For many of us, the changing seasons come with changing preferences in wine. The crisp whites we crave in summer give way to heartier reds in fall and winter months. As usual, personal preference trumps everything else, but here are some general guidelines for serving wine with the seasons. To search for Biltmore wines in any of the varietals listed, visit our Virtual Sommelier. Full-bodied reds are king in winter since they pair well with heartier dishes, but sparkling wines have a starring role at the holidays, too. Our favorite winter wines: Lighter, aromatic wines help usher in warmer weather. They pair well with the lighter dishes of the spring season, too. Our favorite spring wines: Crisp white wines are great for quenching your thirst in the summer, but slightly chilled, easy-drinking reds are perfectly suitable, too. Our favorite summer wines: Note: If serving outdoors, keep your wine cool in a mix of ice and water. (Ice alone doesn’t chill as well.)

It’s also helpful to keep the wine bottle out of direct sunlight – especially if you’re enjoying a red wine, which can “cook” if it gets too warm. Full-bodied whites and light- to medium-bodied reds are the perfect complement to cooler weather and fall harvest foods. Our favorite fall wines: Beyond those seasonal guidelines, there are also a number of wine holidays. So if you’re looking for a reason to celebrate, here are a dozen good ones. February 18 – National Drink Wine Day March 3 – National Mulled Wine Day April 17 – World Malbec Day May 11 – National Winery Tourism Day May 25 – National Wine Day (also National Chardonnay Day) June 21 – National Sauvignon Blanc Day August 4 – National Champagne Day (also celebrated October 26) August 18 – National Pinot Noir Day August 30 – National Cabernet Day September – North Carolina Wine Month November 19 – National Zinfandel Day North Carolina Wine Month Menu

Did you know that September is North Carolina Wine and Grape Appreciation Month? In honor of the occasion, our estate chefs created recipes highlighting some traditional North Carolina dishes – delicious in September or any time of year. Slow-Roasted Salmon with Curry Mustard and Apple Fennel Saladtop 10 wine industry in india Seared Lamb Chops, Celeriac Purée, Broccoli Rabe, Hazelnut Brown Butterbest way to drink cooking wine Vanilla Bean Pots de Creme with Fresh Stone Fruits and Honeybest red wine in phwineThe 25 best wines for this summerDaryna TobeyWhen it’s warm outside and our focus turns to summers at the lake, grilling, and watching the kids water ski, we want different kinds of wines than we do when we’re indoors and have less to distract us. best rich red wine

We want the carefree, vinous equivalents of “Summer of ’69” or “Empire State of Mind,” and with all of the entertaining that we do this time of year, we need a pretty versatile soundtrack of summer wines to carry us through. Here are the kinds of wine you’ll want over the next few months—the best wines for nearly every outdoor occasion.best wine brands in canadaThis is your theme wine, the one that you buy cases and cases of and serve as your default house wine until the first week of September. best wine brands on facebookIt shouldn’t be too expensive a bottle—you’ll feel better about the pace at which your stash dwindles if you don’t spend too much. top 5 wine coolersIf you don’t have a signature summer wine yet, borrow one of mine: The Crossings 2014 Sauvignon Blanc Awatere Valley ($15) is the house summer white at our place. best wine to start drinking with

This Marlborough, New Zealand white is crisp and bright but not too lean, with hints of lemon, lime and grapefruit—and maybe even some melon—through the substantial finish. From the same region, Yealands Estate 2014 S1 Single Block Sauvignon Blanc Awatere Valley ($30) has racy lime, mineral and fresh herb flavors and is also quite delicious. 50 best red wines for christmasIf you're new to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, the Kim Crawford 2014 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough ($18) is a good place to start. gift of wine every monthIt's a round, approachable wine with a pear and tropical fruit rather than citrus core.top 30 us wine companies 2014My other go-to summer pours? wine club uk membership

Verdejo-based whites from Rueda, Spain. Lively acidity and flavors of pear and lime zest make Bodega Matarromera 2014 Melior Verdejo Rueda ($12) an enjoyable quaff. Sophisticated, minerally Bodegas Angel Rodríguez 2013 Martínsancho Verdejo Rueda ($22) is another very good choice.A few fresh and versatile rosés.best time of year to visit french wine countryRosés are refreshing, food-friendly and beautifully hued; best spanish white wine 2015for all of these reasons rosés also make stunning summertime hostess gifts.best wines with tasteRelatedwinesThese 5 Can’t Miss Wines Are All Under $50winesThese 5 Can’t Miss Wines Are All Under $50I prefer rosés that are fuller-bodied and flavorful rather than demure, which is probably why so many New World versions made my list. top 10 white wine brands in india

The Stoller 2014 Pinot Noir Rosé Dundee Hills ($25) has fresh raspberry flavors, with a bright citrus snap on the finish. It’s delicious, and killer with turkey burgers. Justin 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé Wine Paso Robles ($20) is tasty, racy and mouthwatering, with tangy plum and raspberry flavors. top brands in wine in indiaCase production is limited on Virginia’s Stinson Vineyards 2014 Rosé Monticello ($19), which is 100% Mourvèdre aged sur lie in stainless steel, but the wine is really enjoyable and worth seeking out for the nose—super floral, fresh garden, fresh pea—alone. books on wine marketingThe Chapoutier 2014 Belleruche Rosé Côtes-du-Rhône ($16) and the E. Guigal 2014 Côtes-du-Rhône Rosé ($16) are also both very good and are fairly easy to find. glasses of wine alcoholic

