Wines to Warm Up Your Autumn Night

With the autumn season in full swing, the leaves are all different colors and the store shelves are filled with pumpkin flavored everything. It is the perfect time to try new wines, transitioning from summer wine to autumn blends—from light, crisp, and refreshing, to dark, smooth and warming. Something to stay in and bundle up at home with.

Since home for you differs depending on the region of the world in which you live, it isn’t always easy to find the same wine. Living in Michigan, the wine selection significantly differs from the selection in Vermont or Washington. So, we are going to focus on varietals, although I will tell you some of my favorite wines, too.

CABERNET FRANC

Cab Franc, my all-time varietal and perhaps most unknown or misunderstood grape. The original grape to Cabernet Sauvignon (the cross between Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc) that was first cross hybrid in 1660s. I love this varietal with its medium-bodied wine—not too high in alcohol or acidity, and has a balanced tannin structure. Perfect wine to bundle up on a chilly autumn night, with a hint of plums, crushed gravel and chilies that lure you in the glass. Most Cab Francs start around $25 a bottle but so worth it. Most Cabernet Francs come from France, mainly St. Emilion and Loire Valley. Other growing regions around the world are Italy, the U.S., and Chile.

I discovered this wonderful grape while living in Michigan on my visit to Traverse City. Michigan is a wonderful growing zone for this undervalued grape. Cabernet Franc is valued for its ability to ripen more reliably than other red grapes and to produce wines of better quality than most hybrid grape varietals. One of my favorite bottles, to be more specific, is Cabernet Franc are Pulenta Estates XI Gran Cabernet Franc from Mendoza, Argentina. Notes of roasted pepper, eucalyptus, spices, and cashews. Honestly, tastes even better when you curl up with a book in front of a fireplace. Retailing for $45-$55 depending on the vintage.

The other favorite must be mentioned as the most under the radar wine on the shelves of any wine shop. The Blackstar Arcturos Cabernet Franc from Traverse City, Michigan. It has notes that consist of blackberries, plums and American oak. This wine will surely get you through the cold night during autumn while pairing it with a great game bird dinner. Retailing for $30 and still is a steal with the quality and great craftsmanship behind this label.

SYRAH

In a world where most people go for bigger and bolder, Syrah wines will stay in competition with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Syrah. It has a deep purple color and notes of Blackberry, Blueberry, chocolate, allspice, rosemary cured meat—all to entice you to try this perfect fall wine. With growing regions in the old world such as France and Spain and new world in likes of United States and Argentina. Once you are exposed to Syrah, the glass of spiciness and greetings of warm aromas of Oak will hook you. Price range for this wonderful fall wine is under $15 to $100 and up.

One of my all-time favorite bottles of this varietal is Domaine de Chateauvieux Cuvée Vincent, from the Rhône region of France, this is 100% Syrah and it’s dirty. The true character of French Syrah is the distinctive smell of it, that barn yard and dirty animals (trust me… it’s an acquired taste), and intense earthy characteristics of mushrooms and the woods. Sure, you’ll need to acclimate your palate to this wine if you have never experienced French Syrah, but like anything else delightful: coffee, caviar, or French kissing… once you get the palate, you’re hooked. Rare to find in wine shops, but a hidden gem that is definitely a must for a night in during autumn. I love it with a nice roasted turkey sandwich while watching a movie. Domaine de Chateauvieux Syrah will set you back only $15 if you find it. 

If earthy and dirty French Syrah is not your thing, I think a spicy Chilean Syrah will be right up your alley. MontGras Antu Syrah is one of my favorite representations of the Chile wine region. Ripe plums and dark berries, combine wonderfully with coffee, vanilla and cedar notes from the ageing oak. Although I have only experienced the aged version of this wine, particularly 2007, shops that carry it will have vintages from 2005 to 2014, a year for every semi-recent occasion. I particularly enjoy this wine while curled up on the couch watching a particular show with dragons and many battles on Sundays. Antu retails for about $20 and is truly a gem. 

MALBEC 

Malbec is known as the value grape varietal that grows in Argentina, while most of the public doesn’t know the true origin of this wonderful medium to full bodied grape. Malbec is actually French born grape that is part of the Bordeaux Appalachian, particularly the Cahors region of France. But due to the terrible weather and pest adaptation in the region, it was never shown as a premier grape. As an alternative, it found a proper home in Mendoza, Argentina in the 1800s where it grew and lavished as the king grape of the region. With tasting notes of herb, spice, flower, mineral, earth and berries this grape will bring you some serious, and I mean serious, joy on a chilly autumn night. I want to focus on 100% Malbec (non-blended) wines from France as well as Argentina. 

One of the more exciting bottles of Malbec that I stumbled onto would be Antigal UNO Malbec. This pure Argentinian Malbec wine has shown me incredible generosity with the aroma of fudge, pistachio medley, raspberry tart, and dill. More subtle tasting notes of UNO Malbec linger in the flavors of graphite, toasted almonds, and sweet jaminess—a strange combination that is surprisingly delicious. Has anyone tried that sandwich combo? No? This wine will age gracefully for many years, and cannot wait for you to taste it. I loved the combination of standup comedy and 2013 UNO Malbec. The price is amazing for the quality of this wine making, $14 to $20 depending where you find it, be sure to pick the great tin cylinder box that it comes with, just in case you’re giving it as a gift. 

When thinking about the other side of the world of Malbec, France that is, the region of Cahors comes to mind. Tiny South-West region that demonstrates tenacity when it comes to wine, in particularly the Château Haut-Monplaisir Malbec. It shows great dark fruit, intense tannins, and high acidity. Aromas of ripe plumbs, stewed currants and subtle earthiness will bring delight to watching the leaves turn for the season from the comfort of your own home. It saved one particular evening for me while cleaning and getting ready for festivities in October. It is a great set up for your night in for only $15. No matter what varietals you discover for fall, be it Syrah or Cabernet Franc, or a revisit the good old Malbec, all pair nicely with a scary movie or reading a book. It is match made in wine Heaven with autumn. Enjoy!