While some of us may be eternal summer children, lamenting the colder days of the year, there is always a silver lining to every storm cloud – and in our case, it just happens to be in the form of red wine. Yet, why are red wine and winter such a formidable pair? To start, where white is zesty and fresh, red wine tends to warm us up – quite literally. Its higher alcohol content provides a natural thermogenic effect. Red wine is also typically served at a warmer room temperature, which brings out the fuller flavour. But perhaps our favourite reason is that red wine pairs exceptionally well with richer, bigger meat dishes, giving us all the more reason to enjoy a glass at the end of a cold day. With this in mind, we’ve rounded up our 10 best red wines for winter – guaranteed to pair with your heartier dishes and fluffier blankets.

1. Pinot Noir

The Low Down:

Pinot Noir can be described as the ballerina of the wine world – delicate, feminine and fragile, leaving behind a delicate waft of cherry and lavender in her wake. As a light-bodied, dry red wine, this is the perfect choice to switch to as the seasons start blurring from warm into chilly.

Food Pairing:

Pinot Noir is fantastic thanks to its versatility. It’s very subtle tannins means it can be enjoyed on its own, but its higher acidity makes it a welcome partner with poultry dishes like duck or chicken. It also stands very well alongside mushrooms as it often exhibits earthy, forest floor characteristics.

Try: Galphin Peak Pinot Noir from Bouchard Finlayson or check out our top 10 South African Pinot Noirs.

2. Grenache

The Low Down:

Known as the ‘poor man’s Pinot Noir’, you should never turn your nose up at Grenache. In fact, it is currently enjoying a new wave of appreciation within the Cape, loved for its adaptability to hot climates and minimal irrigation. It also grows exceptionally well as a bush vine. As a wine, it is light-bodied with a relatively high alcohol content – the heat being enough to warm you as the temperatures decrease. It showcases spicy, berry flavours on the palate, and has subtle, soft tannins. 

Food Pairing:

Super easy drinking, Grenache can go with just about any meal – even sushi! It does, however, have a penchant for less spicy styles of Asian dishes, as well as grilled meats, be it beef, veal, pork or chicken. 

Try: Fairview Stok-by-Paaltjie Grenache or choose from our top 20 South African Grenache Noires.

3. Cinsault

The Low Down:

Cinsault is a stalwart of the South African vineyard climate, being the father to our only indigenous grape, Pinotage. As a variety, Cinsault has often been overlooked, but recent years have seen the medium-bodied grape variety rise in the ranks. It thrives in hot, dry climates, and produces wine light in colour and low in tannin, often showcasing notes of bright cherries, earth and spice.

Food Pairing:

This strongly savoury wine makes it a dream with flavourful, savoury dishes – best seasoned with garlic. Think garlic snails or prawns, as well as stews or braised and roasted meat dishes. This is a definite favourite of our best red wines for winter!

Try: Blacksmith Wines Prince of Bones Cinsault or check out our top 10 South African Cinsaults.

4. Merlot

The Low Down:

As one of the world’s most beloved and popular grapes, we would be amiss if not to include Merlot as a winter drinking choice. Red fruits, easy tannins and a soft finish are the shining characteristics of this variety, and besides being smooth, it’s a bit of a chameleon, made in differing styles but always 100% drinkable.

Food Pairing:

Merlot is mellow, like a jazz singer crooning in your ears. As one of the most popular red cultivars in the word, it matches just about any dish, as it finds itself smack-bang in the middle of the red wine spectrum. Enjoy it with anything from chicken to lightly-spiced dark meats.

Try: Eagles Nest Merlot

5. Pinotage

The Low Down:

Pinotage, like a local South African rock star, has bold tannins – but that doesn’t mean there’s no sweet side thanks to the relatively low acidity. It’s often recommended that if you like a Shiraz, then you’ll probably enjoy a glass or two of Pinotage just as much. Deep red in colour, Pinotage tends to offer notes of smoky, bramble and earthy flavours, sometimes with notes of bananas and tropical fruit.

Food Pairing:

If you’re drinking a local grape, why not pair it with some tasty local cuisine like a delicious braai (‘barbeque’ for non-South Africans)? Everything about Pinotage is bold – and so it pairs well with bold food. This deep red wine tinged with spicy notes of tobacco and fruity undertones act as a dreamboat for a hot Malay curry or voluptuous meat dishes South African’s so love.

Try: Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage or try one of our top 10 South African Pinotages.

