Five Wines For Fall
Fall is a season of cozy gatherings, hearty meals, and the perfect excuse to savor a glass of wine that complements the changing ambiance. Here are five wines to help you usher in my favorite time of year!
CANTINA MARILINA ‘SIKELE’ GRECANICO, SICILY
Natural orange wine made from 100% Grecanico (aka Soave), fermented on the skins, bottled unfiltered & unfined with just a dash of sulphur. I’m not a huge fan of skin contact whites as they can get a little too funky for my taste but the Sikele is breathtakingly fresh and clean. Aromatic on the nose, it actually smells a bit like oranges, along with notes of chamomile tea and salty-air. Brings to mind having the beach all to yourself after the summer crowds have departed. It has a beautifully rich texture, and is full of sweet & savory spices, peaches, and the same brisk-salty sensation that’s on the nose. We love it so much, we’re featuring it by the glass for fall.
DOMAINE DE BAUMARD ‘CLOS DU PAPILLON’ SAVENNIERES, LOIRE VALLEY 2018
Papillon is French for butterfly and just as the summer is morphing into fall, this gorgeous wine is the perfect transition from our palates craving light and lean whites to something with more richness and body on the palate. It’s like going from linen to cashmere. Savennières is a tiny region located on the northern banks of the Loire River. The entire appellation consists of fewer than 360 acres of vines, all planted to Chenin Blanc. Domaine des Baumard produces some of the finest examples of Savennières, including the single-vineyard “Clos du Papillon” from a site along the Loire that gets its name from its particular butterfly shape. Richly textured and layered on the palate with notes of green apples, honeycomb, soy candle wax, white flowers and vibrant stony minerals.
DOMAINE BRUSSET ‘TRADITION LE GRAND MONTMIRAIL’ GIGONDAS, RHONE VALLEY, FRANCE 2020
Gigondas often lives it the shadows of its more glamorous sibling, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, which is unfortunate because it often delivers the same robust drinking experience for a fraction of the price. In fact, The Southern Rhône Valley in general is a goldmine for value-seeking wine lovers. In addition to Gigondas, seek out Vacqueyras, Sablet, Ventoux and Rasteau. Typical of the region, the Tradition le Grand Montmirail is a blend of mostly Grenache with a splash of Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault. We love this for fall because it pairs beautifully with anything made in a Les Creuset - think hearty meat stews and roasts like our slow-braised short ribs.
R. LOPEZ DE HEREDIA ‘VINA TONDONIA’ RESERVA RIOJA, 2010
It’s hard to believe this wine is nearly 14 years old! This is classic, definitive, old-school Rioja at its best. A blend of all estate grown fruit from the “Tondonia” vineyard (almost all Tempranillo with a bit of other local varietals), carefully aged in American oak barrels for six years before being bottled and further matured in their cellars. Smells like the epitome of autumn with aromas of crushed fall leaves, forest floor, smoke, pipe tobacco and leather. We can’t think of a more quintessential red wine for fall.
Retailer link (this is the 2011 vintage as the 2010 is sold out)
LE VOLTE DELL’ ORNELLAIA, TUSCANY 2021
We love a good deal and here is an exemplary second-label from the Super Tuscan house of Ornellaia for under $30! While it’s not an exact dupe for their top-of-the-line Ornellaia (which sells for hundreds of dollars), it is made with the same legendary attention to detail and commitment to quality. So what exactly is a Super Tuscan? Back in the 1980s some renegades discovered that Tuscan soils and weather were perfect for growing grapes usually grown in Bordeaux like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Problem was these grapes were not allowed by the local Chianti governing body and were forced to settled for the lower “table wine” designation. These so-called “table wines” were adored by wine critics and the prices drove up leading to the moniker “Super Tuscan”. Today, Super Tuscans generally refer to Tuscan wines made with Bordeaux varietals.This juicy and forward blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese is ideal for everyday drinking and can be enjoyed with everything from pastas and pizza to grilled meats and veggies. We’re featuring this as glass pour for fall.
*Retailer links are provided as a courtesy only and not meant as an endorsement. We do not receive commissions or have any direct affiliation with the companies indicated.