Happy Carménère Day! Did you ever notice that autumn, and in particular, November is full of these “wine days”? Some of them have no particular rhyme or reason except it’s the season for red wine, but some have a history with a date, like Carménère which was basically rediscovered on this date after being considered extinct. Turns out, while it may have been missing in its home of France, it was everywhere in Chile masquerading as merlot! You’d think someone would have noticed before, but only 30 years ago they figured out. before that, they just chalked up the differences to “terroir” to explain why Merlot in Chile was so distinct compared to Merlot from anywhere else.
Samuel Louis Smith Organic Santa Lucia Highlands Gamay Noir: Pair with Pate, Hearty Salads Morrocan Chicken
While on the third Wednesday of November we celebrate Zinfandel, the third Thursday is reserved for Gamay because it’s the day that the new harvest of Gamay Nouveau is released. And what a cause for celebration this was back in the day when they routinely ran out of wine! The Gamay grapes would be get picked in September and begin their journey from juice to wine. But not all Gamay is destined to be “nouveau” and drank as soon as it is finished fermenting. Gamay Noir is also made into wines worthy of aging like Samuel Louis Smith’s organic Gamay. These wines offer bright fruit, peppery notes, and acidity that work well with holiday meals like poultry or ham, and certainly with appetizers especially if you have pate on the table!
For Holiday Turkey Pairings, Try Old Vine Zinfandel from Kehret, Lone Madrone, Writer’s Block
After what wines pair with which Halloween candies (just say no in my opinion unless you’re pairing with a non-dry sherry or a port), or which wines to pair with paella or corned beef, the biggest question on everyone’s mind is what to pair with holiday turkey— and all the trimmings. So if what wine to pair with turkey dinner is on your mind, worry yourself no more as we have answers to your questions! And (hint hint!) we’re celebrating Zinfandel Day too!
Wine Predator Gwendolyn Alley with amphora in Portugal
Question: When is a red wine more like a white wine— complete with chewy tannins? Answer: When it is an amber wine or orange wine! These wines with their typical golden color are made using the ancient technique of leaving a white grape on the skins for an extended period of time — long enough to gain a distinctive color. Often this is combined with another ancient technique of fermenting, aging, or storing the wine in large clay vessels with different names depending on the country of origin:
in Portugal as Talha
in Italy as Anfore, orci or giare
in Georgia as Qvevri or kvevri
in Spain as Tinaja
And in English, Amphora! Happy Amphora Wine Day! Georgia, “the cradle of wine,” is the original home for using these large clay vessels which they call qvevri. In 2023, we tasted and paired three with Georgian cuisine a few days before I left for Portugal’s Amphora Wine Day which in 2025 is today November 15, and to celebrate this year, we have three more amber wines from Georgia, with two of them made in qvevri or kvevri .
Turley and Robert Hall Carignane from Paso Robles Paired with Instant Pot Moroccan Chicken and squash bacon salad
Once upon a time, and not that long ago, Carignane was the most planted grape in California. In 1971 over 25,000 acres grew with Grenache at number two with half as many acres, according to the American Association of Wine Economists AAWE. Cabernet Sauvignon trailed at number eight with Chardonnay at number nineteen. A lot has changed in 50 years. Today Cabernet is King, Chardonnay is Queen, and in their latest report on Wine Grape Varieties in California in 2024 (bearing acres). Carignane is only the 23 most planted fruit bearing grape in California with 1,838 acres— just behind much better known wine grapes like Viognier at 22 with 2418 acres and just ahead of Sangioveses (the grape in Italy’s Chianti) at 25 with 1337.
So what happened? Carignane and Grenache grapes gave a big bang for the buck for brands like Gallo. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, most wine grapes went into bulk wine that was sold in large jugs. My grandpa’s wine cellar had wines like “Hearty Burgundy” which likely had very little Pinot Noir in it, but a lot of Grenache and probably a significant amount of carignane!
Menu to Pair with Duche de Longueville French Sparkling Cider
It’s not just all things pumpkin during fall festivities but apples too which makes it cider season! While hard cider is all the rage right now, a cider on the dry side can be food friendly. If you’re trying to sober up this fall, or cut down on your alcohol consumption, or even looking to enjoy something different, why have alcohol removed beverages when you can enjoy a non-alcoholic French Sparkling Cider from Duche de Longueville that’s vivacious, not too sweet, and pairs well with fall friendly foods like apples and squash?
wine predator.............. gwendolyn alley 