Red, White And Cooler Weather Wines

By Tom Marquardt And Patrick Darr

As the warm days of summer fade and autumn emerges, we use the time to prepare for cooler months. There are patio chairs to cover, a boat to winterize, leaves to rake and a lawn to cut for perhaps the last time. We love summer, but fall has its advantages, too, if you live in a state with four seasons.

For us, fall means football. Whether you prefer college, professional or both levels of football, it’s an exciting change as athletes move from the diamond to the gridiron. You’ll find us behind the television screen on Saturdays and Sundays with a suitable menu of simple, delicious finger food.

For us, the change of seasons means a refreshing change in menus.  We can already taste the chili, stews and soups of winter.  But before we get into those frigid months, there is time to find food and wines that bridge the gap between summer and winter. Don’t cover that grill just yet.

Transitional wines should be lighter in style – save those tannic cabernet sauvignons or barolos and look for simple and approachable red wines that complement grilled foods – ribs, burgers, chicken and pizza. These are wines to sip during a game or share with guests who are there to cheer on your team.

Italy comes immediately to mind. Its chiantis, for instance, are fruity and flavorful. Same goes for Spanish rioja, French cotes du rhones and California pinot noirs.

This weekend, get the chores done early and set aside some time to relax and watch a game. Break open a wine to serve with the dips, popcorn, pizza, ribs and burgers. Here are a few wines to get you in the mood:

Red wines

Querciabella Chianti Classico DOCG 2019 ($50). Made entirely from sangiovese grapes, this delicious wine has depth and character. Earthy aromas with a dash of rosemary and followed by ripe red berry flavors. Delicious.

Querciabella Mongrana Rosso ($20). From the Maremma area of Italy, this wine is a softly textured blend of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Juicy cherry, blackberry and plum notes. Soft tannins make it a perfect match with ribs, burgers, pizza and more.

Frescobaldi Nipozzano Vecchie Viti Chianti Rufina Riserva DOCG 2020 ($20). This wine is a bargain at 20 bucks! A deep cherry nose and flavors with a bit of spice create a smooth elegant, light-bodied wine.

Poderi dal Nespoli Prugneto Romagna Sangiovese Superiore 2021 ($20). A delightful sangiovese from Emilia-Romagna in Italy, this wine is 100 percent sangiovese. It exudes aromas and flavors of raspberry and cherry in a very tasty package.

Famiglia Cotarella Sodale Merlot Lazio 2020 ($25). This is an outstanding value guaranteed to please nearly every palate, particularly those of you who like merlot.  Deep red color with spice, raspberry and vanilla aromas. Round red berry flavors and supple tannins.

Danzante Toscana Rosso Toscana IGT 2021 ($18). A quaffable, dry red wine with sweet and dried cherry notes in a medium-bodied style. Good value.

Matanzas Creek Winery Alexander Valley Merlot 2021 ($50). One positive feature about merlot is its approachability and ripeness that blends so well with autumn fare, particularly grilled meats. This dandy has excellent structure, floral aromas and fresh plum flavors with a hint of cedar and sage.

Belle Glos Dairyman Pinot Noir 2022 ($55). Pinot noir is an ideal wine to transition into fall. It is versatile and easy on the palate. Winemaker Joe Wagner likes to chill this popular and easy to find wine. It is pretty extracted for those of you who like juicy pinot noir – lots of ripe strawberry and plum flavors, significant cola and vanilla notes with a soft mouthfeel.

Elouan Pinot Noir 2021 ($22). Also made by Joe Wagner at Cooper Cane Wine & Spirits, this is another fruit-forward pinot noir at a decent price. Juicy raspberry notes.

White wines

Campillo el Sueno Blanco Rioja 2021 ($18). This blend of traditional Rioja white grapes is ridiculously tasty.  We don’t think of white wines from Rioja, but we are now. Juicy stone fruit and citrus flavors and a fresh, pure character.

Marchesi Frescobaldi Tenuta Ammiraglia Masso Vivo Vermentino IGT Toscana 2022 ($32).  This is a wonderful alternative to sauvignon blanc or chardonnay. With a straw color and flowery nose, it shows off-white peach, apricot and lime flavors with good minerality and acidity.

Frescobaldi Pomino Bianco DOC 2022 ($23). A delightfully refreshing white wine from Tuscan wine producer Frescobaldi. A blend of chardonnay and pinot blanc this wine displays apple and citrus notes with a hint of flowers. Very smooth and easy to drink

Ontanon Tempranillo Blanco Rioja 2022 ($18). Only a handful of producers grow this unusual spinoff grape that wasn’t discovered until 1988. A natural mutation of the red tempranillo, the blanco is an incredibly lush wine with pineapple, and grapefruit aromas and ripe stone fruit flavors. We couldn’t find a tech sheet on this wine, so we can only guess that it is fermented partially in oak.

Buscado Vino O Muerto El Cerro Gualtallary Chardonnay 2020 ($39).  This is a unique spin for those of you who drink chardonnay from California or France.  From the Uco Vally of Argentina, it has white flower and herbal aromas with green apple flavors and crisp acidity.

Orin Swift Abstract California Red 2022 ($45). Classic for the successful Orin Swift portfolio, this blend of grenache, petite sirah and syrah is juicy and bold with a high alcohol content and layers of ripe fruit.  Plum, blackberry, chocolate, blueberry jam and herbal notes abound.

Wine picks

Raeburn Winery High Flier Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2022 ($30). This is a terrific value considering what you are getting in the glass. Under a veil of oak, it expresses varietal character and a creamy mouthfeel.

Doña Paula Selección de Bodega Malbec 2020 ($75). The Mendoza region of Argentina is all about beef and malbec. This is a perfect marriage for a spin on the grill. With grapes from bush wines, the yield is small and the wine big but still elegant. Black cherry and spice notes, velvet mouthfeel and a hint of mineral.