Fireside Reds & Comfort Wines: Full-Bodied Reds for Cold Nights & What to Look For

What is a “Fireside” or “Comfort Wine”?

These are the wines we instinctively reach for when we’re winding down, seeking comfort, or sharing cozy moments during the cooler months. The name says it all – you can easily imagine sipping them next to a fireplace, curled up with a good book, or with a hearty meal.

So what prompts us to reach for these wines? It’s all about comfort, and warmth. While the room temperature might not change dramatically indoors between summer and winter, our mood and what we crave certainly does. In the colder months, we look for richer flavours, fuller textures, and that slightly warming sensation – and certain wines deliver all of that beautifully. To ensure you’re equipped as the weather cools down, we’re using this article as our guide to choosing the best winter reds, as well as how to understand tannins, oak, and body.

What to Look For in a Fireside or Comfort Wine:

• Richer Flavour Profiles: Think bold, ripe fruit such as dark berries, plums, or prunes. These flavours feel more luxurious and satisfying in colder weather, adding a depth that matches heartier food and colder nights.

• Higher Alcohol Content & Structure: Wines like Shiraz, Cabernet, and Grenache often have slightly higher alcohol (just 1-2% more, don’t worry!), which gives a subtle warming effect as you sip. This, combined with their fuller body and structure, enhances that sense of coziness.

• Texture & Tannins: Tannins (more on those below) create a drying, grippy sensation that gives the wine structure and adds to the mouthfeel. This texture can feel warming and grounding – another layer of comfort in each glass.

Key Wine Characteristics (and how they show up in our picks):

Tannins

These are natural compounds from grape skins, seeds, and oak aging that create that drying, slightly puckery feeling in your mouth. In our selected winter reds (like Nebbiolo and Cabernet), tannins add body and presence, but in modern Shiraz or Grenache blends, they’re often smoother and more approachable.

Oak

Oak aging brings flavours like vanilla, spice, toast, and even cocoa. It also softens tannins and adds complexity. Many winter reds spend some time in oak barrels, enhancing their warmth and depth – think spiced plum in Shiraz or tobacco and cedar in Sangiovese.

Body

This is the wine’s weight or fullness in your mouth – light (like a Pinot Noir), medium (Sangiovese), or full-bodied (like Shiraz or Cabernet). Comfort wines tend to sit on the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, giving that satisfying, warming sensation.

Why Reds Are Perfect for Winter:

While white wines refresh and cool, reds warm and comfort. Reds have more tannins, deeper fruit flavours, higher alcohol, and are served at warmer temperatures – all of which combine to feel more satisfying when it’s cold out. Plus, they pair better with the rich, hearty meals we gravitate towards in winter.

Even if you’re indoors with climate control, your palate still craves that richer experience – and a big, bold red delivers.

Ready to try some?

We’ve pulled three of our favourite big and bold, winter-ready reds for you to try! Grab them as a 3-pack for only $180, and we’re throwing in a bonus offer of two Plumm ‘Big Red’ Glasses, valued at $80, for free.

2022 Nocturne Single Vineyard Cabernet 

Nocturne crafts single-vineyard wines from exceptional sites in Margaret River, the region where Julian Langsworthy grew up and refined his winemaking expertise. Julian’s dedication and keen sensitivity to the region’s finest fruit sources result in vibrant, stylish, and engaging wines that are a true delight to drink.

2022 John Duval Annexus Shiraz 

The Annexus series by John Duval Wines — former Grange winemaker — tells a story of very special sites. For the Annexus Shiraz, a different site is selected each year to produce this wine. In 2022 the Chapman family’s vineyard situated in the Moppa district of Barossa Valley was selected. Planted on the famed Kalimna sands, the vineyard produces a complex, age-worthy style of shiraz.

2022 Luke Lambert Nebbiolo

Is this Australia’s best Nebbiolo? Handpicked, destemmed, wild yeast fermented and held on skins for 18 days with frequent plunging and foot stomping — no temperature control. Pressed into Slavonian and French oak Foudre for 18 months prior to bottling without refining or filtrating.

Visit us in store at The Vincent Wine Shop & Bistro to check out our range and grab one of these offers while they last, or email us with your order via [email protected] and our friendly team will assist you.