Warming Winter Wines
Is there a better way to enjoy the cool winter months than sipping rich, warming, red wine? From the seductive Pinot Noir to spicy Shiraz, powerful Cabernet and rich, satisfying Port, all of these come into their own over the cooler months.
Seductive Pinot Noir
Much is made of the seductive power of Pinot Noir. Those who are under its spell go by the name of ‘Pinotphile’ and tend to only drink Pinot Noir. This beguiling grape is a native of Burgundy, France but has found a new home in New Zealand with Central Otago all but dedicated to it. These tend to be richly fruited with fine detailing of spice, herb and velvet tannin which is seen in the Peregrine Pinot Noir.
Spicy Shiraz/Syrah
As you can see, these two are one in the same variety. Syrah is the French name for it, whereas Shiraz is the Australian. In New Zealand we use Syrah, not to be special but just to differentiate our Syrah from Aussie Shiraz which is much riper and fuller like the cult Classic Chocolate Box Shiraz and the slightly crazy Take it to the Grave Shiraz, whilst Kiwi Syrah lovers choose the Craggy Range Syrah for its pure fruit, pepper spice and smooth tannin.
Cabernet Sauvignon/ Franc, Merlot and Malbec
The Bordeaux quartet; as the old Bordeaux philosophy goes, why make four good wines when you can make one great wine? Although there are seriously good examples of each on their own, these wines are testament to the power of the blend Amancaya Malbec Cabernet, Mills Reef Reserve Cabernet Merlot and Te Awanga Merlot Cabernet Franc.
Port
The great Portuguese fortified was great for sailors during the exploration age and even better as a nightcap on a cold winter’s night. Kopke, the world’s oldest Port house, covers the styles brilliantly from nutty Tawnys to fruity Rubys, complex LBVs and vintage ports, and even the rare white port, all pairing perfectly well with cheese and chocolate.
The lesser known
There are many other tempting options if you’re feeling adventurous and want to try something new; like Sangiovese of the famed Chianti and inky Nero d’Avola from Sicily. Also Tempranillo in all its guises from Spain and bigger than Texas Zinfandel from California.