6 red wines for winter you need in your glass
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I don’t know about you, but now the days are shorter, and the air has taken on a cool crispness, I long for red wines for winter, something rich and robust in my glass.
Bracing walks through the crisp fallen leaves (and chilly moments spent on train platforms) have helped shift my appetite for heartier meals and red wine is the ideal companion. With earthy aromas and full-bodied flavours, reds pair beautifully with comfort foods like roasted vegetables, stews and game dishes, but are equally appealing on their own, when cozied up by the fire accompanied by a good book or conversation.
Why do we long for red wines for winter?
On a sensory level, not only are the aromas of red wine more symbiotic with winter fruits like blackberries, cranberries and plums, but the tannin in red wines is more conducive to the fatty taste of meats and the complexity of flavours you might find in stews or thicker sauces.
The full-bodied richness and depth of red wine matches the heartiness of autumn dishes and, because it is rich in polyphenols (which give it warmth and structure), when you drink red wine, your palate is enveloped by a feeling of warmth and fullness.
There’s also the umami factor – red wines are fermented in contact with the grape skins, which contain high concentrations of amino acids, therefore complement umami-rich foods we often reach for at this time if year.
Which styles are the best red wines for winter?
Pinot Noir
With its combination of smoky, earthy flavours and bright cherry notes, Pinot Noir feels particularly right at as the seasons change. Ideal for lighter fare like roasted duck or mushroom risotto, the acidity in Pinot Noir balances the richness of creamy or gamey dishes.
Most would head to Burgundy for this classic autumn red but Riverview Crouch Valley Pinot Noir, from Essex’s Crouch Valley, is a great new world alternative. Light yet complex, it offers cherry and red berry flavours with a hint of oaky smokiness.
Riverview Crouch Valley Pinot Noir 2021, Essex
£39.50
The Crouch Valley is thought to be the best place in England to make still wines. The Riverview vineyards are set in 11 acres of...… read more
Beaujolais
With relatively low tannin levels and higher acidity than fuller bodied red wines, Beaujolais pairs with a huge variety of foods hence bridges the gap between the warm summer and cold winter months.
The region is perhaps best known for Beaujolais Nouveau – wine released on the third Thursday of November having been made from grapes picked just a few weeks before. But the Gamay grape is about far more than this lighter, quaffable style of wine.
If you want something a little more hard-hitting in your glass, try Domaine de Mont Joly Cuvée 85.45, which is made from grapes grown on vines between 70 and 100 years old. Consequently, this wine is bursting with black fruit flavour, has a touch of anise and a long, lingering finish.
Domaine de Mont Joly Cuvée 85.45, Beaujolais-Villages 2019
£29.99
This wine is made in very small quantities, using the best grapes, from the oldest vines (between 75 and 100 years old) in the village...… read more
Bordeaux
There’s good reason why when we think about red wines for winter oenophiles reach for claret. The old-world blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot (and occasionally Carménère) offer richness and texture with a touch of spice to perfectly complement the dishes of the season.
You can’t get a much better match for a traditional roast dinner. With dark berry aromas, gently notes of cinnamon and nutmeg and a velvety softness, Chateau des Demoiselles 2015 from Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux is a great example from a good vintage, just finding its stride.
Chateau des Demoiselles 2015, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
£17.50
This blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Vignobles Ducourt is aged for 12 months prior to bottling. On the nose there are delicate red...… read more
South African Cabernet Sauvignon
While Bordeaux may well be the spiritual home of Cabernet Sauvignon, (it was here that Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc were accidently crossed to create it in the 17th Century), South Africa is where you’ll find the best value.
The variety is actually the most widely planted red-wine grape here and produces a distinctive style that manages to combine the fruity vigour of the New World together with Old World structure. PF Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, a multi-award winner from Stellenbosch producer Peter Falke Wines, is a fine example. Pair it with a good bit of steak smothered in peppercorn sauce.
PF Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Stellenbosch
£22.00
A beautiful wine with rich garnet hues. Full bodied with exceptional character, intense dark fruit flavours, subtle violet undertones with a hint of liquorice and...… read more
Durif
Originally from the Rhône Valley (and also called Petite Sirah in America), Durif is intense in colour and flavour.
Deep crimson with a distinct inkiness, it’s packed with flavours of plum, blueberry and blackberry with overtones of dark chocolate and spicy notes of black pepper. It’s the perfect partner for slow cooked lamb and wholesome pastas like bolognese or lasagna.
A Growers Touch Durif is made from 100 per cent Durif and spent a short amount of time on oak giving it a hint of vanilla on the nose.
A Growers Touch Durif 2022, New South Wales
£12.20
A Growers Touch is all about "terroir". It showcases local fruit and the uniqueness of the growers and their vineyards. Each bottle features pictures of...… read more
Douro Valley
The enchanting, terraced vineyaFamous for producing the grapes used in Port (which is also a fantastic pour at this time of year), the Douro region also produces robust red wines for winter drinking. from its enchanting, terraced vineyards. These wines are not only full bodied but are balanced and structured with fine tannins that pair well with game and offal.
From the Alto Corgo, otherwise known as the Upper Douro, in the heart of the Douro International Natural Park, Altitude by Duorum Tinto, is made from a blend of indigenous grape varieites: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinto Cão. The grapes are grown at altitudes of 400-500 metres above sea level which gives the blend freshness as well as depth.
Altitude by Duorum Red 2022, Douro
£13.00
Altitude by Duorum seeks to express the unique character of the Upper Douro, transporting you to the panoramic high-altitude vineyards, which provide fresh, fruity and...… read more