6. Shiraz

The Low Down:

Que Syrah, Syrah right? Or is it Que Shiraz, Shiraz? Don’t be concerned if you’re never quite sure, because as it turns out, these are the exact same varieties. Only Shiraz tends to be made in a warmer climate, while Syrah in a cooler one. As Explore Sideways is based in sunny South Africa, we tend to sip Shiraz during winter. As a variety, Shiraz is best described as big, brooding, and boozy. Enjoyed for its powerful black fruit flavours, peppery notes and higher alcohol concentration, this variety is destined to warm you right up.

Food Pairing:

It’s not for the faint of heart or palate, but it’ll warm you up quick sticks. Think grilled lamb and roasted potatoes,  especially served rare or with a pepper sauce, to highlight the pepper notes on the Shiraz. Are you drooling yet? We are.

Try: Cederberg Private Cellar Shiraz

7. Cabernet Sauvignon

The Low Down: 

As we move into the depths of winter, no one can argue with Cabernet Sauvignon as the obvious and ultimate winter red winner. After all, it’s not called the ‘King of the Grapes’ for nothing. As a variety, Cabernet Sauvignon is celebrated for its big, bold flavours. It has mouth-puckering tannins and should have spent considerable time in barrels to soften and generate that welcome vanilla tobacco aroma.

Food Pairing:

As a layered and complex wine, a high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon almost always has to be paired with an equally rich dish. Classic food pairings include pepper steak, brisket, roast, duck, goose, lentils, and mashed potatoes. Think hot, meaty meals that further encourage your winter hibernation mode.

Try: Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon

8. Petit Verdot

The Low Down:

Petit Verdot forms part of the other ‘Big 5’, namely the 5 varieties used in making up a classic Bordeaux blend which consists of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. However, this dark little berry is earning more and more limelight as a single variety, gaining an appreciation for being an intensely bold, fruity-yet-floral red wine that can comfortably stand on its own. In terms of characteristics, Petit Verdot has a lot of body, tannins and sharp acidity, which is why it is normally used in blends. However, it has been showing beautiful expressions within warmer climates like South Africa, and when paired with rich dishes, makes for an interesting winter accompaniment.

Food Pairing:

As a hardy grape with a lot of tannins, Petit Verdot needs to be paired with equally big and bold dishes. It shines next with meat dishes such as grilled steak, spicy pork, veal, lamb or even game. Thanks to the acidity, there is a welcome freshness that can handle spicy food and even hard and semi-soft cheeses.

Try: KWV The Mentors Petit Verdot

9. Sangiovese

The Low Down:

Earthy and rustic, this Italian variety is typically known for being high in acidity and tannins. So that’s why it’s not necessary your first go-to for a winter red. But that acidity is quite welcome when you’re eating something fatty and it lifts the weight of the wine on the palate, making this cultivar an excellent choice for rich vegetarian dishes. The best part is that it has a wonderfully complex nose – a welcome treat for sitting, sniffing and contemplating how to get out from under the cosy blanket to go make dinner.

Food Pairing:

This Italian stallion is a natural complement to its origin’s food, so think tomato sauce, roasted winter veggies, sausage, pizza, hard cheeses, and fattier cuts of meat like pork belly.

Try: Morgenster Sangiovese

10. Cape Blend

The Low Down:

What would a winter wine list be if it doesn’t include a blend of some sorts? After all, while there are many red cultivars that stand just fine on their own, the ultimate art for a winemaker is the craft of blending, and we’ve opted to put the Cape Blend on the podium for our best red wines for winter. As should be expected, a Cape Blend is a red blend that requires from 30% to 70% of Pinotage as a component to qualify. Typically, Pinotage’s best blending buddy is Cabernet Sauvignon, which together, create a delicious harmony on the palate. 

Food Pairing:

It should come as no surprise that a classic Cape wine like this should be paired with classic Cape food. Most Cape Blends will be medium-bodied thanks to the lightness of the Pinotage and are delicious when complemented with Bobotie, braais and even small local pastries such as samosas.

Try: Beyerskloof Faith Cape Blend

If you’d like to work your way through our 10 best red wines for winter, remember that we at Explore Sideways are always here to help create and curate a special day out for you and your curious palate. The best part is that many local wine farms have fireplaces. Tempted?

Have any other wines you could recommend for winter, or perhaps tried any of the mentioned wines? Let us know, we would love to hear from you! Sign up to our newsletter while you’re at it, and stay updated on all things wine!