More than 80% of all internet users have purchased goods or services online, and that isn’t limited to books and electronics. Wine online shopping is a reality now, with online wine sellers becoming increasingly common.
Of course, just like when bookstores went online, the possibility of cheap wine online shopping brings with it more options than we can handle. With so many excellent wine deals online, which wines should you be looking for at this time of year?
Fortunately, you’ve got this handy list of the best winter wines to guide your search. Start your wine online shopping right by looking for these top wines for winter.
Zinfandel
Zinfandel wines have an unmistakable bold, jammy, spicy flavor. It holds up well to hearty, warming foods. Its high alcoholic levels set it up as the ideal red wine to enjoy as you snuggle up on winter’s cold nights. Top varieties to try include the classic Sonoma County Zinfandel and the rustic Italian-style Primitivo.
Nebbiolo
With powerful tannins and very high acidity, the wines made with Nebbiolo grapes are ideal alongside rich, fatty winter foods. Nebbiolo grape wines include Barolo, romantically called “the King of Wines and the Wine of Kings,” and Barbaresco. Other wines leveled as the varietal also sit in this category.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
A wine native to the Rhône region of France, Châteauneuf-du-Pape possesses an earthy, spicy, and nuanced flavor. It’s a hearty wine that goes very well with winter foods. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is made from a combination of grapes that grow in the Rhône region, including the Grenache grape predominantly. Other wines in this group can include Syrah and Mourvèdre, as they also boast deep, smoky, meaty flavors.
Tawny Port
Fortified Tawny Port wine has a sweet and warming effect. Because of this taste sensation, it’s the perfect wine to accompany a molten lava cake or any other decadent winter desert. It’s also excellent by itself.
Oaked Chardonnay
With the tastes of burnt sugar, vanilla, and spice, oak infuses Chardonnay wine with toasty, warm flavor. Judiciously oaked Chardonnay wines make for the ideal winter white, with lots of warm, toasted, buttery characteristics, and a medium body.
German Riesling
If you’ve somehow never experienced a Riesling from Germany, your first time is sure to be a revelation. German Rieslings are zippy and acidic, with spicy aromas and flavors. Riesling itself is a cool-weather grape that makes delightful winter wines to go with a number of foods. These wines range from quite dry to very sweet, so it’s easy to pair them with different types of food respectively. Thanks to German Riesling’s versatility, it’s especially good for Thanksgiving dinner.
Sparkling Wine or Champagne
What’s a collection of winter wines without a celebratory bottle of bubbly? Whether you prefer authentic French Champagne or one of its sparkling wine counterparts, this toasty wine is a bubbling treat for whatever winter occasion you like to celebrate.
Shiraz
Why not try something rugged this holiday season? Australian Shiraz sits somewhere between big, brooding, and boozy, and it’s infamous for the powerful flavors of black fruit, high ABV, and savory undertones. The plentiful Down Under sunshine cooks up a wonderfully warming wine, but it isn’t for the faint of heart (or palate).
Sangiovese
Earthy and rustic, Italian Sangiovese possesses the high acid and tannin content that’s characteristic of Italian wines. It goes well alongside all kinds of winter foods, including vegetarian dishes. As an added bonus, it’s complicated nose makes this wine perfect for sitting and sniffing as you contemplate New Year’s resolutions.
Cabernet Sauvignon
This one may seem obvious, especially if you already know your wines. Cabernet Sauvignon is a thinking person’s wine: layered, complex, and shockingly subtle. It’s also an excellent eating companion, perfect for accompanying warming dishes that stick to your ribs.
These are just a handful of many hearty wines you should try to find during your wine online shopping this winter. Whether you’re after the perfect companion to Christmas dinner, a sparkling beverage for the New Year, or something pleasant to enjoy while you curl up by the fire with a good book — there are plenty of great wines that can help chase away the winter chill.