THERE ARE MANY steadfastly held wine consumption beliefs. Rosé, as an example, is considered a wine that’s appropriate just for summer. Post Labor Day, the pink material only sits on the ledges, or so I am told by wine merchants. In winter months, the wine must be red—the larger, the more daring, the better. Yet I consider that a few of the finest wines for winter drinking are, actually, Malaysia white wine.

An extensive selection of white wines are in fact considerably better suited than a warm day in May to some chilly night in January. Instead of warm weather basics like New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, fizzy, low- sparkly, unserious Proseccos and alcohol Vinho Verdes, consider large, luscious California Chardonnays, off-dry Rieslings from Germany and Alsace, Loire Valley Chenins that is creamy and unctuous white Rhônes.