Sure, you can enjoy a chilled glass of riesling near the fire in the dead of winter, but why do that when the velvety warmth of a sangiovese is just waiting to envelop your senses?
After all, there are more than enough varietals to complement the weather conditions characteristic of each month of the year.
Here are 12, all handpicked from the North Fork.
JANUARY
Pugliese Vineyards
Cutchogue
2009 Sangiovese
$16.99
This medium bodied red, which Pugliese heralds as Long Island’s only Chianti, offers the ideal counterpart to your favorite pasta and tomato sauce dishes.
FEBRUARY
Shinn Estate Vineyards
Mattituck
2010 Wild Boar Doe
$30
Rich and softly tantic, this intoxicatingly spicy red wine is a good one to enjoy by the fire.
MARCH
Jamesport Vineyards
Jamesport
2007 Mélange de Trois
$34.95
Warm your bones with this smoky, Bordeaux-style blend of 49 percent cabernet sauvignon, 25 percent merlot and 26 percent cabernet franc.
APRIL
Waters Crest Winery
Cutchogue
2012 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
$29.99
Soft and vibrant, this green apple and honey-scented wine boasts a creaminess on the palate, owing to the two months it spent fermenting in French oak and less stirring.
MAY
Jason’s Vineyard
Jamesport
Golden Fleece $14.95
Fruity and bright, this semi-dry blend of cayuga, seyval and gewürztraminer is a clean, crisp way to enjoy spring on Long Island.
JUNE
Sherwood House Vineyards
Jamesport
2012 Stainless Steel Fermented Chardonnay
$18
If you don’t like the taste of oak then you’ll appreciate this refreshing white wine, which is fermented entirely in stainless steel for a crisp, acidic finish.
JULY
Anthony Nappa Wines
Peconic
Luminous Reisling
$19
Refresh your senses with this crisp white wine made using fruit sourced from the Finger Lakes, a region of upstate New York that boasts a terroir uniquely suited for producing sleek, cool rieslings.
AUGUST
Sparkling Pointe
Southold
2010 Brut
$29
Cool your palate while delighting your taste buds with this toasty and creamy sparkling wine, made from a blend of 61 percent chardonnay and 39 percent pinto noir.
SEPTEMBER
Martha Clara Vineyards
Riverhead
2010 Merlot
$22.99
Enjoy your favorite hard and soft cheeses with this easy-drinking merlot, which also pairs well with this pasta dishes and grilled beef.
OCTOBER
Laurel Lake Vineyards
Laurel
2010 Syrah
$20
Welcome the season’s first chill with this full-bodied red, which possesses intense flavors of berry, vanilla and a dash of pepper.
NOVEMBER
Lenz Winery
Peconic
2008 Gewürztraminer
$20
The perfect companion to a big turkey roast, your Thanksgiving guests will be all the more graceful if you fill their glasses with this zesty varietal with aromas of pineapple and nutmeg.
DECEMBER
Harbes Family Vineyards
Mattituck
2011 Ice Wine
$29.95
Made from estate-grown chardonnay grapes frozen after harvest, this dessert wine is a sweet way to spread holiday cheer.
