Winter is a time when comfort food is in hot demand, and with that comes a glass of red. If you naturally reach for red wine when the temperature plummets, you are not alone. Fuller-bodied, and in colour and tannins, a good glass of red brings a warming sensation to any meal. It is the perfect complement to the season's hearty comfort foods and aligns perfectly with cosy entertaining at home. Wine writer Joelle Thomson shares three room-temperature reds to try this chilly season.
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In the world of red wine, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the most influential red grape varieties, and winter is the perfect season to explore why they’ve earned such strong global devotion. Cabernet Sauvignon, often called the king of red grapes, is prized for its thick skins, naturally high tannins and distinctive flavours of blackcurrant, cedar and spice. As a grape, it thrives in warm climates like California but is better known in cooler climate classics, such as Bordeaux, producing wines that age successfully for decades and pair effortlessly with hearty winter food. Meanwhile, Merlot is a softer, more approachable counterpart, best known for its plummy flavours and supporting role to the structured qualities of Cabernet. Together, these two grapes form the backbone of many of the world’s most loved full-bodied reds, offering warmth, power and softness in every glass. What more could we ask for in a winter red, right?
Coppola Diamond Cabernet Sauvignon, $36
This 2022 Californian Cabernet is celebrated for its immediate drinkability - it’s what we call a winter crowdpleaser. Offering lush layers of ripe blackcurrant, dark cherries, and blackberries and creamy aromas of cocoa, vanilla, and gentle cedar. This full-bodied red has smooth, velvety flavours and is a classic example of a Californian Cabernet.
Graze with: Aged cheddar, or smoked gouda, roasted nuts, olives, or mushroom paté with seed crackers.
Dine with: A beef bourguignon with kumara mash and roasted winter greens. Or a rich, tomato-based pasta for vegetarians.
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This 2022 Merlot makes up the heart of most reds from Bordeaux in south-west France, and this is an excellent example of a smooth, classic style from the prestigious Domaines Barons de Rothschild stable of wines. This classic French red offers a classic take on the Merlot-Cabernet blended theme with notes of blackberries, dark cherries and subtle dried herbs leading into a medium-bodied wine with great structure (that’s the Cab’ kicking in) and effortlessly food-friendly for winter fare.
Graze with: Rich, salty meats, aged Gruyère or cheddar cheese. Marinated olives, or roasted walnuts.
Dine with: Tarragon-infused roasted chicken with caramelised carrots. For vegetarians, wild mushroom risotto, eggplant parmesan, or lentil and bean stews pair beautifully.
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Craggy Range is one of New Zealand’s most respected wineries. This Gimblett Gravels Syrah is a powerful and refined expression of Hawke's Bay's great 2024 vintage. Its deep purple colour and dark berry fruit flavours unfold into layers of savoury smoked meat and toasted mushroom flavours. Full-bodied, spicy and built with age in mind, it also drinks superbly well now. An impressive wine in its intensity and purity.
Graze with: Charred meats with smoky flavours, cheeses like cheddar, aged blue or parmesan, and a spicy chutney.
Dine with: Roasted garlic-and-thyme rack of lamb. Barbecued venison with fresh green leaves. Chargrilled veggies are a great plant-based option. Grilled eggplant, zucchini, and peppers complement the wine's smoky flavour. Dark chocolate to finish brings out the wine’s dark berry and plum notes.
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Here’s three that pair perfectly with winter’s comfort food.