Winter signals the time for hot meals, a thick sweater, and glasses of warming beverages beside the fireplace. Hot choco and tea may be the easiest choice for winter drinks, but what about wines? What are the best wines to drink in cold weather? Short answer: red wine.
The love that red wine receives during winter is not only due to tradition. Red wines are often served at room temperature, and their alcohol content is higher than white wines, providing a natural warming feeling with every sip. They also pair perfectly with comfort meals and hot dishes and can be added to hot choco as a substitute for rum or bourbon. Here are the six best red wines you can enjoy this winter:
1. Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is the most popular red wine, especially during the holidays. It is light-bodied and has a well-balanced acidity that is great for moderate wine drinkers. Cellar Beast Winehouse's Pinot Noir will tickle your tastebuds with earthy components of mushroom and forest and cheerful notes of cherry and bush berries. If you plan on having a steaming bowl of soup or a hearty poultry dish, Pinot Noir is your go-to wine to have.
2. Merlot
Suppose you're planning an Italian-style dinner - a bottle of Merlot makes for the perfect pair! Merlot wines are rich in red fruit flavors, lending a young, light, and bright feel. They're also packed with powerful tannins that prolong the wine's age and give it a variety of flavors. Cellar Beast Winehouse's Merlot is a great winter wine option at only $24 a bottle.
3. Syrah
Syrah is the type of red wine you would imagine drinking in a cozy jazz club. This powerful and bold red has a higher alcohol content with hints of black fruits and savory black olive, pepper, and smoke notes. A glass of Syrah is the perfect side to spicy dishes or grilled meats!
4. Sangiovese
The Italian-style Sangiovese wine is your best choice to pair with a vegetarian or vegan meal brimming with tomatoes and other sweet fruits and vegetables! It also has high acidity and tannin contents, giving you a classic rustic and earthy flavor.
5. Cabernet Sauvignon
Like Shiraz, the Cabernet Sauvignon is a popular winter wine that is best paired with a complete and savory meal of steaks, potatoes, and rich soups and vegetables. Its flavor will overwhelm you with hints of dark plum, cedar, smoke, and pepper! Cellar Beast Winehouse's Cabernet Sauvignon selection includes 5%Carmenere, producing a smooth and sultry overall taste.
6. Brut Rosé
While sparkling drinks are better known for the summer, these bubbly wines are becoming increasingly famous during the colder months. Cellar Beast Winehouse's Brut Rosé is a bubbly wine made of 100% Pinot Noir with fine bubbles and characteristic red fruit aromas. This light celebratory wine gives you a crisp mouthfeel and zippy acidity.
There is no need to wait for the spring to enjoy your favorite bottle of red (or white) wine. Shake out your winter blues with Cellar Beast Winehouse's collection of wines and ciders!