With the temperatures dropping here in Australia (yes even in Brisbane – it’s all contextual!), I thought it might be nice to share my ideas for the perfect wines for winter. Although I am a massive fan of Rosé all year round – what wines are actually more suited to cooler temperatures? What will go oh so well with cuddling up on the couch in your pyjamas versus catching up with friends during the day? So rather than pairing the wines with food, I thought I’d pair them with some activities to help inspire your sipping! So here are my perfect wine pairings for winter.
Game night with friends
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One thing I find we do a lot in winter is to have game nights with friends. It’s a good excuse to not worrying about rugging up to meet friends out, and it’s a great night in. It’s also a good excuse to enjoy one or five bottles of good wine between friends!
For me, really anything goes in this situation. I mean this is a great reason to enjoy Rosé because you’re indoors. This or a nice Sparkling Shiraz can be a great way to get the party started. They have enough body and flavours to be able to get away with drinking in winter, even though they’re served cold. However, I find we always tend to move to something that’s a bit of a crowd-pleaser: Shiraz. I feel like no matter who you talk to, people usually enjoy a good Shiraz. So if you have some on hand, people are likely to enjoy it over a few rounds.
A nice meal of comfort food
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Look I know I said that this wouldn’t be a traditional food and wine pairing post, but comfort food is one of my favourite winter activities. There’s nothing like digging into a nice warm meal to warm the soul. And with that comes the need for some great wine to wash it down! Part of the full comfort food experience is enjoying some wine along with it after all.
What is comfort food exactly? For me, it conjures up thoughts of slow-roasted meats and stews, or something baked with copious amounts of bread and cheese. This sort of food is perfect for whipping up at home while we have all this time indoors, and what better time to spend a few hours recreating a dish that’s going to make you smile? We have all the time in the world! Really comfort food is whatever makes you happy, and honestly, if bread and cheese are going to make you happy, get right on it!
Because comfort food is so broad, there are so many wines that will pair with it. But in winter, I’d be opting for something nice and rich. For pairing with a rich and slow-roasted meat dish, there is no better pairing than a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Shiraz. These deep and full-bodied wines make for a perfect evening in, especially when you’ve been smelling your dish cooking for hours. If it is more on the cheesy side (mac and cheese for example), a Chardonnay will go oh-so-well.
Cosying up next to the fireplace/heater
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Being from Queensland, nothing makes me dream of winter more than a fireplace. I would love to have a fireplace to cosy up next to in winter. Unfortunately, it’s just not a practical thing in Brisbane. I’d probably use it once a year if we’re being realistic. However! I know there are plenty of other places around Australia that do get to enjoy fireplaces (lucky ducks) because it is so damn cold. And we can thankfully still travel to cosy little cottages to get the full experience (full disclosure: most of my Air BnB searches are for fireplaces only). So what is the best wine to sip on next to the fire?
For me, I am torn between two wine varieties. If I was enjoying something next to the fire just because I am next to a fire (something that happens more than you could imagine), I would opt for a Pinot Noir. This can be easily enjoyed without food, and although it is lighter it will pair perfectly with how warm you’re getting from the fire. However, if you want to go full cabin in the woods, I would opt for a Cabernet Sauvignon. These bold and rich wines conjure up feelings of warmth for me without the fireplace, so I can’t think of anything better for enjoying when I’m all nice and cosy.
Netflix binge on the couch
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We’ve all been there. It gets to the weekend but you can’t think of anything worse than braving the cold to go to a bar or out for dinner. All you want to do is get into your PJs and settle in on the couch for a good binge of your favourite TV show. The good thing about being encouraged to stay inside is that you don’t really need an excuse to do this at the moment! But you know what will make bingeing Normal People that much better? Wine – of course!
Anything really goes here – I mean depending on your takeout of choice you could really pair sitting on the couch with any variety of wine. My personal preference is pizza, and for this, I would go for a nice Sangiovese or Zinfandel/Primitivo. Although Pizza can pair with a lighter wine, having these nice, deeper wines will really help you cosy up on the couch.
If you are looking for a good ‘curled up on the couch winter all-rounder’ I would go a Shiraz. It is so widely available in Australia, and so you’re guaranteed to find something you like. It can also be paired with so many different foods but is a nice, full-bodied red you can really sit back and enjoy over a good few episodes.
Cosy weekend getaway
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This sort of links to the above because, let’s face it, the only fireplace I’m getting is when I go away for the weekend. But what to pair with a cosy weekend getaway? Now that at least in Queensland we are being encouraged to travel and explore our local area, there’s never been a better time for a bit of a staycation. Some of you might even be close enough to head to the snow!
So what to pair with a weekend getaway? When it comes to perfect pairings for winter, I definitely wouldn’t pass up enjoying a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon in a cabin with a fireplace. But a Shiraz would also be a great option. I think mainly for the range that it provides. You could go something lighter in the Syrah style, or something bold and gutsy like a Barossa Valley Shiraz. Either way, there will be something to enjoy with or without food. Both of these wines are nice and versatile and will be sure to warm you up as you cosy up.
Looking for something fancier? Why not try making some mulled wine! We used to do this when I lived in Melbourne, and if there’s one thing that’s going to warm you up, it will be this! Just get some mulled wine spices (this is the one we used), add some sugar and heat your wine until just warm. Put into some mugs and no one will even know it’s not hot chocolate!
Day drinking with friends
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Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean picnics are out of the question. Catching up with friends for a good day drinking session doesn’t need to be reserved for summer – you just need more layers! Once you are all cosied up in your warm clothes, a nice wine will take your catch up to the next level!
Day drinking wines are normally more suited to summer – those sorts of wines that are refreshing, cool you down and are a little on the lighter side. Now, in Brisbane, we can still get away with enjoying these during the day, but with the current temperatures even I’m reconsidering my Rosé all day mentality.
So what is best to enjoy during the day? If it’s cold, I would opt for a Pinot Noir. It is light enough to be enjoyed with or without food but still has enough body to keep you warm. You can enjoy this chilled in Summer, but I’d recommend enjoying it as is in Winter.
In summary: the perfect wine pairings for winter are up to you
Although I’ve given some suggestions above, there really is no perfect wine pairings for winter. I’ve suggested some well-known varieties, but honestly, there are so many great wine varieties out there, you can’t really go wrong! Something that you love drinking is going to be the best thing for your winter warmers. So if you want to enjoy that Rosé all day, you do you! There really isn’t a right or wrong. But I do hope this starts to inspire you for some of the fun activities you can enjoy with wine now that the temperatures have dropped!
What’s you’re favourite winter wine? I’d love to hear it!