Wine Savvy on October 15, 2014 0 Comments With fall in full swing, it’s time to enjoy a number of seasonal traditions. For many, this means pumpkin pie, building fires at night, and decorating the house for Halloween. However, don’t forget about adjusting your wine list too. While fall is known for a number of things, great wines deserve to be mentioned as well. Let’s take a look at some fantastic examples of wines that are perfect for that crisp fall evening. Best of all, they’re all incredibly affordable. Garnacha This exciting wine comes to us from Spain and brought plenty of flavors with it. A gulp of Garnacha could range in taste from soft and vanilla to rustic and fruity. Aside from a Zinfandel, Garnacha carries one of the highest natural levels of alcohol amongst wines. But its red fruit flavors (including raspberry and strawberry) keep the taste pleasant. Garnacha is a perfect choice to pair with squash recipes you may be using this fall. Popular Garnacha Wines: Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2012 Las Rocas Garnacha Vinas Viejas 2009 Lo Nuevo Sorbo A Sorbo Garnacha 2010 Artazu Artazuri Garnacha 2012 Layer Cake Garnacha 2011 Castillo de Monseran Old Vine Garnacha 2007 Shop for Garnacha Wines on Amazon.com Cariñena You may be more familiar with the French name for this grape, which is Carignan. However, this is another Spanish grape that comes to us from the legendary Aragon wine country. For a while, though, Cariñena has gotten a bad name because so many wine manufacturers used them for commercial wines and completely neglected any sort of artisanal features. The result was many people associating this fine grape with wine that just didn’t deliver. This fall, then, take a moment to reintroduce yourself to Cariñena. When done right, this wine tastes like sweet dried cranberries, but with a spicy cinnamon touch that makes it perfect for fall. Pair this wine with a delicious Kielbasa sausage fresh off the grill or with a pungent poultry dish and your taste buds will be in for a treat. Popular Cariñena Wines: Santadi Carignano del Sulcis Grotta Rossa 2007 Gerard Bertrand Syrah-Carignan Minervois 2010 MELI Carignane 2011 Shop for Carinena Wines on Amazon.com GSM GSM stands for Garnacha, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. These three grape varieties are used to make your classic southern Côtes du Rhône red wine. This has made them extremely popular, which is why you can find them planted all over the Rhône region. Although these grapes demand plenty of sunshine, it’s to your benefit, as people say that you can practically taste the sunlight in each sip. As this wine is a combination of grapes, you should expect the same from the taste it produces. Red and black fruits collide in each bottle, but there’s more to it than that. You’ll also taste hibiscus, lavender, black tea, sage, and even a bit of lemon. Calling it complex would be an understatement, but this is one of the reasons it’s a great wine all by itself, especially around a bonfire. However, you can also enjoy it with all kinds of meat and bread dishes that are perfect for the fall. Popular GSM Wines: Vinum Cellars Red Dirt Red GSM 2011 Vidal-Fleury Cotes-du-Rhone 2011 Hahn Estates GSM 2012 Yangarra Estate GSM 2011 Cline Cashmere 2012 Shop for GSM Wines on Amazon.com Pinot Bianco At first glance, this may seem like a weird choice for fall weather. But wait until you pour a glass of Pinot Bianco to enjoy with your shrimp and curry dishes. Whether it’s a soup, some recipes for the grill or something like paella, you’ll love the way this selection complements it. Depending on the vintage you choose, your glass of Pinot Bianco could taste of green apples and sage or white peach and rich pineapple. The best versions of this wine are generally from Alto Adige. Amongst other things, this region of Italy produces a thick honey-like aroma that will stay with you throughout the duration of the meal, especially because the wine is otherwise perfectly dry. Popular Pinot Bianco Wines: Tiefenbrunner Pinot Bianco 2013 Terlano Pinot Bianco 2013 Kettmeir Pinot Bianco 2012 Shop for Pinot Wine on Amazon.com Burgundy Pinot Noir Every wine connoisseur out there has heard of Burgundy, which has its roots (no pun intended) all the way back in 200 A.D. The best Burgundy wines available go for thousands of dollars at auction. Just a few years ago, one 750 ml bottle from 1945 sold for over $120,000. Amongst other things, this is because Pinot Noir grapes take masterful craftsmanship to raise and only grow right in perfect conditions. Fortunately, you can spend a lot less and still pick up a great bottle of Burgundy Pinot Noir. However, you’ll land a wine that brings tastes of strawberries, red cherries, violets, cranberries, and tomato leaf to the table. Some even hint at cured meats, making it a perfect choice for grilled vegetables and all kinds of beef dishes. Popular Burgundy Pinot Noir Wines: Bouchard Pere & Fils Reserve Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2012 Joseph Drouhin Laforet Pinot Noir 2011 Bouchard Aine & Fils Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2012 Louis Jadot Pinot Noir 2011 Shop for Burgundy Pinot Noir on Amazon.com Nebbiolo Another Italian wine for the list is Nebbiolo. This beautiful choice gets its name from the morning fog—called “nebbia” — that permeates the Piedmont region of Italy. For fall recipes rich in protein, it’s hard to argue that a glass of Nebbiolo goes best. This particular wine smells of dried sour red cherries and rose petals, fennel bulb, red licorice, and cinnamon. It also includes a number of earthy notes like tar, clay, and truffle. All that acidity and fruitiness complements meat quite well. Popular Nebbiolo Wines: Damilano Marghe Nebbiolo Langhe 2012 Renato Ratti Ochetti Nebbiolo 2012 Vietti Perbacco Nebbiolo delle Langhe 2008 Marchesi di Gresy Nebbiolo Martinenga 2012 Shop for Nebbiolo on Amazon.com This fall, remember that your taste buds have more to look forward to then just pumpkin spice lattes. The above-listed wines are a treat to enjoy, especially outdoors, before winter arrives.
