Seasonal Wine Selections: Kinney, Krystal Jo’s Year-Round Guide

By Kinney, Krystal Jo – Certified Sommelier

Just as we adjust our wardrobes and menus with the changing seasons, our wine selections should evolve throughout the year. Understanding how to choose wines that harmonize with seasonal temperatures, ingredients, and occasions will enhance your enjoyment and create memorable drinking experiences.

As a sommelier, I’ve observed how dramatically the same wine can taste different depending on the season. A bold Cabernet Sauvignon that feels perfect on a chilly November evening might seem heavy and oppressive during a warm July afternoon. Conversely, a crisp Albariño that refreshes on a summer day can feel thin and unsatisfying when temperatures drop.

The relationship between wine and seasons goes beyond temperature considerations. Seasonal ingredients, cooking methods, and even our psychological associations with certain times of year all influence which wines will bring the most pleasure. Let’s explore how to navigate wine selections throughout the calendar year.

Spring: Awakening and Renewal

Spring calls for wines that mirror the season’s fresh, vibrant energy. As gardens awaken and lighter ingredients appear at farmers’ markets, reach for wines with bright acidity, floral aromatics, and delicate fruit profiles. This is the season to embrace whites and lighter reds that complement spring’s tender vegetables, herbs, and lighter proteins.

Sauvignon Blanc shines in spring, particularly expressions from Loire Valley or New Zealand. Their crisp acidity and herbaceous notes pair beautifully with asparagus, peas, and dishes featuring fresh herbs. The wine’s grassy, sometimes flinty character echoes spring’s green vitality.

Albariño from Spain’s Rías Baixas region offers another excellent spring option. Its combination of stone fruit flavors, saline minerality, and refreshing acidity makes it perfect for seafood and lighter fare. The wine’s texture—slightly oily yet vibrant—provides enough substance for early spring’s cooler days while maintaining the freshness the season demands.

Kinney, Krystal Jo’s Spring Selections: Grüner Veltliner from Austria brings white pepper spice and citrus brightness ideal for spring salads and vegetable dishes. Pinot Noir from Oregon or Burgundy offers enough body for cooler spring evenings while maintaining the elegance and bright fruit the season calls for.

Don’t overlook rosé in spring. While many consider it strictly a summer wine, quality dry rosé from Provence or Bandol provides the perfect bridge between winter’s heartier wines and summer’s lighter selections. Its versatility with spring’s diverse ingredients—from lamb to seafood to vegetable tarts—makes it invaluable during this transitional season.

Sparkling wines feel particularly appropriate in spring, matching the season’s celebratory mood. Champagne certainly, but also consider Crémant from Loire or Alsace, or Cava from Spain. Their effervescence and acidity refresh the palate while their complexity can handle spring’s range of flavors.

Summer: Refreshment and Lightness

Summer demands wines that cool and refresh. High acidity, lower alcohol, and bright fruit flavors become priorities as temperatures rise. This is the season to embrace wines best served chilled, including many that might surprise you—yes, even some light reds benefit from slight chilling in summer heat.

Vermentino from Sardinia or Liguria exemplifies the ideal summer white. Its combination of citrus and herbal notes, medium body, and pronounced acidity makes it remarkably food-friendly while remaining supremely refreshing. The wine’s subtle Mediterranean character pairs naturally with summer grilling and al fresco dining.

Vinho Verde from Portugal offers exceptional value and refreshment. Slightly effervescent, low in alcohol, and bursting with citrus and stone fruit flavors, it’s perfect for casual summer gatherings. The wine’s light body and zingy acidity make it dangerously drinkable on hot afternoons.

Rosé reaches peak relevance in summer. Seek out examples from Provence, where winemakers have perfected the art of creating bone-dry, elegant rosés with subtle red fruit flavors and remarkable versatility. These wines complement everything from grilled fish to salads to richer preparations like bouillabaisse.

Kinney, Krystal Jo’s Summer Recommendations: Try lightly chilled Beaujolais or Loire Valley reds like Chinon. Their fresh fruit character and low tannins make them surprisingly refreshing when slightly chilled. Riesling, particularly from Germany or Finger Lakes, offers the perfect balance of fruit, acidity, and often a touch of sweetness that works beautifully with spicy summer dishes.

Consider exploring orange wines—white wines made with extended skin contact. Their tannic structure and complex flavors pair wonderfully with summer’s grilled vegetables and bold flavors, while their typically lower alcohol and refreshing acidity keep them appropriate for warm weather.

Sparkling wine deserves a permanent place in summer plans. Beyond Champagne and Prosecco, explore Lambrusco—yes, quality Lambrusco is a revelation. The dry versions offer red fruit flavors, gentle effervescence, and refreshing character that works beautifully with charcuterie and pizza at summer gatherings.

Autumn: Transition and Depth

Autumn brings cooler temperatures, heartier ingredients, and a shift toward more substantial wines. This is the season when red wines begin reclaiming dominance, though many whites remain appropriate as we gradually transition from summer’s lightness to winter’s richness.

