Red wines are hearty, but try these white wines this winter

By Fred Tasker

Tribune News Service

About this time of year wine writers send out their yearly columns on how it’s time to put away the white wines and cuddle up to hearty reds for the coming cold weather. So just to be contrary, I’m trotting out my “white wines for winter” column.

Now, I love red wines. And I drink them. All year, actually, even in August—in my air-conditioned house.

So all winter long I drink whites as well—in my same house—with the heat on.

It’s nothing radical. You put ice in your soft drink all winter, don’t you? Drink light beer at 32.01 degrees? Slam down a bowl of ice cream after dinner? So you can drink chilled whites wines, too.

I mean, you gonna drink a heavy red barolo wine with a delicate poached cod? I don’t think so.

White wines are flexible. A crisp, lean pinot can nicely match lightweight sushi, or cut through the rich creaminess of fettuccine Alfredo. A rich, oak-barrel-fermented chardonnay can match a creamy risotto or even accompany a decadent dessert of flan.

Here are some good winter whites and the foods that go with them—lighter foods, maybe, but still things you eat all winter long.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

2015 Rodney Strong Sauvignon Blanc, “Charlotte’s Home Estate Vineyards,”

Pairing: Fermented in stainless steel for lean crispness, this wine goes well with light seafood and goat cheese.

2013 La Follette Chardonnay, “Sangiacomo Vineyard,” Sonoma

Pairing: Fermented in oak barrels for richness, this opulent wine goes well with such super-rich dishes as lobster pot pie and a four-cheese macaroni casserole.

2014 Carmel Road Unoaked Chardonnay, Monterey, Calif. (100 percent

Pairing: Fermented in stainless steel for lean crispness, with no oak barrel aging, this wine goes well with roasted vegetables, fish stews and light chicken dishes.

RECOMMENDED

2015 Alamos Torrontes, by Catena, Salta, Argentina (100 percent torrontes): Lightly sweet, crisp, with aromas and flavors of mangos and pineapples; $13.

Pairing: With its hint of sweetness, this wine goes well with spicy Thai and Chinese dishes.

2015 Bodega Argento “Cool Climate” Pinot Grigio, Mendoza, Uco Valley, Argentina

Pairing: Fermented in stainless steel tanks for lean crispness, this wine goes well with chicken salad and that poached cod.

2015 Pieropan Soave Classico DOC, Italy (85 percent garganega, 15

Pairing: The white wine of Venice, this goes well with rich Italian scampi and roast chicken.

2014 Vionta Albarino White Wine, by Ferrer Family Wines, DO

Pairing: Fermented for crispness and intense fruit, this wine goes well with shellfish, sushi, simple broiled fish and seafood stew.

Lead photo: Getty Images

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This story was originally published October 19, 2016 at 12:21 PM with the headline "Red wines are hearty, but try these white wines this winter."