Come Over October is a new global movement founded by Karen MacNeil, author of the Wine Bible. It invites us to create unforgettable moments with the people who matter most over a glass of wine or two.
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! You know, Come Over October is proof that the best things in life aren’t downloaded, they’re uncorked. This movement celebrates wine’s 8,000-year history of bringing people together.
Our ancestors didn’t need a group text to connect, just good company and a good bottle.
I love that! So let’s start with our first wine. What makes this Pinot Noir special?
Feel free to smell or taste Henry of Pelham Painted Wagon Pinot Noir Reserve from Niagara.
Henry of Pelham Painted Wagon Pinot Noir
Niagara Peninsula, Canada
This Pinot has a wonderful backstory. When the Speck family was preparing to replant their vineyards in 1982, they discovered a broken wagon frame in Henry’s old barn. Since the property was once an inn on Stagecoach Road, they restored it as a tribute to the vineyard’s history.
That painted wagon sat in front of their tasting room for over 40 years, and now it’s the inspiration for this elegant Pinot Noir. The wine opens with gorgeous aromas of raspberry and spice, then delivers flavours of cherry with a whisper of woodsmoke. It’s fruit-forward yet complex, aged for about a year in wood to achieve that perfect balance.
I’d pair this with slow-roasted duck breast glazed with cherry reduction where the caramelized skin crackles against your teeth and the tender pink meat mirrors the wine’s fruit notes.
Another pairing would be wild mushroom risotto stirred to creamy perfection with each grain releasing its starchy embrace while earthy porcini echoes the tobacco hints or herb-crusted rack of lamb with its golden-brown crust giving way to succulent medium-rare meat that makes the wine’s subtle oak sing.
A maple-lacquered salmon with its sweet glaze forming a glossy shell over buttery flesh that plays beautifully with the raspberry tones or finally roasted beet and goat cheese tart where the earth-sweet beets and tangy cheese create a gorgeous contrast to the wine’s spice.
Now here’s the fun part. I’m going to challenge you with a game. After I describe each wine as I just did for this Pinot, you’ll guess which of the five types of people who would absolutely love to be invited over to taste it with you.
So who do you think would love to taste Pinot?
Spontaneous Socialite
Travel Trendsetter
History Hobbyist
Literary Lover
Talented Teacher
Excellent guesses! You’re absolutely right about history buffs. They’ll be fascinated by the tale of restored wagons and stagecoach roads, while appreciating this wine’s complexity, depth and backstory.
What’s our second wine?
Animus Vinho Verde
Douro, Portugal
This zesty gem is from the famous Vinho Verde region of Portugal. It has the soundtrack and smell of fall rain on cobblestones along with vibrant notes of lime zest. The light fizz adds festive charm while the crisp acidity cuts through rich fall dishes beautifully.
Animus is produced by Vicente Faria Vinhos, a winery committed to farming organically and reducing its environmental impact. They’re saving the planet one delicious bottle at a time. We’re helping by drinking it. Teamwork.
At just $11.95, it’s perfect for those spontaneous fall get-togethers when friends drop by. You’ll look effortlessly prepared, even if your fridge just has hummus and hope.
Pair with roast chicken or butternut squash risotto.
Now what’s this next bottle?
Feel free to smell or taste Frontera After Midnight from Chile.
Frontera After Midnight
Chile
This is such a fun wine with an evocative name! It’s a smooth, approachable red blend from Chile’s Central Valley that captures that magical late-night energy when conversations get deeper and the stories flow easier.
It offers juicy aromas of blackberry and plum with a touch of vanilla and spice, then delivers soft, rounded flavours of dark cherries and mocha. It’s brooding, mysterious, and sultry — the kind of wine that makes you want to lower your voice and whisper words like “lingering finish.”
The tannins are gentle and the body is medium, making this incredibly easy to drink and enjoy.
Here’s an interesting fact: Chile’s wine industry benefits from unique geography. It’s protected from vineyard pests by the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Andes Mountains to the east, the Atacama Desert to the north, and glaciers to the south. This natural isolation means Chile never suffered from phylloxera, the root louse that devastated European vineyards in the 1800s.
I’d pair this with wood-fired pizza with caramelized onions and aged cheddar where the charred crust provides textural contrast to the melted cheese’s stretchy richness.
Or try classic beef chili simmered for hours until the meat practically dissolves into smoky, spicy comfort or grilled chicken tacos with fresh salsa where lime-brightened tomatoes cut through the wine’s fruitiness while cumin and cilantro add aromatic complexity or chocolate brownies still warm from the oven with their crackly tops giving way to fudgy centers that make the wine’s mocha notes shine.
Another option is loaded nachos with layers of melted cheese, jalapeños, and sour cream creating that perfect late-night indulgence that pairs with the wine’s easygoing nature.
