As deep winter settles in for the next couple of months, be sure you are prepared. Not with jumper cables and proper outerwear (although both are good ideas), but with a few bottles of Opolo Vineyard’s Summit Creek Zinfandel, a bold red to pair with all manners of winter cooking (think stews, braises, roasts). The estate began with the first vines planted in 1995, and now includes over 300 acres spread across both the east and west side of Paso Robles, giving Opolo’s winemakers the luxury of drawing from fruit grown in all sub-climates throughout the region. Made predominantly from Zinfandel blended with a small amount of Petite Sirah (5%), this shows the brawny style Paso is famous for. Loaded with flavors of ripe raspberry, wild blueberry, peppery spice, and nougat. Full bodied, with a smooth texture and long finish, this is one wine that makes winter in Minnesota tolerable. - Noelle Starr, Wine Consultant