The one thing I love about New York City is being able to walk everywhere! I walk to and from work daily to “earn my alcohol” and find when it gets cold, nothing is better than coming home and opening up a bottle of red wine! Some wines warm you right up and I have compiled them together for you below so you too can warm up this winter with some amazing reds from California, Italy, and Argentina!

2019 Metz Road Pinot Noir– Pinot Noir from Monterey California! These wines are small lot, single vineyard wines near the Monterey Bay, which has a nice influence on the vines. The coastal fog and coolness of this area really ripen the grapes well and Metz Road Pinot absolutely showcases it. This wine is full of bright cherry, raspberry, vanilla, and some citrus. I really loved how the aromas leaped out of the glass and the finish was just perfect. This wine is silky with smooth tannins and great balance that really captures the beauty of Monterey Pinot Noir. $36

2018 Enate Tempranillo- An aromatic and vibrant Tempranillo that’s from the Somontano region! This wine is striking and beautiful boasting berries, strawberry, and licorice. It’s a great wine thats smooth and youthful but ready to drink. It’s a wine you can chill if you find yourself fancying an afternoon sip, but if you’re pairing with appetizers or dinner, some tapas, or even roasted duck would go nicely with this wine. $12

2018 Trapiche Broquel Cabernet Sauvignon- A gorgeous Cabernet from Argentina! I haven’t had many Argentinian wines lately and it was upsetting me so I am so happy to have gotten this wine and it’s just delicious. Notes of cassis and raspberry, some balsamic and savory notes, that ideal Argentinian elegance, and a nice long finish are what make this wine so alluring and ideal for all your winter favorites. I just loved the body on this wine and how the fruit on the nose follows through to the palate, creating a very seductive wine sipping experience. $17.99

2015 Albino Armani Cuslanus Amarone Della Valpolicella- I just love a good Amazon when I walk home after work on a chilly winter evening! This one is from the Valpolicella region and shows notes of dark berries, coffee, and chocolate with nice freshness on the palate. The winery states, “Our Amarone Riserva is named after Cuslanus, an ancient god worshipped in Valpolicella at the time of the Etruscans more than 2000 years ago. Cuslanus was connected to the idea of the passing of time, just as this wine needs a long time to fully express its complex personality that evolves into balsamic and ethereal scents, endowing each glass with elegance and balance.”- Albinoarmani.com. Overall this wine is just a gorgeous Amarone you won’t want to miss out on! $70

2018 Charles Woodson’s Intercept Red Blend– Made from some awesome vineyards in Paso Robles, California this blend is a perfect one of Petit Syrah and Zinfandel with a bit of Petit Verdot. This wine is so layered and smooth yet complex, with wonderful fruit and amazing balance. Notes of cooked berries some savoriness, and herbs linger in the nose and follow through to the palate. It’s full bodied and aged in oak for 18 months and is just really ideal for all your sipping needs this season. $20

2016 Alauda Ruffino Toscana- An incredible and intense wine with striking notes of red fruit, balsamic, and vanilla. It’s elegant yet structured made with Cabernet Franc and Colorino grapes and has smooth tannins and a lingering finish. This wine can age, so buy yourself 2 or possibly 4 because you will want it! I tried this wine at a dinner this year and fell absolutely head over heels for it and can’t wait to see how this one develops in the bottle. There’s some merlot in this blend and Alauda is produced only in exceptional vintage years. This represents what I love about the winery and how they produce their wines, by representing Ruffino’s artisan approach to winemaking. This particular wine aka “the final blend” is aged in a mix of new and second-use French barriques for 24 months. After the wine is then racked a final time, spending an additional 4 months in stainless steel tanks to keep the elegance of the wine, before it is fined and bottled. The bottled wine is then aged for 6 months before release. This vintage was no exception, it’s simply a phenomenal wine! $80

 

While you’re trying to stay warm this winter, make sure you have some great red wines to sip! Always remember, eat what you like and drink what you love. Please pair responsibly!