Cheers: Seeing Red

The weather clearly makes an impact on culinary preferences, leading us to summon husky soups in cold weather and crunchy salads in summer. But we Louisianans like to command our own food rules, so a bowl of hot gumbo, as long as it is delicious, is just as welcome in mid-August as it is come December. In the same way, muscular red wines have year-round appeal. And why not? After a lengthy summer, most meals now are taken in the comfort of a well-chilled room. Medium- and full-bodied reds are essential mates for beef and lamb, themselves dishes with perpetual appeal. Click here to catch our picks.