This uncommon Italian-style red grape is grown mostly in California’sNapa Valley and Mendocino County. Most Charbono wines are very dark purple in color and hold a distinct aroma of plums and other sharp flavors. The full-bodied wine is also very tannic and acidic, and can take more than five to ten years to develop. Summers Winery, located in Napa Valley, is one of the largest producers of this varietal in the United States and possibly in the world.
While beer is associated more with cooling, winter beers are fuller in body and maltier than standard styles, giving imbibers that warm, fuzzy feeling.