The Inman Family 2014 Endless Crush Rosé of Pinot Noir Russian River Valley ($25) is probably the most subtle of the bunch, with strawberry, mineral and fresh whipping cream flavors center stage. stic, spicy reds for backyard barbecues and cool nights by the fire pit.Hearty reds have their places in summertime, too, but the devil is in the details. wine and beer which is betterSome people like to pair Zinfandels with barbecued food, but I find most of them too heavy—and too alcoholic—for hot weather. wine and beer price listAs a rule, try to avoid overly oaked and extracted reds wines of any variety this time of year.best wine flavorTo pair with barbecue I prefer Carmenères because their spicy, oftentimes herbaceous character really complements condiments and marinades. best flavor of wine

The Santa Rita 2009 Medalla Real Gran Reserva Carmenère Colchagua Valley ($20) has a round feel, judicious oak, and pretty mint and dried chili pepper accents. Inama’s 2012 Più Carmènere Colli Berici DOC ($20) has nice black cherry and plum flavors and good staying power on the midpalate, but feels more a match for grilled steak than burgers.top ten wine producing countries 2013Looking for a few good Pinots? top wine retailers in usaCheck out our 12 must-try New World Pinot NoirsThere’s nothing herbaceous about the Brandlin 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder ($60), but it does feel like a throwback Cabernet—and that’s a good thing. best 24 built in wine coolerThere are no amped-up, creamy vanilla notes here; best vegetarian food with wine

instead the wine serves up classic, outdoorsy flavors of bramble, nut, and tangy, just-picked plum. From a longtime farmer and grapegrower who has just started his own wine brand, Tom Gore Vineyards 2012 Field Blend Alexander Valley ($40) is a burly, Petit Verdot-dominant red blend with ripe black fruit and spice flavors. good side dish for red wineIt will hold its own alongside barbecue or warm you when the sun is down, the air is chilly, and you’re getting a fire pit or beach bonfire going.buy a wine estateA few new-to-you white wines for porch swinging, poolside sipping and alfresco lunches.buy cheap wine online free shippingSummer is the perfect time of year to expand your stable of go-to white wines because there’s so little risk involved: If you try a new white and it’s just so-so, throw it on ice a little longer (cold temperatures mask flavors, which is not a good thing if you love a wine but is a godsend if you don’t). buy wine online free shipping

That said, I don’t think you’ll have any quibble with these white finds.I could drink the Dutton Goldfield 2014 Chileno Valley Vineyard Riesling Marin County ($30) all day. It is really nicely balanced, with bright but not bracing acidity, and sunny stone-fruit and tropical-fruit flavors that fade into a long finish. buying wine on sunday ukIf you prefer your Rieslings a touch sweet (and you’re trying to hold your own against your beer-drinking friends), S. A. Prüm 2009 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett Mosel ($25) is a classic. where to buy old stone winery wineIt has German Riesling’s hallmark apricot and honeysuckle notes, and a low 7.5% alcohol content that is on par with that of many craft beers. cheapest place to buy rose wine

On the next rack over from Germany at the wine shop look for the Joseph Cattin 2013 Pinot Blanc Alsace ($14). A terrific introduction to Alsatian wine, the Cattin has a steely backbone and a subtle pear-and-citrus flavor profile.Whether there’s shrimp and chicken on the grill or you just like your whites with a little more heft, Rhône varieties fit the bill nicely. can you buy wine after 9 texasThe Roussanne-dominant Anaba 2013 Turbine White Sonoma Valley ($28) has nice floral, tropical and stone fruit flavors and pretty nutmeg and graham cracker accents on the nose. can i buy wine from franceTahbilk’s 2014 Viognier Nagambie Lakes ($18) from Australia is clean and crisp, with pineapple core flavors and a dry, floral finish.can i buy wine in lax

If summer just isn’t summer to you without favorites like Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, seek out the Elena Walch 2013 Castel Ringberg Pinot Grigio Alto Adige ($23), with mineral and yellow apple flavors and some unctuousness on the palate. It’s nicely balanced and delivers a lot of class for the price. dry red wine what isThe Durant 2013 Lark Chardonnay Dundee Hills ($25) balances a creamy mouthfeel with pure stone-fruit flavors and seems a natural choice for lunch on the lanai.where can i buy dry red wineA special stash of “Thank goodness we have our house back” wines. dry red wine portugalYou’ve hosted your extended family at your beach house for the week without losing your cool. beer and wine store close to me

You’re a rock star. Whatever you may already know about wine pairings, I can tell you this: The best match for a killer bottle is a quiet house. At our place, this kind of quiet celebration means that it’s time bust open a really nice red. A few excellent wines to try are Swanson 2011 Merlot Napa Valley ($38), a polished, smooth Merlot with bright cherry and blackberry flavors along with coffee and mocha accents. red wine cold sickIt goes down so easily. best red wine to go with fishRuffino 2010 Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Gran Selezione ($42) is Ruffino’s first Gran Selezione-designated Chianti Classico, and it’s a find. best wine bar in nyc 2015Its tannins are nicely knit and its plum fruit is swathed in a bitter chocolate, iron ore and oak. best wine to have with dessert

When the evening calls for something particularly indulgent pull out the Il Poggione 2010 Brunello di Montalcino ($85), a wine that is so texturally beautiful and intricate it feels as though it were designed by an architect; there’s really nothing out of place here. Is it too young to drink? Should you open it anyway? best wine for christmas gift 2015Pop that cork, rock star.cheap red wine in spainWhat are your favorite summer quaffs? red wine glass gift boxTweet us at @fortunemagazine using the hashtag #summerwines.can you buy wine on sunday in nyDaryna Tobey lives in New York and has been writing about wine since 2001. cheap red wine nz