Admittedly, November is lacklustre.
The autumn novelty has worn off grape harvest, crisp mornings, cozy evenings and trees with red foliage.
Now, we're just faced with the reality of the upcoming cold-and-dark winter and the melancholy that goes along with it.
But, don't be sad and turn that frown upside down.
Because, November, and the slide into winter, means you have ample opportunity to drink textured and interesting white wines and beguiling and bold reds.
My wife, Kerry, and I have taste tested the following 'nine wines for November' to prove this month is something to look forward to rather than dreaded.
I say textured whites because you want your whites to have more heft for fall and winter drinking to warm you up and pair with the heartier foods we're eating.
- Culmina 2021 Viognier (wine club only) from Oliver
Viognier is a distinctive white wine with a rich mouthfeel, aromatic nose and exotic aromas and flavours of honey, ginger and nectarines.
It paired well with the mildly spiced chicken tagine we had with it on a Saturday night.
- Culmina 2018 Dilemma Chardonnay ($31)
Just the right amount of aging in oak barrels gives this Chard a buttery-caramel backbone to support the fresh apple-and-lime aromas and flavours.
The perfect match, therefore, with creamy shrimp pasta.
- Laughing Stock 2021 Chardonnay ($32) from the Naramata Bench
Another elegantly oaked, fruit-forward Chard that paired nicely with the firm-and-buttery Spanish Manchego sheep cheese we bought at specialty cheesemonger Perseval & Young in Kelowna.
- Noble Ridge The Fizzy One sparkling ($24) from Okanagan Falls
I toss this fun and affordable bubbly in because, no matter the season, sparkling is apropos, especially as an aperitif as you prepare dinner or the main drink at breakfast, brunch or lunch.
Red is the traditional go-to wine for fall and winter for good reason -- its tannins and higher alcohol are truly warming and there's no better match for red meat.
- Hester Creek 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon ($35) from Oliver
The king of reds, with its full-bodied profile of blackberry and dark chocolate, naturally, pairs perfectly with the king of meats -- a medium-rare steak.
- Hester Creek 2020 Syrah ($30)
Syrah's violet-cherry-and-black-pepper aromas and flavours are the classic accompaniment for lamb, or think outside the box with pulled-pork tacos.
- Township 7 Benchmark Series 2019 Cabernet Franc ($) from the Naramata Bench
Ok, it's time for some gooey French onion soup.
- Road 13 GSM ($40) from Oliver
The juicy, French-inspired, Rhone-style blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre is light enough to pair with roasted chicken, but exuberant enough for a roast beef match.
- Culmina Natural Malbec 2021 ($32)
This wine's blackberry-and-black-pepper profile was made to be enjoyed with the meatloaf I whipped up from chef Michael Smith's Real Food, Real Good cookbook.
Culinary demo
These are called culinary demonstrations not cooking classes because you don't do any of the cooking.
Rather, you sit back with a glass of wine and watch a chef prepare the dish and then have it served to you to enjoy with that aforementioned wine.
These are the three-hour demo/dinners that Mission Hill Family Estate in West Kelowna is putting on in its culinary centre, complete with theatre-style seating and big monitors so you can keep on top of the live-action.
The sessions started last weekend with Pasta Fatta a Mono and continue tonight with Ocean Exploration.
Upcoming Nov. 10 and 11 is French Cuisine, Nov. 17 and 18 Flavours of India, Dec. 1, 2, 8 and 9 Italian Christmas and Dec. 15 and 16 Traditional Winery Christmas.
Tickets are $169 per person at MissionHillWinery.com and include the demonstration, four-course meal and paired wines.
You're sent home with the recipes so you can replicate the evening whenever you want.
Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at [email protected]. His wine column appears in this space every Friday afternoon.