Now, with that smooth, approachable character and that evocative name, who are you gonna call to come on over?
Spontaneous Socialite
Travel Trendsetter
History Hobbyist
Literary Lover
Talented Teacher
The name is After Midnight, so definitely night owls! And perhaps spontaneous friends?
Yes, the Spontaneous Socialite who comes alive after sunset and always suggests one more glass or one more story because this wine literally celebrates after-hours magic and those moments when the best conversations happen and suddenly it’s 2 AM and you’ve solved world peace.
This is the friend who texts at 8 pm asking if you’re free right now because this wine doesn’t need decanting or special treatment, just open and pour. It’s ready for whatever the evening brings. Mmmm!
That’s exactly the kind of wine I need in my life! What’s our fourth selection?
Feel free to smell or taste Henry of Pelham School House Cabernet-Merlot from Niagara.
Henry of Pelham School House Cabernet-Merlot
Niagara Peninsula, Canada
We’re back in Niagara with another wine steeped in family history. The dark red stone for this blend’s namesake schoolhouse was quarried from atop the Escarpment overlooking the vineyard.
The Speck cousins attended that old school, and together they hand-planted their first Cabernet and Merlot vines within sight of the building. There’s even a second meaning: Paul and Bobbi Speck ran a small school in Toronto for over 20 years before founding Henry of Pelham winery.
This wine follows in the footsteps of European Bordeaux blends with brilliant dark fruit flavours balanced by a solid backbone of tannin. It’s a classically inspired modern wine that showcases cassis, blackberry, and plum with hints of cedar, graphite, and subtle herbal notes.
Here’s a fun fact: in classic Bordeaux blends, Cabernet Sauvignon provides the structure and aging potential while Merlot adds softness and approachable fruit. It’s like a marriage where each partner brings complementary strengths.
Cabernet is the planner who books the vacation six months out. Merlot is the one who remembers to pack snacks. Together, they’re unstoppable.
I’d pair this with herb-crusted prime rib roasted to medium-rare perfection with its salt-and-pepper bark crackling against tender meat that bleeds pink juices with every slice.
Or try aged blue cheese with walnuts where the cheese’s sharp pungency and creamy texture find harmony with the wine’s structure or grilled lamb chops with rosemary and garlic where the charred exterior yields to juicy meat that makes the wine’s herbal notes sing.
One more option: wild game like venison medallions in a red wine reduction where the lean, rich meat stands up to the wine’s power or finally beef Wellington with its flaky golden pastry encasing tender filet and earthy mushroom duxelles creating layers of texture and flavour that unfold with each bite.
So, given this wine’s heritage, who would you invite over to taste it?
Spontaneous Socialite
Travel Trendsetter
History Hobbyist
Literary Lover
Talented Teacher
Oh, definitely teachers with that school connection!
You’re batting a thousand today or should I say your grammar and diction are on point! Absolutely, invite your favourite teacher or educator because the wine’s name and story honour the transformative power of education and learning. Plus, teachers deserve wine. Have you met teenagers?
This is perfect for Come Over October because teachers often pour so much into others and deserve to be invited over and celebrated. They spend all day teaching other people’s children not to eat glue, the least we can do is pour them something delicious.
Our final wine takes us back to Italy with this mysterious blend!
Here we have the Prugneto Sangiovese Superiore from Romagna, Italy, another excellent value at $20.
Prugneto Sangiovese Superiore
Romagna, Italy
This classic Sangiovese embodies the rustic charm of autumn with its cherry fruit core wrapped in earthy undertones. The wine shows beautiful balance and complexity that makes your mouth water when you pair it with heartier fall fare.
The Poderi dal Nespoli winery that produces Prugneto has been family owned since 1929. The Ravaioli family is respected for their sustainable winery design and winemaking from vineyard to glass. With the fourth generation in charge, they’ve clearly cracked the code on “family business without family drama.”
Pair with mushroom risotto or pasta bolognese.
We’re ending with a Chilean wine. What have you brought?
This is Casillero Del Diablo Devil’s Carnaval Fabulous Red from Chile at just $13.90, it’s a steal of a fall deal. You can buy two bottles. One for now, and one for future you who also deserves nice things.
Natalie, these suggestions are fantastic! Any final words of wisdom for our viewers?
This month, put down your phone, pick up a corkscrew, and invite someone over. The dishes can wait, the emails can wait, but moments of real connection? Those are worth savouring now.
Thank you, Natalie! Where can we find you and these wines online?
On Instagram, you can find me posting wine reviews and tips at:
Online, my website is nataliemaclean.com.
Posted with permission of CityTV’s Breakfast Television. Please drink responsibly.