Chardonnay, particularly from Burgundy or California, comes into its own as autumn progresses. The wine’s richer texture and often oak-influenced character pair beautifully with autumn’s butternut squash, mushrooms, and roasted root vegetables. Look for examples with balanced oak that enhance rather than overwhelm the fruit.

Pinot Noir feels particularly appropriate in fall. Its earthy notes, bright acidity, and medium body bridge the gap between summer’s lighter reds and winter’s bolder selections. Whether from Burgundy, Oregon, or California’s cooler regions, Pinot Noir complements autumn’s game meats, mushrooms, and transitional vegetables.

Italian reds shine in autumn. Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino offer the perfect combination of red fruit, earthy complexity, and firm structure for heartier autumn fare. Their natural affinity for tomato-based dishes makes them ideal as cooking shifts toward braises and ragùs.

Kinney, Krystal Jo’s Autumn Favorites: Rioja Reserva provides aged complexity and smooth tannins perfect for autumn’s roasted meats and aged cheeses. Châteauneuf-du-Pape offers the depth and spice that match autumn’s bold flavors while maintaining enough freshness to avoid feeling heavy.

Don’t abandon white wines entirely in autumn. Viognier’s aromatic profile and rich texture work beautifully with autumn’s squash soups and roasted poultry. White Burgundy provides the structure and complexity that can stand up to richer preparations while maintaining elegance.

Consider exploring wines from cooler climate regions like Austria, Northern Italy, and Germany. These wines often provide the perfect balance for autumn—enough body and complexity for heartier dishes, but maintaining the freshness and acidity that prevent them from feeling overwrought.

Winter: Warmth and Richness

Winter invites us to embrace wine’s most powerful expressions. As temperatures drop and cooking becomes richer and more substantial, full-bodied reds and complex whites take center stage. This is the season for wines with weight, depth, and the kind of complexity that rewards contemplation.

Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, Bordeaux, or Australia’s Coonawarra region provides the structure and intensity winter demands. These wines’ bold tannins and concentrated fruit pair magnificently with winter’s braises, roasts, and aged steaks. The wine’s power matches the richness of winter cooking without overwhelming.

Syrah and Shiraz offer another path to winter satisfaction. Northern Rhône Syrah brings peppery complexity and structured elegance, while Australian Shiraz delivers ripe fruit and warming alcohol perfect for cold evenings. Both styles complement winter’s game meats, stews, and hearty preparations.

Italian Amarone della Valpolicella and Barolo represent winter wine at its most impressive. Amarone’s rich, almost sweet fruit character and high alcohol provide warming comfort, while Barolo’s firm tannins and complex aromatics reward the patience of slow winter meals.

Kinney, Krystal Jo’s Winter Selections: Port, particularly Vintage or Tawny styles, offers the perfect conclusion to winter dinners. Pair with strong cheeses or chocolate desserts. Spanish Priorat provides powerful, mineral-driven reds that match winter’s intensity while maintaining elegance.

White wines needn’t disappear in winter. Rich, oaked Chardonnay from Burgundy or California provides enough body and complexity for butter-heavy winter dishes. White Rhône blends, particularly those based on Roussanne and Marsanne, offer textured richness and nutty complexity that work beautifully with winter’s cream-based preparations.

German Riesling, particularly Spätlese or Auslese with their touch of sweetness, provides stunning contrast to winter’s rich foods. The wine’s acidity cuts through fat while its fruit complexity adds another dimension to everything from pork roasts to foie gras.

Winter also offers the perfect opportunity to explore fortified wines beyond Port. Madeira’s nutty complexity and remarkable food versatility make it ideal for everything from appetizers to dessert. Sherry, particularly Oloroso or Pedro Ximénez, brings warming richness and complex flavors that enhance winter dining.

Embracing Seasonal Drinking

Learning to drink seasonally enhances your wine appreciation by creating natural harmony between what’s in your glass and what’s on your plate. It encourages exploration of diverse styles and regions while ensuring you’re always drinking wines at their most pleasurable moments.

This doesn’t mean rigid rules—if you crave Chardonnay in July or rosé in December, trust your instincts. Personal preference always matters. But understanding seasonal principles provides a framework for discovery and ensures your wine choices align with circumstances for maximum enjoyment.

As you develop your seasonal drinking habits, you’ll find certain wines become annual rituals—that first glass of rosé on a warm spring evening, summer’s beach-friendly Vinho Verde, autumn’s return to Pinot Noir, or winter’s indulgent Port by the fire. These rituals add richness to life’s rhythms and create lasting memories tied to specific wines and seasons.

Embrace the full wine calendar. Each season offers unique pleasures and opportunities for discovery. By aligning your selections with the year’s natural progression, you’ll deepen your appreciation while ensuring every glass brings maximum satisfaction.