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Discovering An Unsung Wine Hero For Fall

Author Gina Birch

This week I found myself perusing the wine aisle in my neighborhood Publix looking for a wine to bring to a Halloween party. One of my go to brands is Casillero del Diablo from Chiler. When translated it means Cellar of the Devil. It’s perfect for Halloween, affordable and has a variety grapes including Carmenere, which is like discovering an unsung wine hero for fall. When considering the characteristic of this grape and  Southwest Florida cuisine, Carmenere wines for fall can be a perfect food match.

Chile produces a lot of different wine. But carmenere has become a flagship over the years. It originated in France where it was commonly blended in Bordeaux. In Chile, it was originally confused with merlot grapes in the fields. Today, it is the fourth most planted grape in the country.

Carmenere is a cross between cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc that has a range of textures and flavors. However, one thing that is consistent is the peppery and herbal characteristics. Those herbs are so good with fall squash, roasted meats and soups. I’ve heard it referred to as the cabernet for vegetarians.

I recently attended a virtual tasting and educational seminar on carmenere. The hosts gifted me wines from all regions and elevations to try along with other journalists. All were different. All screamed for foods like the ones we typically see this season. Next time you see one, try it.

Try these three carmenere wines for fall and for Wine Wednesday

 

 

Gina Birch brings the sunshine to Sunny 106.3 every weekday morning from 6-10. She has worked in radio, television and print in Southwest Florida for nearly 30 years. During that time, she has become an advocate for numerous charities including those that support animals, children, women and wellness. In addition, she has written for numerous local, regional and national publications about food, wine and travel. Those are her longtime passions...along with shoes.

Five Ways To Boost Your Halloween Food Game

The number of Halloween events in Southwest Florida are too many to count. It’s a fun time of the year and the kickoff to the rest of the holiday party season. If you are attending an event or throwing one, there are so many options when it comes to themes, décor and food. Almost too many. I am going to help narrow down the food part for your Halloween soirees whether they are for the adults, the kids, or both. If you are stuck, maybe you’ll find some inspiration in these videos. Here five ways to boost your Halloween food game for TikTok Tuesday.

I love this crazy, creepy holiday and so does just about everyone else on social media. My TikTok feed has been full of Halloween related videos from costumes to décor and everything in between. If you have not decorated or carved your Halloween pumpkins yet, here are some great videos from last week that might help out.

All of those videos are great. However, the ones that have really been catching my eye are those dealing with food, fun appetizers, desserts and even entrees. They not only use seasonal ingredients but they also have added twists that will make your friends, family and kids say, “Cooool.” I did not include the traditional “Mummy Dog” here. That is where you wrap a hot dog in strips of pastry dough to look like a mummy. I figured everyone already knows about this one.

You don’t have to have a TikTok account to view the videos. Just scroll down and hit play from this post. All videos are office and kid friendly. There are some really easy ideas as well as some that take a little more effort. I’ve even thrown in a bonus video for parents at the end.

Five ways to boost your Halloween food game. Enjoy.

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