A guide to the best wines for winter, handpicked by The Vineyard hotel’s award-winning sommelier Roman Bourger, winner of the title ‘UK Young Sommelier of the Year’ for 2016.
Chignin, Domaine Bertholier, Jacquère, Argile sur Schiste, Savoie, France, 2014
Winter is the perfect time for cheese based dishes such as raclette, fondue and tartiflette. This wine is made from a grape local to the Savoie region, Jacquère, that is fruity but also with a high acidity to cut the fattiness of cheese any other rich and wintery meal.
Donelan, Roussanne/Viognier, Venus, Sonoma County, CA, 2013
Vegetables eaten during the winter such as pumpkin or root vegetables often have a natural sweetness. This fabulous blend shows intense aromas of white flower, ripe exotic fruit as well as an oily texture that perfectly match these vegetables, especially served with poultry or white meat.
Plan B! Shiraz/Tempranillo, Frankland River, Australia, 2013
An intense and deep blend. Shiraz is well known for its spiciness and jammy character. It is a great partner to game such has venison or wild boar especially with a red wine sauce seasoned with winter spices.
Rosso di Montalcino, Conti Costanti, Tuscany, Italy, 2015
A fantastic wine made from Sangiovese grape and kept in big French oak barrels for 12 months. This wine as beautiful aromas of wild strawberry, red cherry and blackberry with undertones of liquorice and light toast. It is elegant and deep and would perfectly match with pheasant or hare. It drinks beautifully well but could definitely be kept for a few years to develop more complexity.
Pessac-Léognan, Château Tour Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2014
In my opinion, this is a great example of white Bordeaux (and from a top producer, the Perrin family also producing Château Carbonnieux). It is a classic blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon with a touch of oak which brings a delicate texture to the wine. It is dry, fresh but with a creamy mouth feel and intense aromas of boxwood, pink grapefruit and lime.
Colinas de Uruguay, Albariño, Uruguay, 2016
A classic Spanish varietal, very fresh, lively and crisp. It definitely is a summer wine and a great alternative to Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio
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