The best wines for winter

Winter is just around the corner. Some people love it, others not so much. But despite the cold, this time of year has a lot going for it. 

It's the time when everyone gets together for the holidays, both Christmas and New Year's Day. 

But it's also a time when warm, comforting dishes make a comeback. The emblematic dishes of the end of the year are raclette, tartiflette, capon and fondue bourguignonne. And of course, with every dish comes wine.

When it comes to raclette, croziflette, fondue savoyarde and tartiflette, red wine isn't the best choice; instead, opt for a white wine. Raclette cheese goes perfectly with a dry white wine. A Burgundy white, such as Bourgogne aligoté, will do the trick. If you don't like white wine, a red will do the trick. For this purpose, opt for a Pinot Noir-based wine, with a preference for Côtes de Nuits wines or a red Beaune wine .

 

When it comes to meat dishes such as Christmas capon, there are many wines that go well with this flagship dish. Indeed, it's not strong on taste, and all wines go pretty well with it, so it all depends on the sauce and the accompaniment. But to be sure you're making the right choice, opt for a Santenay, Meursault or Puligny-Montrachet white, and a Vosne-Romanée or Aloxe-Corton for the reds. 

For fondue bourguignonne, a Côte de Beaune, a Givry or a Hautes Côtes de Nuits will do the trick. For pot-au-feu, a Hautes Côtes de Nuits or a Sancerre will do the trick, as meats cooked in water don't like overly pronounced tannins.