Portions of this story were originally printed in “West Hawaii Today,” February 18, 2020

Though temperatures aren’t necessarily freezing on the Big Island this time of year, they are cooler than average, making this the perfect time to sip an unctuous white wine with luscious texture and beautiful character.

Chardonnay is a go-to white wine to warm you from inside, as the malleable variety easily absorbs vineyard characteristics while delivering a medium to full-bodied wine. When grown in warmer climates, like various parts of California, the wines offer tropical fruit flavors, mimicking some of our island favorites, like pineapple, mango, and guava, ideal for this time of year.