What is a winter wine?

The grown-up version of your childhood hot chocolate.

Let’s be honest: winter is the season when we all quietly revert to our childhood selves. Back then, we survived December by drinking cups of hot chocolate the size of our heads -  sometimes topped with marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate chips, and sprinkles, because moderation was not part of our vocabulary. Fast-forward to adulthood and guess what? We haven’t changed all that much. We’ve simply swapped cocoa mugs for wine glasses. Welcome to the world of winter wines: the cozy, comforting, velvety drinks that remind us why we never really outgrow the need for warm, flavourful, liquid hugs.

1. Winter wines are… basically the hot chocolate of adulthood

Remember how you loved chocolate because it was rich, deep, and warm? Winter wines do exactly that -  just without turning your entire face into a moustache.

Think:

• Dark berries Cocoa and coffee notes
• Baking spices
• A touch of warmth on the finish

It’s the same vibe, just fewer marshmallows (unless you’re into that -  no judgment).

2. Vanilla is still a personality trait

As kids, vanilla ice cream felt like a whole identity: creamy, comfortable, reliable.

Winter whites work the same way: They’re creamy, cozy, and make you feel safe in the best way possible.

We’re talking about:

• Chenin with honeyed depth
• Chardonnays with a buttery kiss
• Whites aged on lees (aka adult vanilla pudding)

Winter whites are the grown-up version of “plain vanilla,” except now we call it “textural complexity.”

3. Winter wines warm you (like hot cocoa never legally could)

Kids get: hot chocolate. Adults get: wines that gently warm your chest and soul.

The grown-up upgrade includes:

• Loire reds with soft spice
• Southern Rhône blends with a gentle glow
• Fuller-bodied whites that feel like a cashmere sweater

You’re not drinking to get warm… But if it happens, well -  life is full of happy accidents.

4. Winter wines love winter food

Kids had mac ’n’ cheese. Adults have… also mac ’n’ cheese, but now it’s “truffle mac ’n’ cheese,” because we evolved.

Winter wines shine with:

• Stews
• Roasted veggies
• Mushroom everything
• Creamy pastas
• A heroic amount of cheese

Basically all the foods we pretend are “seasonal” but really just “emotional support meals.”

So what is a winter wine?

It’s the bottle that gives you the same comfort hot chocolate did at age nine. It’s cozy, warm, a little indulgent, and perfect for dark evenings when you want something that feels like a hug.

Winter wines remind us: we may have grown up, but our taste for comfort never did.