All these wines are perfectly suited to drinking at this time of the year, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying them all year round!
Pinot Noir: Fantastic grape varietal, one of my favorites. It is a light, bright easy to drink wine that pairs so well with so many leaner ‘healthier’ dishes such as Salmon, Salads, lean turkey, pork and chicken to mention a few.
The name comes from the French meaning pine and black- pine was inspired by the tight clustered pine cone shaped bunches of grapes. It is grown all over the world but it is best suited to cooler climates such as Burgundy, Oregon and Victoria in Australia. Warmer climates such as Sonoma and Central Coast emphasis red fruits ranging from cherries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries and plum whilst cooler climate offerings emphasize more rustic earthy notes such as forest floor, mushrooms, leather and spices. It is also one of the most widely used grapes for Champagne (along with Chardonnay) and it notoriously fickly, and, at times, down right difficult to grow due mainly to its thin skin.
Its origins are unclear but its home is most definitely Burgundy but considered by many to be an ‘International Grape’. France grows by far the most with the US, Germany, Moldova and Italy rounding out the top 5. There are also approx. 1,000 clones of Pinot Noir that display individual characteristics that are specifically selected to match the terroir of specific vineyard sites around the world to produce the best possible wine.
Food Pairings: Salmon, Salads, lean turkey, pork, chicken and seasoned vegetables.
Price: Ranges from $10-$20 Sth America, $25 to $100 elsewhere and up to several hundred dollars from Burgundy. Will cellar out up to 20 – 25 years from France.
Celebrate International Pinot Noir Day August 18th
Gamay: Also known as Gamay Noir is actually a cousin of Pinot Noir and is primarily grown in the region of Beaujolais which just happens to be next to Burgundy. It’s the delicate floral nose underpinned by earthy notes that is a major factor in these wines appeal with the palate displaying raspberries, black current, cherries, strawberries, cranberries and distinct notes of banana. All in all, a really interesting varietal and a wonderful wine to drink. Some of the higher tiers will cellar out 10 or even 15 years displaying wonderful depth and complexity. Regions to look for when buying a Gamey are Moulin-à-Vent, Régnié, Fleurie, Morgon, Chiroubles, Julienas, and Côte de Brouilly.
It is also the grape used in Beaujolais Nouveau which can be found on just about every table at Thanksgiving in the US. Don’t make the mistake of confusing the two, despite being the same varietal.
Grenache: Grenache is one of the most widely planted red grape varietal in the world and prior to 1970 was the most widely planted grape varietal in Australia (since over taken by Shiraz) Sth Australia holds the distinction of hosting the oldest Grenache vines in the world. Some say the 1848 plantings in Marco Cirillo vineyards in Barossa are the oldest, and others say D’Arenberg vineyards in Mc Laren Vale are the oldest. We may never know. What we do know is some exceptional Grenache and Grenache based blends, known as GSM’s come out of Australia, as well as Cote du Rhone, Spain and a dozen other countries. Another wayward child that doesn’t know its origins: it is either the Island of Sardinia (where its known as Cannonau) or Northern Spain with both France and Spain out ranking all others in plantings. The vines thrive in dry climates and are often the last to ripen and picked and can produce a degree of sweetness and high alcohol.
Flavor profile can run from strawberries, cherries and raspberries to orange rind, tobacco, cinnamon and spices and is one of the most enjoyable wines from the lighter red group. The warmer climate offerings from Spain are dominated by cherry and licorice and some sweetness and generally have alcohol levels of 15% whilst cooler climate offerings from Cote du Rhone are focused on cherries, herbs and smokey notes with lower alcohol levels and more finesse. New world offerings lean towards red fruits and floral notes dominating with spices herbal notes taking second place.
Food Pairings: Bold meat dishes with the spicy notes can prove to make an ideal pairing with spicy foods and can be chilled slightly to accommodate additional spiciness in dishes.
Price: Can range from $10 – $40 but can rise quickly to $100 (Hickinbotham, Sth Australia) $300 (Clos Erasmus in Spain) $500 (Sine Qua Non Winery, Santa Barbara) and $600 (Domaine du Pegau in Châteauneuf-du- Pape) when considering the best offerings.
Celebrate International Grenache Day September 18th
Vine to Table 