It’s cold. Gone are the warm nights and beach days until next summer rolls around. Winter is here and there is nothing better than throwing on your comfy sweatpants, pouring a glass of wine and cuddling up with a good book.
Red Wines
When the weather chills you to the bone, reach for these red wines to warm you up…
Shannon Vineyards Rockview Ridge Pinot Noir 2014
This delicious Pinot Noir from Shannon Vineyards provides the perfect excuse to take things slow this winter by savouring every sip. With a strong, smooth texture and long finish, the Rockview Ridge Pinot Noir is a great example of a world class wine. While it is true that Pinot Noir is a light red, the grapes blossom best in cool weather.
Expect to pay: R285
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La Bri Affinity 2014
The Franschhoek region has long been a favourite of mine and this La Bri Affinity 2014 is ample justification. With an easy-to-swallow price tag, the wine is a subtle Cabernet Sauvignon dominated Bordeaux-style blend. The firm tannins and dark cherry fruit flavours make this ideal for cold weather. Drink it now with pasta and tomato sauce, game, and sharp cheese casseroles.
Expect to pay: R140
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Bouchard Finlayson Hannibal 2015
No chill-out session in front of the fireplace is complete without a bottle of Bouchard Finlayson! From the heart of the Hemel en Aarde valley near Hermanus comes an absolute star of the area. The Hannibal 2015 is representative of the best in South African and is sure to conjure up compliments at the dinner table this winter.
Expect to pay: R286
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White Wines
As people abandon old drinking rules such as white with fish and red with meat, attitudes about when it’s appropriate to drink white wines have also changed. Whites with velvety, full-bodied textures and rounder, richer flavours can be perfect for cold-weather meals. Expand your wine repertoire this season with one of these South African white wines to pair with your next hearty winter meal.
Leopard’s Leap Culinaria Chenin Blanc 2016
Made from grapes grown on 20 year old, dry-land bush vines, the recently released 2016 Leopard’s Leap Culinaria Chenin Blanc has enough body to satisfy the Chardonnay drinker! The wine represents the characteristic freshness and fruitiness associated with wines from the Loire Valley. Leopard’s Leap treat their Chenin Blanc with tender care, fermenting it gently in 500-litre second-fill and third-fill French oak barrels, as opposed to drowning it in harsh oak. This silky wine is ideal with creamy sauces.
Expect to pay: R90
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Glen Carlou Quartz Stone Chardonnay 2014
Possibly one of South Africa’s top chardonnay producers, Glen Carlou has been perfecting their technique for over 25 years. The single-vineyard Quartz Stone Chardonnay has just the right amount of a buttery, creamy, mouthful without getting carried away. Rich and spicy, this wine would hold up to a hearty pasta dish, creamy chicken pie, or just sipping by the fire.
Expect to pay: R290
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Taste these wines with care and decide for yourself whether they warrant special consideration this winter. I believe they do! Tweet me @spitorswallow and let me know what you think.
