Best Wines For The Fall

Whether you like it or not, summer's end is just around the corner. And while we could weep uncontrollably about this fact, I say instead, let's look forward to the beautiful fall ahead.And what better way to do so, then, by enjoying the changing colors while raising a glass of some of the best wines for the fall season.

Now, my wine consumption definitely has more of an emphasis on the sipping than the selecting, so for this 10 of the Best, I went straight to the experts to find out which wines we should welcome come fall.

Ted Farrell is the vice president of Haskell's, who not only has some of the best selection of wine in the Twin Cities but are literally referred to as "The Wine People." With 10 locations in Minnesota -- and one out in Naples, Fla. -- Haskell's has a long tradition of helping vino lovers find the bottles that suit them best.

Founded in 1934 by Fritzi and Benny Haskell, Haskell's became one of the first retailers to bring fine wine into the United States from France. Since Chairman and CEO John Farrell -- Ted's father -- took the reins in 1970, Haskell's has been called everything from the finest wine shop between New York and California to a market leader.

So it's safe to say these people know a thing or two about uncorking some great grapey goodness. So whether you're looking for a good pairing to that freshly hunted game or just a nice glass to watch the leaves change, let's get tasting!

Aguaribay Malbec

Type: Red
Price: $9
Vintage: 2006
Origin: Argentina

Choosing a good fall wine is all about pairing bottles with great autumn food -- and in our case in Minnesota, that can mean the game brought home by your favorite hunter. This full-bodied malbec has a great flavor, perfectly suited for anything from chicken to steak to a game feast, Farrell said.

Seigneur de Fontimple Vacqueyras

Type: Red
Price: $15
Vintage: 2007
Origin: France

Fuller, richer wines, like the Vacqueyras, tends to go well with fall flavors, Farrell said. It tends to be a round-bodied wine perfect for game dishes.

Cotes du Rhone

Type: Red
Price: $10
Vintage: 2007
Origin: France

Farrell suggests any kind of Cotes du Rhone for that perfect, full, rich wine on a fall evening. He said you can find Syrah mixed in, giving this a heavy, dominant flavor. "A real tooth-stainer," he said. Like the Vacqueyras, this type of wine is murky, purple and has a "nice peppery finish," Farrell said.

Chateauneuf du Pape

Type: Red
Price: $35
Vintage: 2006
Origin: France

Farrell recommends each of the Chateauneuf du Pape, Cotes du Rhone and Vacqueyras for a great fall wine, dependent on your budget. Each wine is similar in flavors, with a heavy emphasis on its Grenache and Syrah grapes.

Koala Ranch

Type: White
Price: $10
Vintage: 2009
Origin: Australia

For white wines, Farrell said chardonnays are best -- even if many people are not exactly keen on the chardonnay. But it's a heavier white, that's full and has great crisp flavors, making it a good match for when it gets a bit cooler outside.

Sonoma Cutrer

Type: White
Price: $20
Vintage: 2006
Origin: California

Sonoma Cutrer is one of the more well-known chardonnays created in the Windsor wineries of California. "You never really have to put a heavy chill on a chardonnay," Farrell said. "Because the cooler and cooler it gets, the less and less flavor you get out of it." That's what makes these whites a good match for fall temperatures.

Theodor Nicholas Liebfraumilch

(Riesling)
Type: White
Price: $6-8
Vintage: 2006
Origin: Rheinhessen

Considered an old-school Riesling that's always a crowd favorite, Farrell said Liebfraumilch's are always a good choice. Bonus, these are generally really inexpensive wines. "Those are terrific, especially for people who are harvesting apples and things like that," he said. "It's sweeter, it's a great picnic wine."

Chateau Malmaison

Type: Red
Price: $20
Vintage: 2006
Origin: France

The Chateau Malmaison is dominated by Merlot but has some Cabernet in it to give it some great structure, Farrell said. The wine is a full-bodied red making it perfect for a chilly night.

La Forge Viognier

Type: White
Price: $13
Vintage: 2009
Origin: France

Viognier is a bit of a heavier white wine, and a little bit viscous, Farrell said. It's thicker, richer and has a lot of great melon flavors to it. It's a bolder wine but not quite as over the top as say, a chardonnay. But perhaps that's as Farrell put it, "because it's the ABC market right now -- Anything But Chardonnay."

Marchand Hautes Cotes de Nuits, Pinor Noir

Type: Red
Price: $20
Vintage: 2006
Origin: France

A great French Pinot Noir from Burgundy, Farrell said. With those few warmer nights of fall, this Pinot Noir is on the lighter side. Paired with fresh salmon on the grill, it's "a match made in heaven," he said. It's full but it's not over-the-top full -- with a little more elegance, a little more finesse.

Honorable Mention (of sorts):

Look for the Beaujolais Nouveau, which typically comes out the third week of November and makes for a perfect holiday wine.