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Your New Favorite Red Wines for Fall

By Sam Slaughter Published December 17, 2019

Fall is the perfect time to open a bottle of red wine. Rich berry flavors, strong tannins—these flavors go perfectly with falling temperatures and leaves on the ground. Whether you find yourself enjoying a red that is practically bursting with berry flavors, or you’re more of a fan of a drier, bolder style, there’s something on our list for you.

Apothic Inferno – A wine for whiskey lovers, Apothic Inferno is the brand’s latest release, which is aged for sixty days in whiskey barrels. This time imparts strong oak and tannin flavors that go with the dark berry and spice notes of the wine. ($16.99)

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The Federalist Honest Red Blend, 2014 – Perfect for election season, the Honest (Abe) Red Blend mixes Merlot, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon for a wine that is big on lush, dark berry flavors with the slightest hint of spice to back them up. ($16.99)

FitVine Cabernet Sauvignon, 2015 – A red wine created for those, as you might guess from the title, that want to drink and be healthy. All FitVine wines are “biohacked,” going through secondary malolactic fermentation to lower the pH levels, which produces a cleaner wine with less carbs, less sulfites, higher antioxidants, and no residual sugars. ($15.99)

Hall “Howell Mountain” Cabernet Sauvigon, 2013 – Almost black in color, this red wine is rich with black tea flavor, accentuated by floral notes and juicy plum characteristics. An intense wine through and through, there’s a wonderful long, lingering finish. ($160)

Justin Isosceles, 2013 – A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, this wine has been Justin Winery’s flagship wine for over twenty-five vintages. Complex, berry flavors are balanced by crispness and acididty for a wine that is good now, or good a little down the line. ($72)

Landmark Vineyards “Overlook” Pinot Noir, 2014 – Pinot Noirs can be hard to get right, but Landmark nails it with this one. Full of cherry, cranberry, and plum flavor, there’s just enough spice on the palate to marry with the tea flavors of the finish. ($25)

Former Digital Trends Contributor

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Liquor, Beer, Wine & Drinks

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Dark rums for whiskey fans

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rum bottles

There’s no disputing the appeal of whisk(e)y. Whether it's single malt Scotch whisky, bourbon, rye whiskey, Irish whiskey, or others. There’s something special about this barrel-aged spirit. But it’s not the only aged spirit, and if you’re limiting your sipping to this style, you’re missing out on some other special, flavorful spirit. Especially dark rum.

I’ve spent years imbibing the various forms of whiskey. But every now and then, I branch out and pour myself a glass of dark rum instead. Unsurprisingly, the two spirits have some of the same aromas and flavors. Since both are matured in wood barrels, they impart flavors like caramel, vanilla, dried fruits, and oak (among others). If you don’t already, you should branch out and add dark rum to your aged spirits rotation.

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But it also shouldn’t surprise you that some people enjoy drinking their gin neat or at least prefer a gin that they could drink neat if they chose to do so. Personally, I am one of those people. I enjoy gin so much that I try my best not to mask its flavors with overpowering ingredients. Sure, I like a good Gin & Tonic from time to time. But it’s definitely going to be heavier on gin than tonic if you know what I mean.

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Woodinville Whiskey takes its single barrel program national

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Alcohol, Beverage, Liquor

For years, getting your hands on a Woodinville single barrel meant knowing a guy — a specific retailer, a whiskey club, or a trip to the distillery to bottle one yourself. That's about to change.

Starting July 7, the Washington-based distillery is taking its Single Barrel Cask Strength 7 Year Bourbon and Single Barrel Cask Strength 7 Year 100% Rye national for the first time, both at an MSRP of $69.99.