What Wines to Drink in Winter—the Best Winter Whites

Don’t be a creature of habit this winter when selecting wines for your sipping enjoyment. If you tend to reach for a big, bold red, we applaud you, but we also urge you to take a look at—and taste—winter whites.

More specifically, consider whites that hold up to winter’s heartier dinners and holiday feasts. Scope out these recommendations from Penns Wood Winery’s friendly tasting room staffers:

Traminette
Double Gold Medal: 2015 International Eastern Wine Competition
Gold Medal: 2015 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition
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Part off-dry, slightly sweet Gewürztraminer, this hybrid grape boasts sweet smells of honey and lemon zest plus ample minerality on the finish. Easy to drink, its crispness cuts through sometimes-heavy holiday favorites like roasts, buttery mashed potatoes and sweet casseroles.

Grüner Veltliner

Quite dry and crisp, this white brings green apple, lime and white pepper with the acidity needed to tackle winter’s comfort foods like mac and cheese, stews and roasted chicken.

Chardonnay Reserve
Double Gold Medal: 2015 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition

Full-bodied to stand up to big dishes, our chard tastes of green apple and nutmeg, with a bit of toasted nut and vanilla creaminess at the end. It surprises by pairing well with filets and chops, creamy seafood dishes and hearty sides.

Bancroft Riesling
Silver Medal: 2015 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition
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A rainbow of full-flavored goodness including honey, floral and citrus follows ripe pear and jasmine aromatics. Its slightly sweet finish is perfect with rich desserts (any dessert!).

Stop by our tasting room and chat with our experienced staff. They’ll be delighted to assist you by matching wines to any occasion and showing off our surprising cold-weather whites. Before you go, check our Gift Guide for unique and fun ideas. And remember, our Wine Club makes a fantastic gift for the wine lovers on your list. Cheers to a delicious holiday season, a white (wine) winter and a tasty new year.

Penns Woods Winery is a family-run Pennsylvania winery. With more than 40 years of experience in the wine business, winemaker Gino Razzi and his daughter, Carley Mack, produce award-winning wines from Pennsylvania-grown grapes. Penns Woods wines can be found in restaurants throughout Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs. Stop in to your local state store and pick from a limited selection of wines, or visit our tasting room for the full offering. The tasting room in Chadds Ford provides an all-around vineyard experience and hosts live music, food and wine pairings and other exciting events each weekend. Score Penns Woods Winery news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter today!

--Nina Malone

Photos by Alexandra Whitney Photography.