Fall Wines with our wine broad Andrew Stover

Sip into Fall with Sommelier Andrew Stover, Chiefwino
www.chiefwino.com

OYA Restaurant & Lounge
www.oyadc.com

SEI Restaurant
www.seirestaurant.com

SAX Restaurant-Champagne Lounge-Burlesque Lounge
www.saxwdc.com

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Twitter: @ chiefwino and @vino50wines


Today is the official first day of Fall and as the days get shorter and nights cooler, I tend to start drinking wines with a little more OOMPH than what I might be enjoying on a hot summer day: bigger whites and light-medium bodied reds. Think wines that feature flavors of the season: ripe tree fruits, baking spices, wet forest floor and truffles/mushrooms.


Arizona Stronghold ‘TAZI’ White Blend, Cochise County, Arizona
http://azstronghold.com/tazi.html

This is a full-bodied white blend from our friend Maynard Keenan and Arizona Stronghold Vineyards. Luscious and sunny, evoking tropical fruit and cornucopia of citrus flavors, all beautifully displayed against a finely integrated structure. Very well-balanced, this has energy and lingers with a floral note on the finish. Enjoy with Caesar Salad, Thai Curried Vegetables and Fettuccini Alfredo


Girardet ’14 Vines’ Red Blend, Umqua Valley, Southern Oregon
http://www.girardetwine.com/

This is a super fun wine that just smells like fall—ripe berries and red fruits mixed with smoky oak, forest floor and truffles. True to its name, 14 Vines is a blend of 14 different red grapes, predominately based on Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah. Its great with a burger or smoked ribs and also amazing with lasagna.


Breaux Vineyards Cabernet Franc, Loudoun County, Virginia
http://www.breauxvineyards.com/scripts/winepg.cfm/_/12/2008/Lafayette/

Cabernet Franc is one of my favorite grapes—and when done right the wines are bright and spicy with notes of black cherry, forest floor and spicy pepper. Cabernet Franc is a seriously difficult grape to get right however; it ripens unevenly and sometimes tastes “green” with an overly herbaceous green bell pepper flavor.

The Breaux Cabernet Franc is almost perfect---loads of ripe dark fruit mixed with spicy pepper notes plus earth and truffles. Pairs great with game meats or hearty meat-based casseroles.

Marques de la Real Defensa Tempranillo, Navarra, Spain
http://www.siemawines.com/product-portfolio/spain/navarra/marques-de-la-real-defensa/

Another favorite fall wine is Spanish Tempranillo. These hearty reds feature black fruit flavors mixed with earth, truffles and toasty baking spice. Pair with lamb, game meats and hearty casseroles.