Season Of Celebration: It's Officially Wine Time

‘Tis the season …

This month we’re celebrating six grape varieties, from internationally renowned to slightly more obscure, but all undeniably delicious on a cold wintery day.

Kicking things off is a grape called Xinomavro, which hails from northern Greece’s Macedonia. Structured yet vibrant, it blends Nebbiolo-like freshness and tannins with Mediterranean flavours of Garnacha. Xinomavro can be enjoyed young or after a few years of cellaring. It pairs beautifully with slow-cooked meats, spiced lentil ragù, or mushroom risotto.

Next, Merlot takes the stage. Celebrated and debated, it’s a true shapeshifter – producing everything from easy-drinking, fruit-forward wines to bottles of great finesse and pedigree. The name dates to the early 19th century, inspired by the blackbird – “merle” in French or “merlau” in Occitan – a bird fond of dark berries. Chile, Italy’s Veneto, and France’s Languedoc craft juicy, approachable styles, while Bordeaux’s Pomerol or Fronsac AOCs offer plush, dense wines with dark fruit, floral notes, and warm spices. With game season in full swing, these more serious Merlots make a natural partner to venison, wild duck, or hare slow-cooked in a rich sauce.

International Tempranillo Day falls on the second Thursday of November.

Native to the Iberian Peninsula, Tempranillo reigns supreme in Spain, where it goes by many names: Cencibel, Tinta del País, Tinta de Toro, Tinto Fino, or Ull de Llebre. Undoubtedly one of the wine world’s most charismatic red grapes, Tempranillo combines ripe fruit, savoury depth, and vibrant acidity with an approachable structure. In its youth it charms with aromas of cherry, plum, and strawberry, carried by juicy freshness. With time and oak maturation, it evolves into something richer and more complex, layered with leather, tobacco, and spice.

The spotlight turns to Zinfandel, a grape that rose to fame in California but originates from Croatia, where it is known as Tribidrag. Today it is affectionately called “Zin” in the US and Primitivo in southern Italy. Italian Primitivo is generous and fruit-rich, with structured wines from the old bush vines of Primitivo di Manduria and more elegant styles from the Gioia del Colle area. In California, Zinfandel appears as the playful, slightly off-dry White Zinfandel or as reds that range from juicy and approachable to deeply concentrated, spicy, and age-worthy. Zinfandel pairs well with the sweetness of root vegetables as well as any meat in an intense tomato sauce.

Beaujolais Nouveau is celebrated on the third Thursday of November.

Crafted from the Gamay grape variety from the current harvest and bottled without ageing, Beaujolais Nouveau is light, fruit-forward, and best enjoyed young. What began as a clever marketing idea has spawned some of the wine world’s most famous celebrations, from French street parties to playful traditions further afield, including wine-filled baths in Japan. Though not the truest expression of a region capable of remarkable terroir-driven wines, Beaujolais Nouveau is worthy of celebration.

Last but not least, Carménère has its moment. With its roots in Bordeaux, the grape found a second home in Chile in the mid-20th century, where it was long mistaken for Merlot and sold as such until the late 1990s. Carménère produces deep purple wines with rounded tannins, aromas of cassis, and distinctive notes of green bell pepper and spice. Often a minor component in traditional Bordeaux blends, it has become Chile’s signature grape, bottled as a varietal wine. Carménère is a good match for herb-crusted meats, steak with chimichurri, or stuffed peppers.

Winter offers no shortage of grapes to discover or rediscover. From the playful charm of Beaujolais Nouveau to the depth of Tempranillo and the charisma of an age-worthy Merlot, these wines remind us that the season promises colour, flavour and quiet celebration. @julie_dupouy

A gentle invitation, perhaps, to gather a few good friends, uncork something thoughtful, and let the evening unfold – unhurried, and in excellent company.

WINTER WARMERS