We all have our own ways of shaking off the January blues… Some of us embrace the gloom, hunkering down with books, blankets and box sets. Some choose to avoid it altogether, escaping to sunnier climes. Others double down on the darkness, forcing themselves into long-promised regimes of diets and denial.

We would never dream of imposing any specific approach, of course (least of all one involving enforced abstinence). But in an effort to bring a touch of radiance to these shorter days, we’ve pulled together a range of winter warmer wines to see you through the longer nights…


First, though, what exactly qualifies a wine to merit the ‘winter warmer’ tag? For most of us, the prime criterion will probably be that such a wine should be red. And most likely a richer, bolder red – Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz rather than Pinot Noir or Grenache – made in a fairly full, ripe, generous style, perhaps with a touch of oak, maybe a fair bit of extraction. All in all, a worthy accompaniment to the hearty, warming, wintery dishes that will doubtless be infusing the kitchen at this time of year.

Gone are days when wines from the ‘New World’ (itself a slightly outmoded term) would automatically tick this box, but there is something to be said for warding off winter nights by indulging in a wine or two from a place currently basking in the joys of summer. Call it the power of suggestion, but the sunshine-in-a-glass vibe becomes a little more vivid when you know the sun is likely to be shining back at the source of your wine, be that Argentina or Australia, Mendoza or Margaret River.

But once that box is ticked, such wines don’t automatically need to be red. A rounded, full, and yes, possibly oaked, white can be just as satisfying in the depths of winter. So again, that likely means varieties that lend themselves to such vinification – less Picpoul de Pinet and Pinot Gris, more Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc.

Margaret River is certainly a fine source of the former, and Moss Wood – better known for its Bordeaux-style Cabernet blends – crafts a fine example in its Ribbon Vale Chardonnay, which is generously oaked and with full malolactic fermentation. ‘Our preference is for Chardonnay’s riper fruit spectrum, with the emphasis on stone fruit and nuts,’ says the producer of a wine whose 2022 vintage was described by Decanter magazine as ‘firmly at the riper end of Margaret River Chardonnay’ with a nose that is ‘cushioned and pillowy’. Sounds inviting…

Chenin Blanc’s rounded nature also lends itself to a certain generosity of weight and texture, and Newfound’s Napa rendering, from Henry’s Vineyard, certainly ticks the box. Only founded in 2016, Newfound is actually based in California’s Sierra Foothills, and has a clear emphasis on nature-led farming via two hectares of organic, dry-farmed vines, and partnerships with select growers who share the same values. Having been working with the winery since before the pandemic, it’s been hugely rewarding to see its wines recently gain a host of plaudits from various critics (Jancis Robinson and Matthew Jukes are both committed fans), with California-based Antonio Galloni describing winemaker Matt Naumann as ‘one of the most thoughtful young winemakers in California’, delivering wines with ‘so much varietal, site and vintage character’. Galloni labelled the Chenin an ‘impeccable wine’ and we couldn’t agree more – this is a really exciting, small-production wine from great terroir. 

Equally characteristic is one of the first white wines from our exclusive Argentinian partner Achaval Ferrer. Its Quimerino Blanco blend is largely made up of Sauvignon Blanc, which you wouldn’t necessarily jump to when seeking the requisite comfort for cosy, cold-weather sipping. But a dollop of Marsanne and Roussane lend a lovely weight and texture to this aromatic white, which Achaval chose not to label as Sauvignon Blanc, specifically to convey this more tropical fruit character.

When it comes to reds, Mendoza Malbec is arguably the ultimate winter warmer, and Achaval’s classic blackberries-and-plums example won’t disappoint. Made in a more new-wave Malbec style, it harnesses a certain freshness as well as power, via a welcome softness to the plush tannins.

For something less predictable, however, how about a Bordeaux blend from Auckland? When she set up Puriri Hills just outside the city in 1997, Judy Fowler wanted to create New Zealand’s answer to Cheval Blanc. Maybe Le Pin would be a more apt comparison, given the estate is a mere 2.5ha, but either way, when, in 2020, top New Zealand critic Bob Campbell MW declared Puriri Hills the country’s top winery, Fowler’s ambition no longer seemed so far-fetched. This is the archetypal winter red – an approachable Bordeaux style, with black cherry, tobacco and cedar cossetted by ultra-fine texture and tannins.

There is perhaps no more classic winter warmer, however, than Aussie Shiraz – and Kaesler’s aptly named Reach for the Sky bottling, from the Barossa Valley, ticks all the boxes. Just listen to this tasting note and imagine yourself curled up on the sofa: ‘Deep in colour… vibrant nose of blueberry and blackberry with layers of mocha and spice… Silky palate, rich with plums and berries, hints of fruit cake and ripe, supple tannins.’ Sounds like winter in a glass to us – with more than a ray of welcome Aussie sunshine…