The best apres-ski wines match the moment: crowd-pleasing values for the cabin party, California Cabernet to warm up after the slopes, Port by the fire and Champagne in the hot tub.
Whether you're shredding the slopes or live to apres all day, there's nothing better than wrapping up a day on the mountain with a fantastic glass of wine at the lodge. Planning your own ski week wine list? Here are our top picks for the ultimate apres adventure.
With a great price and an even better taste, these apres-ski wines will impress everyone at the table, yet are affordable enough that you can mix and match a few favorite reds and whites to pair with each course. Treat your guests to one or more of these special bottles and they'll be sure to thank you. Lift tickets, anyone?
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Ski week dinner partyWhether you're heading back to the cabin for a night of lounging or a night of celebrating, our ultimate values list has everything you need to keep the party going. Stock up on your favorite easy-drinking styles and don't feel bad if you finish them quickly.
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Ski week after party
Rich, bold and warming thanks to the higher alcohol that comes from a warm growing climate. Call us cliche for sticking with Cabernet on ski week, but it's a classic winter wine for a reason. California Cabs also pair well with the hearty meals you'll need to refuel for day two on the slopes.
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Warming up after skiingThere's just something dignified about a glass of Port by the fire after a long day. Enjoy this sweet, fortified red wine to warm up from the inside out, and resist the urge to stick out your pinky.
Sipping firesideRomantic or celebratory (depending on your company!), Champagne is the ideal apres-ski wine to sip while you soothe tired muscles after a day in the snow. The icy temps outside the water will keep it crisp and cold. Cheers to a great run!
Sipping in the hot tub
Even if you aren't riding a gondola up the Alps, you can still embrace the taste with a wine from Piedmont, Italy. The region is backdropped by the famed mountain range, with its alpine terroir adding a little ski week wonder to every sip. Nebbiolo, with its high acid and strong tannins, is our top choice for cold weather, but there are plenty of delicious styles to try.
An alpine adventureWe can't all make a trip to The Little Nell, the famed five-star Aspen resort with an award-winning wine program, but we can try to drink like we could. To add a little luxury to your ski week, cap off a perfectly powdery vacation with a top rated Bordeaux.
A five-star ski weekIt doesn't get more rugged than the Australian Outback, but surrounding that legendary landscape are refined vineyards producing delicious, winter-ready wines. Feel at one with nature with a Shiraz to sip while you contemplate the chilly wonder of the mountains.
Connecting with nature