Are your Supernotes and reMarkables out? Have you started planning the joyful gatherings you are hosting this festive season? Are you racking your brains on how to make it different than usual? We have an idea.
As your wardrobe transitions from fall into winter, so can your wines. Pair your wines as they move up the color scale, matching the mood. Leaving the chilled, white wines of the summer behind, you can start your evening from sunset shades, eventually moving onto the reds by the end of the meal. Not only does it make a beautiful dinner narrative, but also helps with tablescaping, allowing you to match the tableware and flowers accordingly.
We’ve curated a selection of wines, bites and menu suggestions that will make the party just that more unique and exciting for you and your guests.
1. Wines colored like a sunset
If you can’t let go of summer sunsets, then consider an orange wine. Orange wine is made by leaving white grape skins in contact with juice during maceration, causing the juice to absorb color and become orange.
Collegonzi Orange from Fattoria di Calappioano is made with Trebbiano and Petit Manseng white grapes. After maceration, the grape juice ages in terracotta jugs and barriques. This original and versatile white wine has a straw-yellow color with intense golden reflections. On the nose, it reveals charming aromas of white flowers, acacia, sweet spices, vanilla, and ripe citrus. On the palate, it is fresh and savory, with elegant mineral hints and a long, persistent finish of fruit, flowers, and herbal nuances.
Orange wines, being less on tannins as compared to red wines, but more than white wines, is best paired with umami flavors, and delicate or lightly spiced foods. Think seafood appetizers, Middle Eastern mezze, arancini, and croquettes.
2. The color of Rosé
Light-bodied, pale pink rosé wines are often considered summertime thirst-quenchers. But as the seasons shift, darker-hued rosés step into the spotlight. These wines closely resemble light red wines in character, thanks to extended maceration—when the grape skins remain in contact with the juice a bit longer to deepen the color before being discarded.
NBA player CJ McCollum is a known rosé enthusiast, which inspired him to create McCollum Heritage 91 Rosé. Made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes grown in Oregon’s Yamhill-Carlton AVA, this wine is bright and fruit-forward, offering notes of pomegranate and tangerine peel. Serve it well-chilled alongside savory autumn dishes.
Try this one with friends and serve a party platter with savory bites of cured meats, hearty cheese, crusty bread and marinated olives. Salads with stone fruits (peach, nectarine, apricot), accentuated with herbs like mint and citrus dressings will match the acidity of the McCollum Rose.
3. The deep reds
From Chile’s Apalta region comes Primus, an organic red blend crafted from six grape varietals. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the mix, while Syrah, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Carmenère, and Cabernet Franc round out the profile—adding complexity and softening the wine’s finish. The bold flavors of black fruit and spice give Primus a slightly edgy character, making it an ideal companion for the rich, hearty dishes that define fall cooking. Wines like this really complement a dinner where guests can enjoy roast pork, grilled leg of lamb, or smoked beef, alongside roasted potatoes and root vegetables.
In the heart of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region lies the home of Lambrusco. Once dismissed as the overly sweet, mass-produced sparkling red wine of the 1980s, modern Lambrusco is making a refined comeback.
Saint Enzo L’Originale Lambrusco DOC is a prime example. Made from 100% organic Lambrusco Grasparossa grapes, this ruby-red sparkler bursts with notes of dark cherry and blackberry. Its low residual sugar and elegant perlage (fine bubbles) make it a versatile wine that feels festive without being fussy. End the meal with this red, pairing it with dark chocolate and cherry or berry-heavy desserts. But make sure the dessert is not too sweet!
Being daytime-friendly as well, a bubbly wine like this is always a favorite for brunch where eggs are a dominant ingredient, along with fresh bread, butter and other yummy spreads. So if guests stay over, you are covered.
Don’t be shy about sampling wines like these with your favorite snacks and foods. Trying to match everyone’s taste preferences with one or two bottles of wine can sometimes take the fun out of a casual gathering. Our tip: always set aside a few bottles of different kinds of wine in case guests have specific taste preferences. Cheers!
