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The Dregs
Wines to keep you warm
Cooler weather calls for snuggly wines
11:00 am Oct 16 - by Margaret Carrigan – buzz Food & Drink Editor
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Mother Nature has thrown us headfirst into autumn with no Indian Summer in sight. So in addition to pulling out your scarves and gloves, start switching out your light, warm-weather wines for some heartier, bolder wines that can keep you warm at night.
My first go-to wine when the days and nights turn cool is a great cabernet. Cabs are dry, full bodied and easy to find in any price range. Plus, they go great with heartier hot comfort foods (I’m thinking pot roast and pasta right now). Cupcake Vineyards offers a great Cabernet Sauvignon from California for about $9 a bottle. This wine is simple and a little spicy with soft notes of berries and what I detected to be a hint of rose and black pepper. It’s perfect to drink on its own or with a meal; I had it with a nice big steak and it was awesome.
Chianti is by far my favorite cold weather friend. Also a dry, full-bodied red, Chiantis offer a lot of tannin and a lot of flavor. This is the type of wine you would want to leave age for a few years. But there’s no problem if you don’t want to wait around! Feel free to uncork a bottle now because Chianti has the ability to truly warm you up¬ its spiciness and dryness imparts an almost burning (in a good way) sensation as it slides down your throat. Chiantis are great with pizza, or pretty much anything with tomato sauce. A cheap but fantastic bottle is Bolla Chianti, which sells for about $7- $8.
For those a little more adventurous, try a Malbec. Malbecs have gotten fairly popular over the past couple years and for good reason. These wines, typically of Spanish or Argentinean origin, have very distinct and curious flavor notes. I would describe them as “earthy.” Don’t be put off by this- dirt tastes good in wine! Many red wines often have a dirt-like background notes, although many people may not realize it because of more prominent flavors. The earthiness of a Malbec perfectly mirrors within your belly that crisp, leafy smell fall brings that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy.
If you are not a red wine fanatic, never fear. Chardonnays are a great complement to a lot of fall flavors. Chardonnay typically has a much fuller body than other whites and has a soft buttery flavor that makes it taste luxurious and comforting. A lot of Chardonnays also have oak undertones, which is helps the wine to stand up to hearty meals. A surprisingly good Chardonnay is produced by Barefoot and sells for a very affordable $7.
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