Fall Fun for Foodies – Wine, Cider, Liqueur and Lots of Pie!

Fall is definitely here, and with it, our meals become heartier, with more roast meats and stews. Here’s a list of wines that will add pizazz to your fall cuisine, plus a new twist on preparing Veal Marsala and a suggestion for a great day trip for foodies.

TRIVENTO PRIVATE RESERVE MALBEC 2022
Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

A velvety smooth Malbec made from grapes grown in vineyards located at the foot of the Andes. It has fragrant notes of ripe plums, blueberries and violets, along with nutmeg, chocolate and black pepper, repeated on a lush, smooth palate. It has good acidity and a rich, flavourful finish, too. An excellent match for roast pork, prime rib, lamb chops or chocolate cake. A steal at this price!

Dry • 14% • LCBO VINTAGES# 38142 • $18.00

JIP JIP ROCKS SHIRAZ CABERNET 2022
Padthaway, South Australia, Australia

A hearty, full-bodied Shiraz-Cab blend. The lovely nose greets you with blueberry, cassis and eucalyptus. The palate is smooth and bursts with ripe fruit, a hint of chocolate and a pop of black pepper. You can drink this now or cellar it for another 5 years. Pair it with pepperoni pizza or prime rib.

Extra Dry • 14.5% • LCBO# 186114 • $16.95

JOSEPH CATTIN PINOT BLANC 2023
Alsace, France

Have you tried a Pinot Blanc? Let me introduce you to this gem! The wine was crafted from grapes grown under ideal conditions In Alsace, which receives the most sunshine in France. The climate allows the grapes to ripen slowly, while the Vosges Mountains also protect the vines from wind and rain and provide cool nights. This leads to elegant aromas, fresh flavours and great acidity in the wines. On the nose, you find aromatic notes of white florals, ripe pear, apricot and lemon. The crisp palate celebrates these notes, along with a slight herbaceous element and vibrant acidity, making this a great food wine. The mouthfeel is satiny, contributing to the overall harmonious expression this wine gives. Highly recommended, and it offers excellent value at this price point.  Pair with smoked trout, shellfish or grilled white fish and lemon.

Extra Dry • 12.5% • VINTAGES# 224642 • $17.95

RAMAZOTTI BLACK SAMBUCA
Milan, Italy

Hallowe’en is right around the corner, so why not create some black magic with this delicious twist on the popular Sambuca? Rich black licorice flavours shine in this liqueur that turns coffee into a treat when you add this and top it with whipped cream. Another of my favourite ways to enjoy it is to substitute it for Marsala wine in a recipe for Veal Marsala to create Veal Ramazotti.

40% • LCBO# 347484 • $29.95

HALL’S SPARKLING APPLE CRANBERRY CIDER
Brockville, Ontario

Fall means apples, and that means cider! This sparkling non-alcoholic cider is a delightful alternative to wine for those looking for a sparkling beverage to enjoy. It tastes of cranberry and apples and is slightly sweet from the fresh fruit used to make it. No sugar was added. Hall’s make a regular Sparkling Apple Cider, too. Pair it with charcuterie or an apple crisp dessert.

$8.50 for 1 litre size

Heads up! Hall’s Apple Market in Brockville will host a customer appreciation day on November 9 and 10. Enjoy a 20% discount on everything, pies included! It’s an ideal fall day trip from Ottawa. You can pick your own apples or select some from the environment-controlled rooms. The in-store bakery offers fresh pies (14 flavours!), cookies, bread and many other mouth-watering baked goods, including gluten-free and dairy-free products. There’s also a country store with everything from home décor to fashions and jewellery, gourmet delicacies and local fare.

Hall’s Apple Market is located at 2930 2nd Concession Road, Brockville, Ontario.

For more wine and food discovery from Jane Staples, visit www.bellovinoj.com

Header photo: iStock