‘Tis the Season….for Harvest that is.  I love this time of year.  All the brilliant colours of the Autumn leaves, the chill in the air, the breaking out of the sweaters, cardigans and fall jackets, all remind me that the long lazy days of summer are over, and it’s time to think about Thanksgiving, Halloween, and oh my goodness….Christmas!  But, besides that, there’s grape harvest, at least in the northern Hemisphere, the annual picking and crushing of grapes has begun, or is at least beginning.

I’m very much a fan of seasonal wine.  I drink whites in the summer and reds in the winter.  That’s not to say I don’t mix it up, but I drink infinitely more reds in the winter and can’t get enough of those patio whites in the summer. That being said, if we are going to talk of harvest wines, we must speak of the great Alsatian Gewürztraminer!  Talk about a tell-tale wine!  Distinct aromas of nutmeg, roses and other baking spices make it a perfect Harvest wine!  Those of us in Canada already had our Thanksgiving, but my American readers have plenty of time to sip, savour and pair it with your thanksgiving turkey!  My Canadian friends…do not lose heart…Christmas is coming, and you know what?  ANYTIME, is a good time for turkey!

If you’re going to do Alsatian, seriously, spend a little more money!  Trust me on this one…I’ve tried a $17 one (which as it warmed, started just tasting like soap) and a $45 one….a Grand Cru to be more specific. If you’re going to spend some money, PLEASE, spend a bit more and get a good one!  I posted this one on my Joy of Wine Facebook page a while ago, but I thought I would do it better justice by blogging about it.  Lots of pears up front, but this morphed in my glass with those amazing flinty notes.  And guess what?  I put the lid back on, put it in the fridge, and brought it back out four days later, and all of that beautiful nutmeg came shining through, along with the signature rosewater so apparent in a  Alsatian Gewürztraminer.

Another great Harvest Wine is the Oscar’s Estate Vineyard Shiraz.  That 5% Viognier just

takes off the harsh jammy tannic edge of the Australian Shiraz.  That signature black fruit jamminess, but I love the black pepper and the hint of cinnamon on the palate.  Yes, cinnamon…perfectly matched to any turkey dish, or even….pumpkin pie!  Totally an understated wine, and at $20 on the shelf, completely affordable!  And if you want something that packs a bit more punch, then try the Mr. Black’s Book Shiraz Viognier…a little more spice on this and bigger tannins and fruit. Also, for $20 on the shelf.  Either way, you can’t go wrong! Cheers, folks…and if you can, check out the lunar eclipse tonight!  Another great thing that happens at Harvest Time!