What makes these wines and whiskies perfect for fall?

Fall is here and with it comes cozy nights, hearty comfort foods, and the perfect excuse to explore some fantastic wines and spirits that capture the season’s essence.

Who better to help us than our favourite drinks expert Natalie MacLean, editor Canada’s largest wine site at nataliemaclean.com.

Welcome, Natalie.

Great to be back with you! Fall is like nature’s fashion week: the leaves are strutting their colours and these wines and whiskies are also working the runway on our dinner table. They’re ready to steal the show. From alcohol-free celebrations to bold spirits that warm the soul, we’re covering all the bases for your autumn entertaining.

Let’s start with something that’s perfect for those who want the celebration without the hangover. Tell us about this sparkling option.

Nozeco Alcohol-Free Rose Sparkling Wine
France

Nozeco Alcohol-Free Sparkling Wine
France

Feel free to try the Nozeco alcohol-free sparkling wine, which proves you don’t need alcohol to have bubbles with personality.

It’s made in France just like a traditional wine. After fermentation the alcohol is gently removed so that you still get all the flavour.

The sparkling white is a blend of 90% Muscat and 10% Chardonnay offering notes of fresh flowers, while the rosé is bursting with strawberry notes and made from the Airen grape.

What’s brilliant is they’ve also cut calories by 75% – it’s like having your cake and eating it too, except it’s wine and you’re drinking it!

I’d pair this with honey-glazed acorn squash soup with toasted pumpkin seeds floating on a cloud of crème fraîche, or perhaps some warm baked brie wrapped in golden puff pastry with cranberry compote.

Now let’s move to something with a lot of history and great taste – this Italian gem.

Cantine Riunite Lambrusco Reggiano 1950 DOC Amabile
Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Feel free to try the Riunite Lambrusco Reggiano 1950 DOC Amabile, an Italian sparkling red that’s all about fun from the moment you pour it with its intense ruby color and that gorgeous purplish foam. It’s a surprise party for your taste buds. It floods your senses with ripe raspberry and strawberry aromas, then delivers a beautifully balanced, medium-sweet palate that’s absolutely perfect with food.

This is the ultimate gastronomic wine; no need to save it for a special occasion as it will make any evening special! Tuesday night pasta deserves just as much love as your anniversary dinner.

It’s made in Emilia-Romagna – the same region famous for Parmesan cheese, prosciutto di Parma and lasagna. This wine was designed to pair with a wide range of dishes, even spicy foods.

Although Riunite has been the bestselling Lambrusco worldwide for years, it’s still made by the same group of small wineries that have been passed down from one generation to the next. This wine has a rich history but remains modern and stylish.

I’d pair this with slow-braised short ribs in a rich tomato ragu served over fresh tagliatelle that’s been tossed until each strand glistens, or maybe some spicy chicken tikka masala with warm naan bread that’s been brushed with garlic butter and herbs.

Moving to South America now, what makes this Argentine wine special for fall?

Trivento Malbec Reserve
Mendoza, Argentina

Feel free to try Argentina’s number one Malbec brand worldwide, in a country that’s famous for Malbec. Once you taste it, you’ll understand why.

The grapes are grown in the most prestigious regions of the country. Malbec thrives in their high-altitude vineyards in the foothills of the Andes where the temperature difference between day and night creates incredible complexity. Mother Nature has created the perfect spa retreat for grapes: hot days, cool nights, and mountain views.

This wine shows intense red color with aromas of ripe cherry and red currant with a whisper of vanilla smoke on the finish.

I’d pair this with grilled portobello mushrooms stuffed with herbed quinoa and topped with melted aged cheddar that bubbles and browns perfectly, or perhaps some dark chocolate chili that’s been simmering for hours with tender chunks of beef and a hint of cinnamon.

Now let’s head to Chile for another delicious red.

Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon
Central Valley, Chile

Feel free to try the gorgeous Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon that bursts with juicy blackberry and cherry flavors, layered with some spice. It’s bold enough for steak but easy-drinking on its own with a velvet mouthfeel. It’s the wine equivalent of that perfect little black dress: works for everything and makes you look sophisticated without trying too hard.

Casillero del Diablo has one of the most legendary stories in the business! More than 100 years ago, Don Melchor de Concha y Toro noticed his best wines were mysteriously disappearing.

So he spread a rumor that the Devil himself lived in his cellar to scare away the thieves. It worked so well that the cellar became known as “Casillero del Diablo” – the Cellar of the Devil, which is also a great tie-in for your Halloween celebrations coming up soon.

I’d also pair this with coffee-crusted ribeye steak with roasted root vegetables that have been caramelized to perfection in the oven, or maybe some aged cheddar and charcuterie with crusty sourdough bread that’s been warmed and drizzled with local honey.

Finally, let’s finish with something uniquely Canadian that’s perfect for the season.

Forty Creek Cinnamon Bun Cream
Ontario, Canada

Feel free to try the new Forty Creek Cinnamon Bun Cream: pure Ontario magic in a bottle! From the award-winning Forty Creek distillery in Niagara, where Master Blender Bill Ashburn was named Master Blender of the Year, this cream liqueur captures all the cozy comfort of a freshly baked cinnamon bun.

Crafted with fresh dairy cream and Ontario whisky, it offers seductive notes of vanilla and cinnamon. It’s basically autumn in liquid form. And here’s a fun fact: October 4th is National Cinnamon Bun Day! Not that we need official permission to eat cinnamon buns, but I whole-heartedly support this level of cinnamon bun recognition in our society.

The Forty Creek Cinnamon Bun cream liqueur is also incredible in an espresso martini, traditionally topped with three coffee beans representing wealth, health, and happiness.

I’d pair this with warm apple crisp topped with vanilla bean ice cream that’s slowly melting into creamy pools, or perhaps some spiced pumpkin cheesecake with a graham cracker crust that crumbles perfectly with each forkful.

Of course, there’s also the classic cinnamon buns for a plate to glass connection! Sometimes the stars align so that your drink perfectly matches your dessert, restoring my faith in the cosmic order of the universe.