Now that the summer-like heat of October has passed that perfect autumn chill is starting to creep into Vancouver Island. Let the cozy dinners commence! We’ve got the perfect wine selections to pair with all your favourite autumn dishes.
The Root of the Season
Root vegetables are back in season and the possibilities are endless! Are you considering testing out a dish of sweet potatoes with dried apricots? Amazing! To compliment the earthiness of root vegetables try a wine with a punch of fruit and acidity. Cono Sur’s Bicicletta Viognier packs a great fruity punch for its price point. It balances being jam packed full of apricot and peach with a zingy citrus acidity. This lively wine will brighten up any dinner!
Cono Sur Bicicleta Viognier
Dressed in a beautiful medium golden color, characteristic of this variety, this Viognier exhibits sweet fruity aromas of apricots, citrus and peaches, combined with pleasant oak notes. Fresh and lively in mouth, this wine, with concentrated stone fruit flavors, is fresh, tasty, full and savoury. Of great character, density and structure, with a good acidity level and great persistence.
Too Cool to Care
Cool autumn nights create heavy dews, which can only mean one thing – it’s mushroom season! These delicious fungi can make a classic side dish or a bold main event – stuffed portobello mushrooms anyone? Bread & Butter’s Pinot Noir is the perfect wine to balance out the hard to pair umami with its fruit forwardness and hint of toasty oak. This approachable wine is a real crowd-pleaser!
Bread & Butter Pinot Noir
An undeniably juicy Pinot Noir that bursts with cherries, raspberries and a touch of cassis. Subtle notes of cedar blend with expressive ripe fruits and join with soft oak to create a beautifully long, smooth finish.
A Big Bird for a Big Dinner
Nothing says autumn like a huge family dinner – the kind that takes hours to cook, warming up the entire house. Yes, we’re talking about turkey. Monte Creek Living Land Chardonnay is a lightly oaked chardonnay, letting the oak compliment the pear and citrus flavors rather than overpower them. This chardonnay matches your golden brown, crispy Brussels sprouts side dish with its toasty finish while cutting the richness of gravy and mashed potatoes with its brightness. Monte Creek Living Land Rosé, an off-dry rosé with a juicy acidity, also pairs well with your turkey dinner. This wine has crisp cranberry notes, perfect for everything you would have cranberry sauce with!
Monte Creek Chardonnay
The aromatics are lively in this dry, medium bodied Chardonnay. Pear, citrus and a little bit of oak catch you on the nose. The mouthfeel is plush and viscous, with wet stone, subtle caramel and lemon zest on the palate.
Monte Creek Rosé
Notes of fresh raspberries and Swedish berries dance on the nose and palate, unfolding into a juicy and well-balanced wine with bright acidity and a refreshing finish.
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme; classic song lyrics and an incredibly delicious chicken soup recipe! If you’re craving this warm and cozy autumn soup you need a herbaceous wine. Cloudy Bay’s Sauvignon Blanc is an expression of Sauv Blanc that’s packed full of stone fruit, tropical kiwi and passion fruit, and the herbal notes we’ve come to know and love. The bright and balanced acidity makes this a versatile pairing wine.
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc
The palate is mouth-watering, with zesty lime, lemongrass and juicy stone fruit characters melding together, underpinned by a subtle minerality. The vibrant concentrated fruit and freshness bestow poise and balance, and lead through to a long and impressive finish, suggesting a wine that will age gracefully for many years - as do all the best Cloudy Bay vintages.
It’s Always BBQ Season
It’s Always BBQ Season; or at least it is on Vancouver Island where just a few inches of snow can shut down the city. The big flavour of BBQ needs a hearty wine. Think smoky aromatics. Think jammy, blackberry plum. Think hints of peppercorn and licorice. You’re thinking of TNT Zinfandel, the classic big, jammy, blue-skinned wine grape from California we’ve come to know and love.
TNT Zinfandel
Fruit-forward flavours of raspberry jam and Bing cherry. Nice structure with supple tannins and integrated oak.
Boards instead of Plates
Need to step away from the oven? Design your own charcuterie board! Hand-picking your favorite cheeses, cured meats, dried fruits, and spiced nuts can be an exciting adventure. No cooking involved. Italian wines are known classically for pairing with food and we recommend Fantini Primitivo, a classic wine from Southern Italy. This wine compliments dried fruit with its prune flavors and matches the salty savoury richness of cured eats and ripe cheese with big bold fruit. Primitivo is the same grape as Zinfandel, and Fantini’s Primitivo is a great place to start when exploring this popular grape outside of California.
Fantini Primitivo
The Fantini Primitivo Puglia is a 100% Primitivo with a ruby red color and violet hues. The bouquet is intense fruity. Aromas of small red berries and a fine spice characterize the wine. On the palate, this Primitivo is remarkably balanced and supple tannins are well integrated.
