By Kurt Wieneke
Winter has arrived in Indiana. While very little golf is played in Indiana in February, that doesn’t mean golfers need to take a break from enjoying a great bottle of wine. In each season, there are certain types of wines I tend to gravitate to. For now, especially on these frigid winter days, I like to pull three wines from the cellar that are both strong and savory.
Vintage Port
Whether you like Vintage, Ruby, Colheita, or Tawny Port, there’s always something for everyone in this category. Port wines are custom-made for winter, a season where you need warmth. And, what’s better than a fortified wine that runs about 20% alcohol in achieving warmth? 
A well-aged Vintage Port can be an ethereal experience. The taste profile is dark plums, with hints of woodsmoke, briar, fruitcake, anise, and baker’s chocolate or black pepper.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In France, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation sits toward the southern end of the Rhône Valley, close to the border of Provence. The name Chateauneuf-du-Pape literally means ‘pope’s new castle.’ It refers to a time when the seat of the Roman Catholic Church was in Avignon. Chateauneuf is basically a Cotes-du-Rhone ‘on steroids.’ It has a similar flavor to a basic Cotes-du-Rhone, but with much more depth and complexity.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a contemplative winter wine that matches well with hearty stews or roasts. The taste profile is cherry, with a complex nose of Indian spice, herbs, leather gravel, and iodine or Worcestershire.
Red Burgundy
Most all red wines in the Burgundy region of France are made from Pinot Noir. The hallmark of Burgundy (French Pinot) is its ability to age and get better with time in the bottle, as well as its perfumed, haunting nose. The better Burgundies are very expensive with prices hovering around $100, but I recommend seeking out a ‘Bourgogne Rouge’ from a good producer for around $25. The label will simply state it as Bourgogne, which is the French spelling of Burgundy.
Red Burgundy is a savory, comforting wine that’s a great match with mushroom risotto or roasted chicken. The taste profile is earthy cherry, with hints of sassafras, beetroot, cinnamon, and black tea or flowers.
Again, don’t view the winter weather as a deterrent for playing golf. Instead, view the cold conditions as a good reason to enjoy a 19th Hole experience with a glass or a bottle of Vintage Port, Chateauneuf-du-Pape and/or a Red Burgundy.
