Winter is Coming

It’s that time of year, the car windscreen needs defrosting, the fire is lit, and the slow cooker is permanently on. IT’S RED WINE SEASON! (it’s always red wine season…)

This week we’ll suggest some winter warming food and wine pairings.

The Opportunist from South Australian producer Wild & Wilder is a fantastic Shiraz, a thick and smooth mix of fruit, coffee, chocolate, and liquorice.

At 14.5% and with a full body the Opportunist really gives that warming feeling. This would pair perfectly with beef stew and all the veg, steak and ale pie or a juicy steak.

Or it could replace that night-time coco.

“Tastes like a berry fruit salad dunked in a chocolatey espresso martini”

An alternative is Rising River’s big brother, The Foundation Stone Red from Rickety Bridge in Franschhoek, South Africa, a silky, sexy, and soft blend of fruit, chocolate, and tobacco.

The Foundation Stone Red uses a blend of grapes with the dominant grape also being Shiraz, as well as Mourvedre and Grenache Noir.  The wine has been through 18 months of maturation to allow the tannins to soften.

This wine would pair perfectly with beef casserole and roast potatoes or even crispy duck pancakes.

“Tastes like a blackberry crumble being eaten inside a sauna"

But of course, we can’t forget about the buttery oaky Chardonnays.

The Domaine Les Vieux Murs from Pouilly-Fuissé in Burgundy, a blast of buttery citrus, full of nutty texture and flavoursome elegance.

Whist still maintaining a blast of citrus, this wine has undergone malolactic fermentation, the conversion of tart crisp acid into soft lactic acid, producing a smooth and buttery wine. 

Having been matured in old French oak barrels for 9 months, this wine Chardonnay is full of flavour and would pair perfectly with a smoked fish pie or a tasty roast chicken.

“Tastes like a citrus and salted butterscotch pudding”

All 3 Winter warming wines are available in the Cellar. 

We've put together the Winter Warming Wines case if you want to try all 3.