Try These Winter Whites…Great Now, Excellent Any Other Time of Year

While red wines seem like a natural, “go-to” choice when the weather turns cooler, don’t forget to keep plenty of white wines on hand as well, even though the calendar may indicate that we’re in the thick of winter.

Serving white wines year-round makes perfect sense for several reasons: they make great “starter” wines during the course of an afternoon or evening tasting; they provide additional variety and choices for the wine enthusiast on your guest list; and they match up well with a number of appetizers and entrees that simply can’t handle a red wine pairing.

Here are some solid, nicely priced winter white wine choices for you to consider serving during the season:

Giesen Estate 2019 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (about $15) – A blast of ctirusy lemongrass greets you on the bouquet and in the glass, followed by crisp Granny Smith apple and green melon flavors. Rounder fruits of pineapple and starfruit come through on a second layer, providing added complexity to a bright, vibrant finish. This New Zealand white practically begs to be served with grilled shrimp, prosciutto-wrapped melon or oysters on the half-shell.

Chateau Suau 2019 Bordeaux Blanc Sec (about $25) – It’s hard to believe this wine is produced from organically grown grapes. Brimming with juicy white peach and lemon chiffon flavors, it strikes the perfect balance between bright and creamy, resulting in a wine with beautiful mouthfeel and a lengthy finish that suggests just a hint of herbaceousness.

Comprised of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon, this is a stunning wine that should be on your must-try list. Serve it with a pasta salad, baguette and mild cheeses or simply on its own as a perfect white wine sipper.

Bodega Garzon 2020 Albarino Reserva (about $20) – Lovely floral/white flower aromatics lead off, along with an additional fragrant note of field grasses that carry over to the front of the palate. Understated touches of tropical and stone fruits follow, with a nice streak of minerality and bracing acidity throughout. Fettuccine Alfredo, poultry, and white fish such as halibut or snapper come to mind as prime food-pairing partners. It may seem early to be tasting wines from the 2020 vintage, but remember that this wine comes from a Southern Hemisphere-based winery in Uruguay.

Robert Oatley Vineyards 2018 Margaret River Chardonnay (about $23) – This mind-numbingly delicious Chardonnay from Australia has so many beautiful layers it’s difficult to know where to begin. Golden Delicious apple pie and ripe Bartlett pear flavors start you off, with pineapple, guava, and papaya fruits underneath. Spicy accents of clove, cinnamon, and allspice linger in the background and the wine’s rich, full-bodied persona results in a creamy, mile-long finish. This is a white wine worth savoring during the winter months (or any other time of year for that matter) and is highly recommended.