White Wines for Winter
This winter, hunker down with white wine. Stick to favorites like crisp Sancerre and voluptuous Chablis or take a chance on skin-contact Krakhuna or Riesling from some of the oldest vines in California.
Channing Daughters “Mudd West Vineyard” Sauvignon Blanc – 2019 $17.96
This wine was made with fruit from some of the oldest Sauvignon Blanc vines on Long Island, planted in 1975 (on their own roots!). As always, all fruit was hand-picked, whole-cluster pressed, and handled minimally. Vibrant and precise, with white grapefruit, lime, and mouth-watering salinity. Pair with local oysters, Fluke tartare, or pan-roasted Striped Bass. – Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant, Simon Gouldstone
Merab Ediberidze, Krakhuna – 2019 $18.96
Skin contact gives white wines weight, texture, and rich, nutty aromas that work with such winter fare as soups, poultry stews, and pork roasts. The indigenous Krakhuna grape sees 6 months of skin maceration in Qvevri in this solid rendition of classic Georgian winemaking. – Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant, Chung Park
Mas Gomà, El Turo de l’Ermita Blanco – 2019 $26.96
The Verdell family have been the stewards of this ancient site for over a century now and the father and son currently at the helm are making exceptional wines bound to become a regular addition to your year-round rotation. With organic practices in the vineyard and natural ones in the cellar, this wine will remind you of some of your favorites from more well-trodden, classic regions (Muscadet/Burgundy) while expressing its own distinctive character that proves impossible not to love. – Spirits Buyer, Nima Ansari
Haarmeyer Wine Cellars, Riesling “Wirz” Cienega Valley – 2019 $27.99
This is no ordinary Riesling. Grown directly next to the San Andreas Fault, and coming from some of the oldest Riesling vines in California (circa 1963), this wine has an intensity to it that will carry you through these cold winter months. Notes of black tea and lemon combine with honey and apricot to create a refreshing and restorative experience. – Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant, Alex Malecki
Roussette de Savoie, “Marestel”, Dom. Dupasquier – 2016 $28.99
The Alpine French region of Savoie is a perfect spot on the map to look for white wines in wintertime—think raclette, mountain top ski lodges, and roaring fires—and this bottle of Roussette (AKA Altesse) from Domaine Dupasquier has the balance of richness and freshness requisite for this season. Ripe and racy tropical fruit rides atop a raft of spice and structure from old oak barrels, ready to be paired with a melty cheese scenario, or perhaps a roast chicken with spiced lentils. – Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant, Chris Balla
Blanc, Ch. Montus – 2013 $32.99
This ready-to-drink bottle from the Basque region of France is full bodied and intense, with aromas of hazelnut, fennel, apricots, and grilled pineapple that lead to a lingering finish that’s both savory and spiced. A masterclass in how to balance full-bodied, oak-aged white wine. This one’s perfect to drink with richer foods like grilled fish or liver pâté. – Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant, Jon Miner
Vacqueyras Blanc, Mas de Restanques – 2020 $36.96
Viogner is the main grape used for this great wine. The grape creates wines that are slightly oily with a medium-to-high level of alcohol, perfumed, and with flavors of stone fruits, cloves, tangerine, honeysuckle, and vanilla. Truly delicious, I consider this Vacqueyras a great winter selection. I would pair it with aged cheeses, foie gras, or mildly spicy dishes such as pad Thai. – Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant, Andrea Fraccari
Chardonnay “La Bora di Kante,” Kante – 2011 $68.96
A most captivating Chardonnay from Friuli, a region of Italy known for its white native varieties. This international interloper should be at the top of any Chardonnay lover’s list (I’m looking at you, White Burg drinkers!). Age has only made this a more graceful and complex wine that’s worth every penny. – Sales Manager, Bambi Ray