malbec might take the cake as the warming winter red wine,” Cohen says. It’s lovely with everything from fatty fish, such as salmon, to red meats—bonus points if that protein is topped with a rich sauce. This particular Argentinian bottle delivers the “perfect combination of new oak, silky tannins and deep fruit concentration,” she says. And at $20, this delightful red makes for a thoughtful gift (but not a bottle that you’ll be majorly disappointed to miss if the host doesn’t pop it open while you’re visiting).
Best Winter Wine for Frigid Nights: Domaine Jérôme Gradassi Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge
“This wine smells like Christmas in a bottle,” Flaherty says, but feel free to drink it into the new year, of course. Beyond the spicy, woodsy and floral aroma, this French red blend of 80 percent grenache and 20 percent mourvèdre tastes like cherries and currants—all wrapped in supple tannins. (FYI, tannins are the slightly astringent and bitter quality that some plant foods and drinks provide, including many red wines.) “It needs to open up a little before enjoying fully, but it just makes you want to sit by a fireplace under a cozy blanket,” she says. Or sip it alongside grilled or roasted meats.
Domaine Jérôme Gradassi Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2019
Domaine Jérôme Gradassi Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2019
Best Winter Wine to Serve with Pasta: Mateus Nicolau De Almeida "O Clarete"
This red wine from Portugal’s Douro Valley is a blend of native Portuguese varietals consisting of 15 percent white grapes, Aubin explains. The reds (touriga nacional, touriga franca, tinta barroca and tinta roriz) are balanced beautifully with the white malvasia fina, and the resulting blend falls somewhere within the spectrum between a light red and a deep rosé. This mixture of grapes is slightly macerated and bottled unfined and unfiltered, meaning you get to experience the real flavor of the fruit in the glass—no additives included. “Best served with a slight chill, O Claret is full of aromatic notes of fig, eucalyptus and plum,” Aubin continues, and is begging to be served with a big bowl of noodles (ideally tossed with buttery mushrooms).
O Tinto Perfeito (Mateus Nicolau De Almeida) - O Clarete NV (750ml)
O Tinto Perfeito (Mateus Nicolau De Almeida) - O Clarete NV (750ml)
Best Winter Wine if You Love Rosé: Thymiopoulos Vineyards Rosé De Xinomavro
“You probably don’t often think of rosé as a winter wine, but this one is full-bodied with hints of strawberry-rhubarb jam,” Flaherty says. Made from the grape xinomavro, “this rosé is not your typical summer sipper,” she confirms. “The winemaker ages this wine before releasing it, and it’s built to last.” You’ll want to invest in several bottles to enjoy over time—especially since all of those qualities make this Greek vino a versatile food wine that can accompany nearly any snack or meal with style.
Best Winter Wine for Seafood: 2019 Ca' dei Frati Brolettino Lugana Superiore
If you like sauvignon blanc, you’ll love lugana, Cohen says. This crowd-pleasing white from Lombardi, Italy should be “your all-purpose winter white.” With a rich yet fresh bouquet and body, this mineral-forward wine hints at citrus, tropical fruits and honey. Pour it with seafood stew (this wine is made for pairing with a big bowl of cioppino) or any of your favorite baked, sautéed or roasted fish or seafood.
Ca' dei Frati Brolettino Lugana Superiore 2019
Ca' dei Frati Brolettino Lugana Superiore 2019
Best Winter Wine for Celebrations: Une Femme The Betty
If you’re craving a dose of warm sunshine, turn to this bright sparkling wine from California. Made with 80 percent pinot noir and 20 percent chardonnay grapes, this wine is fermented in stainless steel for a soft, clean finish. With flavors of stone fruits and pear, “this bone dry bubbly is a fresh and acid-driven sparkler to take you through the winter,” Cohen says. “It’s perfect on its own or with a meal.” You can feel extra positive about popping it: A percentage of proceeds from this wine’s sales go directly to support the non-profit Dress for Success.
The Betty | 750mL California Sparkling Brut
