I love winter.
I love the snow, the cold, the way the air feels so fresh and alive when you breathe it in, especially early in the morning when you first walk outside or feel a cold, crisp breeze whipping against your face on a chairlift or a mountaintop just after sunrise.
Later in the day, there’s nothing quite like a warm, cozy fire, especially when there’s snow falling and you don’t have to worry about going anywhere on a cold, snowy night.
And one of my favorite ways to enjoy these magical moments is drinking a great, winter red wine.
What’s a winter red wine, you might ask?
For me, they’re often robust red wines that can hold their own with hearty foods like steak, chili or other great cold-weather foods.
They’re also often elegant yet earthy, substantial yet sophisticated.
They’re also perfect for Valentine’s Day or another romantic night.
In other words, they’re not light red wines, which are great as well but just not what I crave on crisp, cold winter nights.
So without further ado, here are some of my favorite winter red wines, with specific recommendations for each one.
Hope you enjoy.
Rhone Reds
This wine region in France has long been one of my favorites. Why? Because the Rhone region consistently produces outstanding, powerful, affordable (under $20) blended red wines filled with earthy, understated flavors. This is especially true for the Southern Rhone region, which specializes in blended red wines made with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre grapes.
Recommended wine: 2021 Famille Perrin Reserve Cotes du Rhone Rouge ($12.99 at Table & Vine in West Springfield)
Outstanding wine made by the same family that owns Chateau de Beaucastel, one of the best winemakers in Chateauneuf Du Pape, one of the best winemaking villages in the Rhone region.
Bordeaux Reds
Another fantastic French winemaking region, Bordeaux’s famous for its elegant, refined, red wines. But many people might not realize is how many great, affordable (under $20) red wines can be found in Bordeaux. And unlike some of Bordeaux’s world-class wine, you don’t need to wait decades to enjoy many “everyday” red wines from this part of France.
Recommended wine: 2019 Chateau Clos Du Roy ($16.99 at Table & Vine)
Made with a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, this graceful red wine from Bordeaux’s Fronsac subregion has intense, dense flavors, including blackberry and cherry.
Argentinian Malbec
When it comes to robust, earthy red wines, few wines or regions can compete with Malbecs from Argentina’s Mendoza region. They’re often big, bold and can hold their own with pretty much any type of food, especially grilled meats. But Argentinian Malbecs aren’t just big wines. They can also be elegant, refined and perfect for sipping beside a cozy, warm fire.
Recommended wine: 2021 Trapiche Medalla Malbec ($20 Suggested Retail Price)
Made with Malbec grapes from Argentina’s mountainous Mendoza region, this intense, aromatic red wine has bright, ripe fruit flavors, including hints of cherry, blackberry and vanilla.
California Zinfandel
Zinfandel’s one of the most misunderstood wine grapes. First, I’m talking about red Zinfandel grapes, not white. Second, when done right, wines made with red Zinfandel grapes can be just as subtle and sophisticated as other respected California red wine grapes, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. Third, they taste fantastic with grilled and barbecued meats.
Recommended wine: 2022 Rombauer Vineyards California Zinfandel ($38 SRP)
This intense, full-bodied Zinfandel has a wide range of dense, deep flavors, including waves of blackberry, cherry, dark chocolate and black pepper.
Spanish Rioja
I’ve written about this revered wine region in northern Spain several times and for good reason. Like Bordeaux and the Rhone region, Rioja consistently produces powerful yet elegant red wines year in and year out. Most of these wines are made with Tempranillo grapes or a blend of other grapes (especially Garnacha) as well.
Recommended wine: 2018 Campo Viejo Reserva Red ($16.99 at Table & Vine)
Made primarily with Tempranillo grapes, this complex, dense red wine has layers of flavors, including hints of blackberry, cherry and vanilla.
Italian Chianti Classico
Chianti Classico wines come from Chianti Classico, a small subregion within the larger Chianti region in Italy. Chianti Classico wines also need to be aged for a minimum of 11 months in oak barrels. The wines also need to be made with at least 80 percent of Sangiovese grapes grown in Chianti Classico wine region. The result – complex, elegant, delicious, full-bodied wines.
Recommended wine: 2021 San Felice Chianti Classico Gran Selezione ($60 SRP)
Outstanding, intense wine with dry, subtle fruit aromas and flavors, including hints of blackberry, black licorice and black pepper. Make sure to give this wine at least 30 minutes to breathe after opening.
Local wine events
Woman Winemaker’s Mini Festival – Meet five women winemakers from throughout the world and taste their wines at this free event hosted by Provisions in Amherst (65 Cowls Road) on Feb. 27 from 4 to 6:30 pm. No preregistration is required.
Tuscany Wines – Learn more about wines from this legendary Italian wine region, its subregions and styles of wines, including Chianti, Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino. Holyoke Community College’s MGM Culinary Arts Institute at 164 Race Street hosts the non-credit wine tasting class led by yours truly on Feb. 26 from 6 to 8 pm. The class is open to the public. Tickets are $79. Seating is limited. Visit HCC’s culinary page or click on this link to learn more.
More recommended wines
Everyday Wine (Wines under $15)
Bread & Butter Prosecco ($15 Suggested Retail Price) – If you’re looking for something a little lighter and brighter, this crisp, dry Prosecco (which are sparkling wines from Italy’s Veneto region) hits all the right notes. It’s also perfect for fellow Winter Olympics fans like me enjoying all things Italian recently.
Weekend Wine (Wines under $40)
2020 Madame De Beaucaillou ($29 SRP) – Another great Bordeaux red wine, this subtle, understated wine made with a blend of Merlot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot grapes. This wine tastes delicious now (hints of plum and cherry) and should taste terrific for at least another 10 years as well.
Splurge Wine (Wines under $100)
2020 Tenuta La Fuga Brunello di Montalcino (SRP $90) – Back to Italy, here’s another great, red wine made with Sangiovese grapes from Brunello di Montalcino, the legendary winemaking village in Tuscany famous for making dark, dense wines with intense, elegant flavors, especially cherry and blackberry in this particular case.
Lottery Wine (Wines over $100)
2020 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri Sassicaia ($195 SRP) – Same Italian winery, an absolutely out-of-this-world wine. Sassicaia is unlike many other Tuscany wines. Instead of being made with Sangiovese grapes, it’s a Bordeaux-like blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The result – an absolutely luxurious, silky smooth red wine that tastes like velvet, roasted cherry, plum and melted dark chocolate. Tastes great now and even better in 10 or 20 years… or even longer.
Cheers!
Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com and in The Republican’s Weekend section.
Dining and Cooking