In the midst of autumn with Halloween fast approaching, Carmen and I talk about spicy wines with game day and Halloween party food pairings.
What makes wine taste or smell spicy? Spicy wine refers to wines that carry peppery or baking spice aromas and tactile warmth rather than containing chili pepper heat.
Rotundone (pepper notes) is a natural aromatic compound found in grape skins, most famously in Syrah/Shiraz and white Grüner Veltliner, that delivers distinct black or white pepper notes.
Oak barrel aging (baking spices) – contact with oak releases compounds like vanillin, eugenol, and oak lactones imparting notes of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla into Zinfandel, Malbec, and Pinotage.
Alcohol and acidity (tactile heat) – high alcohol (such as 15 to 16%) in wines like Amarone and Zinfandel triggers warmth-sensing nerve receptors in the back of the throat, creating a spicy or hot physical sensation.
Spicy wine varieties:
Gewürztraminer is an aromatic white wine displaying ginger, lychee, and spice notes.
- Valkenberg Madonna Gewurtztraminer -from Germany’s Pfalz region. A full bodied medium dry white with a lovely aroma of roses, ripe peach and lychee, fruity with plenty of spiciness. Pairs with prosciutto wrapped cantaloupe or peaches. Aromatic tropical notes with a hint of sweetness in the wine harmonize with the sweetness of the fruit and contrast with the saltiness of the prosciutto (salt enhances sweetness). This Gewürztraminer carries enough weight and texture to stand up to the rich fat of prosciutto.
- Trimbach Gewürztraminer 2022 – The Trimbach winery has been around for more than 400 years. Very spicy and dry example of Alsatian Gewürztraminer that has excellent structure. Notes of roses, lychee and citrus lead to lovely and fresh finish. The bright acidity and touch of residual sugar in this wine pair with well spicy foods like Indian or Thai.
Syrah is known for classic black pepper, clove, and smoky aromas driven by cool climate grape growing.
- Chono Syrah Limari 2023 – Limari Valley single vineyard. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. Aromas of plum and spice, dry nimble and juicy, silky texture a great bargain from Chile.
- Montes Alpha Syrah – a well-known label from the Colchagua valley region in Chile.
- Anthill Farms Syrah Sonoma Coast – a cool climate Northern Rhone-style Syrah from a top vintner.
Zinfandel is famous for jammy dark fruit backed by cinnamon, clove, and black pepper from both the grape and oak aging. It is often produced with a relatively high ABV.
We have many Zinfandels to share so they are grouped by Budget-Friendly and Top Producers.
Budget-Friendly:
- 1000 Stories Zinfandel bourbon barrel – bold with big fruit, dark cherry, and currants. Spice notes of cinnamon and vanilla. Great when paired with wings, grilled meats and chicken dishes.
- 90 Plus Lot 180 Zinfandel – Aromas and flavors of red cherry, blackberry and plum. Full bodied. Pair with ribs, chicken and grilled meats.
- Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel – terrific for the price (usually about $10) and one of our go-to wines for a crowd.
- Seven Deadly Zins – Michael David Winery is a family-owned vineyard in the Lodi area known for bold, full-bodied wines and quirky labels like Freakshow, Earthquake, and Petite Petit.
- Cline Cellars Zinfandel – a family vineyard like Bogle that specializes in great value wines. (We also enjoy their Mourvèdre).
- Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel – in Healdsburg, Sonoma County. Benchmark producer of high-quality Zinfandel and classic Italian varietals.
Top Producers:
- Ridge Zinfandel Three Valleys – 71% zin, 16% Carignane, 9% petite Sirah, 2% Mataro and 2% Alicante Bouchet. Ridge is one of the top producers of zinfandel. Full bodied with bright fruit and firm tannins that end in a lush and generous finish.
- Robert Biale Zinfandel – known for the Black Chicken, the vineyard’s line of Zinfandel wines. We enjoyed visiting and tasting on one of our trips to Napa.
- Rombauer Zinfandel – Mike’s favorite. Bold, full-bodied, fruit forward and spicy.
Malbec and Carmenere are South American reds that offer notes of cocoa, dark spice, and subtle herbal or jalapeno accents. (Malbec is a French variety often associated with South America due to Argentina’s dominance in global production.)
- Fabre Montmayou Malbec Reserva Mendoza. From vines grown in very high altitudes in Argentina. Deep red in color intense aromas of red cherry, plum, chocolate and smooth ripe tannins. Perfect with steak and other red meats.
- Catena Malbec Mendoza – Malbec and steak what a perfect pairing. Medium-full bodied, bright red fruit and a long smooth finish. Elegant.
- Chateau Les Hauts D’aglan – A spicy Malbec from Cahors, France.
- Casa Lapostolle Carmenere – The Lapostolle family are descendants of the Marnier family that made Gran Marnier for over 100 years. Carmenere is an ancient red grape varietal originally from Bordeaux, France, that is now celebrated as Chile’s emblematic varietal.
Game day/appetizer food pairings for spicy red wines include meats with rich fat and wood smoke that complement the bold, peppery notes in the wine.
- Sausage or pepperoni pizza, Philly cheese steak egg rolls
- Brisket that can be made into burnt ends (cubed pieces from the brisket re-sauced and smoked until caramelized), or served as sliders on brioche buns with a quick cabbage slaw.
- Also use shredded brisket to stuff hollowed out crispy potato skins and add melted pepper jack cheese and a sprinkle of chopped pickled jalapenos.
