Seasons are relative. February can be freezing or mild, depending on where you live. It follows then that choosing wines for the season can be a tricky business. Well, we’ve plowed ahead and selected a few wines that we think will pair well with the season, no matter what the thermometer says. So, whether your winter can be described as a vortex (looking at you, Chicago) or a balmy swirl (hello, Los Angeles), we can all enjoy a nice wine perfectly suited for these (relatively) colder months.
For those of you enduring or having endured a polar vortex this winter, it’s time to think warm thoughts. Italy is place that is warm, hot even, and a place that makes the perfect wines for warm blankets, hot cocoa, and Netflix. Nebbiolo and Sangiovese offer just the right amount of high acids and tough tannins to kick Old Man Winter to the curb. Drink with red sauce, roasted meat, winter veggies, or pizza. Here’s a great recipe for Rustic Roasted Winter Chowder to get you started!
On the other hand (or coast), if your winter is more temperate and you watch snowstorms on cable news, something a bit more spring-like is in order. The Bordeaux’s right bank offers plummy boldness with Merlot-dominated wines from Pomerol and Saint-Emilion. Not as brash as their left bank brothers, these wines still offer a refined boldness that pairs well with grilled meats, fish, and Mediterranean flavors. Try this recipe for Mediterranean Baked Fish With Artichokes and Olives!
