Drinks Doctor: Which wines are perfect for the colder months?

It’s time to get cosy with a selection of comforting wines for winter, says Audrey Annoh-Antwi

Did you feel the chill in the air? Or that grey tinge to the sky? Autumn marks the beginning of cosy evenings indoors and wines with a bit more heft to prepare you for winter. Below are some wines that will act as a comforting tonic to the cooler season.

The silky white: Lis Neris Gris Pinot Grigio 2020

Pinot Grigio is often known for its ease, but in the right hands it can yield some seductive wines. A serious presentation of Pinot Gris comes from Lis Neris based in Friuli, North East Italy. Vinification and maturation in oak creates plumpness with a lean towards something sweet, while maintaining a citrus and herbal freshness. If you’re inclined to cellaring wines, it can be enjoyed over many more autumns (15- years-plus).

The white from red: Simpsons’ Derringstone Pinot Meunier 2022

The reputation of English wines is often benchmarked by some stunning sparkling wines, but it should not stop there. Simpsons Wine Estate in Kent makes a still Blanc de Noirs from the black-skinned Pinot Meunier grape. It is a delicious curiosity in the best possible way, with a slight pink hue hinting at its dark origins. It has notes of ginger and pear compote, bringing to mind dessert, with a silky texture and tingling acidity.

The sunset orange: Parajes del Valle Macabeo Maceracion 2022

Skin-contact whites live in my mind rent-free all year round. The sunset tones of the Macabeo Maceracion from Manchuela, Castilla La Mancha, Spain, bring fallen leaves to mind. It has the tea-like grip you expect from a skin-contact white, but also lovely candied citrus peel and a subtle nuttiness with ripe apricot. It sounds big but there is freshness here too.

The deep rosé: Domaine Maby Tavel Cuvée Prima Donna 2022

Rosés from Tavel in the Rhone Valley are not made from shy grapes; instead you are contending with robust types like Syrah, Cinsault and Grenache. They tend to be deep, full-bodied and herbal, making them perfect pairings for meat and herb-abundant dishes. Domaine Maby Tavel Cuvée Prima Donna (65% Cinsault, 35% Grenache) is plump with red fruit, pink grapefruit peel, white pepper and garrigue.

Mouth-filling but bright: Maxime Magnon Corbières Campagnes 2019

Every wine from Maxime Magnon is a treat. Based in Durban Corbières, Languedoc-Roussillon, it is obvious the sun has smiled benevolently on these grapes. Campagnes is 100% Carignan, from vines around 100 years old, producing a brambly, plummy, spiced but overall lifted bright wine.

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Seasonal food and drink pairing

Franciacorta and pasta

The Berlucchi family winery was founded in 1955, where six years later they created the very first Classic Method wine. The Franciacorta ‘61 Nature’ 2015 is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and was aged on its lees for over five years, giving it a richly flavoured finish and a perfect pairing with complex starters and filled fresh pasta.

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