Más Vino Please Fall Wine Line Up (newsletter #12)
Somebody said it's Sober October? I don't know them.
There is no season I love more than autumn. And that’s probably because it’s non-existent here in LA and the heart wants what it does not have.
Fall always feels like a chance to reset before the hustle of the holidays and spend some time indoors, cozying up with books and music you’ve been putting off all summer. Even if it’s perpetual summer in LA.
With the change of season, also comes a (slight) change in wine preference. In the summer, I lean towards crisp, chug-able and refreshing wines. But in the fall, I want wines that feel like a cozy sweater and require you to spend a little more time with. I look for spices and earthy notes like tobacco or leather. When we cook in the fall and winter, food is heartier, deep in flavor, slower cooked: all things that require a wine that can stand up to that kind of comfort.
With that in mind, I’ve curated my first Más Vino Fall Wine List! The wines listed here evoke familiar feelings of fall, when all I want is a hot mug and a cozy spot on the couch. These are wines that inspire me to take things a little bit slower, savor them, and share them with a friend. I hope you enjoy!
Pradarolo Vej: Italian’s do skin contact unlike anywhere else. This one is floral and dynamic. Dried flowers and preserved stone fruits. Like taking the best parts of spring and summer and storing them so you can savor them during the colder months.
Ciro Caparra Siciliani: I thought about adding a Nebbiolo to this list (it’s a classically fall wine, aged to perfection, pairing with a variety of hearty foods on cold nights) BUT I live in LA and it’s still 90 degrees, and Nebbiolo (Barolo) didn’t seem to match for a characteristically warm autumn. Instead, I went with it’s cousin: Ciro from Calabria. This earthy Sicilian wine can stand up to the dishes we dream of, but still appropriate for warmer afternoons, with notes of dark fruit and a bit of leather.
Tessier Syrah: This Syrah is sexy like a pair of flared velvet pants your bought and like to wear around the holidays. It’s smooth and decadent feeling, but still badass with a little edge. They can turn any occasion into something romantic and worth celebrating. It’s a wine meant to be enjoyed fireside on a chilly night when the leaves have fallen and trees are bare.
Say When When (Pinot Noir): Earthy, slightly funky. Deep and rustic. Feels like a crisp afternoon, right after the sun dips below the horizon and everything glows reddish gold and crunchy leaves cover the ground.
SPECIAL MENTIONS & other wines I think might fit this mood:
SONA Chardonnay (Say When), Brain De Folie Chenin Blanc (Les Vignes Du Mortier), and Prisa Mata Spanish Red Blend of mostly Tempranillo (Naranjuez).
Now cozy up with some of your favorite books, movies, and blankets! I heard it was gonna rain this week. ;)
