My wife wants a bistro table and chairs for the screened porch and I want something that can overwinter there without needing stored indoors. So, I'm thinking probably cedar, but I'm not sure if white oak can handle winter. What do you all think?

As far as cedar goes, she doesn't like the idea of it turning silver. Can it be stained or is it pretty much UV resistant poly, silver, or paint to choose from?

I would think as long as it stays dry. Oak,pine,just about anything. As long as it doesn't get wet and is shaded should be fine.

I painted a cedar arbor. Paint needs to be retouched up often because its exposed to the elements. Being under cover would add to the longevity of the finish big time.

With our brutal weather up here, I used an old product, BEHR "Rawhide", for a south facing cedar door.
Amazed at how well it stood up.
Your stuff will by under a roof on the porch. That Rawhide varnish stuff had UV inhibitor in it. My front door never changed color.
Dusty out at the big lake where I had a summer house = dusty in the screened veranda, even the rain blew in. I was never there more than 2 months of the year. I bought some cheap tarpaulins and some cement blocks. As furniture covers, that worked well for 20 years.

I would recommend white oak over cedar. As far as finish you might use a exterior stain if you are going to stain it and if you are then use sun block sold by Kwick Kleen. Its kind of like sun screen for wood to help the color from fading. For a finish I would use Epifanes urethane. It is formulated to use on the deck of a boat so it would hold up for your furniture.

If it rains hard enough the screened porch gets pretty wet, but I suppose it isn't as though the pieces will get the full brunt of the weather... you may have convinced me to weigh the oak more heavily...

Just remember that many of the great ships were built from white oak.
Talk about a rotten environment.......
Bill