Southern Rhône Wine Picks for Winter in NZ A Cru-by-Cru Guide to the Season TL;DR — Southern Rhône Wine Picks for Winter For an easy midweek red, reach for a Côtes du Rhône from our Simply Rhône range. For something lighter and food-friendly, choose a Lirac. For aromatic structure, pick a Gigondas. For real power on a cold night, nothing beats a Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Winter drinking is not one-note, and neither is the Southern Rhône. Some nights call for something light enough to sit with a simple roast chicken, others want a wine broad-shouldered enough for venison or a long stew. Grenache is the thread that runs through nearly every bottle here, but the way it is grown, blended and shaped changes completely from cru to cru. This season, our team has picked four wines from four different Southern Rhône appellations, each suited to a different kind of NZ winter evening. In this guide: → Why cru matters → 4 wines, 4 crus, 4 different winter moods → What to cook alongside each one → Frequently Asked Questions Why Cru Matters More in Winter In summer, most light Southern Rhône reds do a similar job, served slightly cool, easy on the palate. Winter is where the differences between the crus really show up, in weight, in spice, in how a wine sits alongside a heavier plate of food. Lirac: lighter body, red fruit, floral lift, easy generosity Gigondas: higher-altitude structure, dark fruit, wild herbs Châteauneuf-du-Pape: layers of spice, garrigue and real density Côtes du Rhône: soft, warm, easy-drinking every day Knowing which one you are reaching for, and why, makes it far easier to match the bottle to the night. Four Wines, Four Crus of the Southern Rhône From the river-cooled vineyards of Lirac to the sun-baked galets roulés of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, here is one bottle our team recommends from each appellation. Lirac · Grenache blend Lafond Lirac Rouge 23/24 Complex wine combining freshness and smoothness of a ruby color with violet nuance. It offers a nose of red fruit such as cherry and morello cherry. Shop now Gigondas · Grenache-led blend Saint Cosme Gigondas 23 Concentrated layers of dark fruits—blackcurrant, blueberry, and kirsch—dominate, interwoven with savory notes of wild herbs, black pepper, and smoky nuances. A stony minerality underscores its terroir-driven personality. Shop now Châteauneuf-du-Pape · Grenache-led blend Telegramme Chateauneuf du Pape 23 Unofficial second wine of Vieux Télégraphe, it really stands on its own as a quality Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Generous, fruity with soft earthy textures, it is fresh and floral with a silky and elegant finish. Shop now Cairanne · Grenache-Syrah blend Fond Croze Cairanne 23 Discover the elegance of Fond Croze Cairanne 2021, a remarkable wine hailing from the sun-soaked vineyards of the Southern Rhône Valley. This Cairanne is a blend primarily of Grenache and Syrah, showcasing the region's rich, fruity character combined with a touch of spice. Shop now One Cru, One Temperature Not every Southern Rhône red wants the same glass temperature. Serve Lirac a little cooler than the rest, around 14 to 16 degrees, so its fruit and freshness stay lifted. Save the warmer end, 16 to 18 degrees, for the fuller-bodied Gigondas, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône. What to Cook Alongside Each One ✓ Lirac roast chicken, charcuterie, or a soft cheese like brie to follow. ✓ Gigondas lamb, venison, or anything with a herb crust that meets its garrigue notes head on. ✓ Châteauneuf-du-Pape a good roast beef, game, or a long, slow-cooked stew. ✓ Côtes du Rhône a weeknight pasta, pizza, or whatever is already in the oven. Six-Bottle Pack Not Sure Which One to Start With? Browse our full range of Southern Rhône wines by cru, or let us pick for you with the "Crus of the Southern Rhône" pack, one bottle each from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Rasteau, Cairanne and Vinsobres. Shop Southern Rhône Pack At Maison Vauron, winter is not about one cru or one style. From the river-cooled vineyards of Lirac to the higher slopes of Gigondas and the sun-baked stones of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, our team sources across the Southern Rhône year-round so there is always a bottle suited to the night ahead, whatever you are cooking and however cold it gets. Maison Vauron Wine Team, New Zealand based specialists in sourcing and pairing French wine. Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas? Both are Grenache-led, but Châteauneuf-du-Pape's warmer, stony vineyards produce the region's most powerful and dense wines. Gigondas, higher up beneath the Dentelles de Montmirail, gives a little more freshness and structure alongside its dark fruit and wild herb character. What is Lirac known for? Lirac sits directly across the Rhône from Châteauneuf-du-Pape and is one of the few Southern Rhône crus to produce acclaimed reds, whites and rosés. Its reds tend to be lighter and more approachable than its famous neighbour, without losing that Southern Rhône generosity. Should Lirac be served at a different temperature to the other crus? Yes. Serve Lirac slightly cooler, around 14 to 16 degrees Celsius, to preserve its freshness and fruit. Fuller-bodied wines like Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape are better around 16 to 18 degrees. Which Southern Rhône wine is best for a winter roast in NZ? For a roast chicken, a Lirac works beautifully. For a heavier roast like beef or venison, Gigondas or Châteauneuf-du-Pape have the structure and depth to match. What is a good everyday Southern Rhône red for winter that will not break the bank? A Côtes du Rhône like Saint Cosme's, part of our Simply Rhône six-pack, is soft, easy-drinking and well suited to midweek dinners without a big price tag.