COMFORT WINE

Can it be? Summer has come to a close and sunny days at the beach remain only for a select few? Yes, shortening days and broadening night skies are gaining force. There is a dichotomy, however, because as the sun subsides sooner and days darken, autumn and winter bring with them warm feelings of the season’s upcoming celebrations and bountiful harvest.

This time of year urges more generous wines that lend a pleasant sense of gratification during the cooler months. Although you may be busy planning for holiday gatherings and seasonal celebrations, here at CHEHALEM we begin to slow down. Now is the time to clean up after a busy harvest and courageously dig out dusty umbrellas for the long rainy days ahead.

It’s also the time of year when our wines seemingly feel heartier in style, strengthened by the onset of crisp autumn nights and the bounty of harvest. You just can’t resist savory root vegetables, soups and stews, roasted meats, and rustic crusty breads beckoning CHEHALEM Pinot Noir, Dry Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay. It’s almost as if we seek out these wines to add a spark to our palates, reminding us of how perfect life really is during these darker days. As if we are looking for wines that never stop working, even long after we’ve grown tired of working and just want everything to unwind while the rest of the world keeps spinning.

With that said, there just couldn’t be a better time for this autumn’s release of CHEHALEM’s 2005 Ridgecrest and 2005 Stoller Vineyards Pinot Noirs. These two single-vineyard Pinots have a more generous palate-feel, making them a natural choice for the season’s cuisine (think of chevre & butternut squash mousse topped with caramelized crispy shallots and a drizzle of molasses).

Our 2006 Reserve Dry Riesling and barrel-fermented 2006 Reserve Pinot Gris are givens when searching for white wines that lend themselves to the celebratory mixtures of flavors this time of year presents. These two wines, with their crisp, colorfully rich characteristics, are capable of standing up to even the liveliest of dishes (imagine Oregon white truffle & maple-roasted salmon chowder topped with crushed sea-salt crackers).

If Chardonnay is your calling this fall, I recommend you try our 2004 Ian’s Reserve Chardonnay. Its oak is restrained, giving foods the ability to shine through while pleasing even the most discerning palate, and its bright acidity lies in graceful balance with the richness of fruit from the exceptional 2004 vintage (picture roasted pork tacos with ginger-honey salsa).

CHEHALEM's selection of Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay cover all the bases naturally, giving you the broad appeal of charming flavors partnered with distinctive structures. While it’s always a good idea to pick wines that match the season’s hearty fare, remember at the end of the day it’s all about the company, the conversations, and the celebration. Relax, drink some CHEHALEM, and enjoy the season.

P.S. Take a close look at what is coming out of Oregon in the 2006 vintage. Most agree it is among the best we have seen, and we definitely believe it! Two additional CHEHALEM wines from this highly acclaimed vintage are now available (but not for long): 2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris and 2006 INOX™ Chardonnay, recently named the "Best Chardonnay in America $20 and Under" in the October issue of Food & Wine magazine.