You change your wardrobe in Fall, Why not your wine?

by John Dunham, wine & spirits columnist

The frost is literally on the pumpkins! It’s about time you put away the sundresses and shorts, and bring out the jackets and gloves. While you change your wardrobe as the seasons change, why not your wine? In the Summertime, crisp, light wines that are refreshing, are a perfect choice, but as the weather cools, heartier wines meant to be sipped (maybe by a fire or wrapped in a soft blanket) or paired with more substantial fare, are a better choice.

Our friends at Kobrand just sent over three wines that they are featuring that we think are excellent choices as we move from Summer to Fall. We believe that wine has no season, and you can drink any type of wine, any time (all types and varietals have their place as part of a well-stocked cellar,) , But as the season turns to holiday, you’re likely to be eating heartier meals, and we like the idea of heartier wines to pair with more traditional items such as cranberries, turkey and squash, nuts, pate, wild game,etc.

Kobrand, a wine distributor that imports and markets a portfolio brands representing virtually every major wine region of the world, represents products from most of the wine regions in the world, and the three that they are promoting now each represent their terroir well. Try them as you transition from the warmer seasons to the cooler ones:

The first wine was something that most people might think of as a fall wine since that is when the Beaujolais region of France releases the famous Beaujolais Nouveau. But Beaujolais is a year round wine, generally made from the Gamay grape varietal. Kobrand describes the Maison Louis Jadot: Beaujolais-Villages 2013v (SRP $13.99) as the “classic expression of a Chardonnay from Burgundy. The wine shows floral, apple and citrus aromas and flavors, with mineral notes. It pairs well with poultry, shellfish, grilled firm-fleshed fish such as swordfish, and salads.” Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages 2013 is 100 percent Gamay. Gamay wines are light and are often served chilled like a white wine. Our tasters liked the a pale garnet color and the fruity nose featuring strawberry, current and some floral notes. As would be expected of a Beaujolais the wine was light on the palate, with not a lot of structure or tannins, but good berry notes, and a bit of rose. For all, pair it well with roast chicken, turkey, stuffing and traditional Thanksgiving fare.

From here, Kobrand brings us to the new world, with a twist on Pinot Noir. Barda by Bodega Chacra 2013v (SRP $29.99) pairs well with roast beef, salmon, and pastas with meat or seafood sauces. It is also 100% biodynamic and certified organic. The wine is from Rio Negro, Argentina, is not what most people think of when they think of Argentinian wine. In fact, Pinot Noir grows well in this most southern wine region of Argentina. Barda is lighter than most Pinot Noir’s from the Northern Hemisphere, but as with the Beaujolais, this make the wine a good fall food choice. We had our bottle with chicken, and it held up very well. Red in color, the wine had a nose featuring red berries, some spice and a hint of tobacco smoke. On the palate, light tannins framed a tart wine dominant in sour cherry with some spicy notes. This is not a powerful wine, but it did pair very well with fish, and should show well with roast turkey.

One of my personal favorites is Torrontes, which is the main white varietal of Argentina. Kobrand describes the Alta Vista Estate Torrontes 2013v: (SRP: $18.99) as “expressive and delicate aromas, reminiscent of white roses, grapefruit and pears. The palate offers fresh, intense, and voluminous grapefruit flavors, and a mineral-flinty character, along with balanced acidity. It is the ideal wine for an aperitif, paired with fish, Japanese or Thai food.” To my nose, this particular wine, which my tasting companion and I really liked, was pale yellow in color with a a nose of honeysuckle and white flowers that one expects from the Torrontes varietal. The wine had a light minerality, and was somewhat citrusy with florals also on the palate. We had the wine with salmon and trout and it paired spectacularly. In fact Torrontes is a varietal that we have recommended in the past for every well stocked cellar. The grape generally produces a wine that is similar to the more common Viognier varietal with high acidity making it good for food, but with a very floral and festive nose. Torrontes does not age well; however, and should be drunk young, but sinceFal is here, try one with some grilled salmon or at that end of the season lobster dinner.

The great thing about the wine distribution system in America is that fine wines from all over the world can be found in nearly any package store or on most good restaurant wine lists. Why not try one of these selections this Fall? Every season is a good time to try something new, and you can’t go wrong with this reasonably priced trio