There’s no better way to celebrate the start of a new vintage and harvest season than spending time with friends and family over a glass of wine. We encourage you to participate in “Come Over October,” a time to gather during the month of October to share wine and friendship. By simply connecting over wine, we share other things that matter, like generosity, caring, and a belief that being together is an essential part of human happiness. Join us, online and from your own home, and countless industry partners this October by celebrating the joy, creativity, and connection that comes from the world of wine. This newsletter takes a closer look at the Come Over October movement being driven by renowned wine journalist, Karen MacNeil.
Come Over October
Consumption Challenges Serve as an Opportunity
The wine scene in the United States has experienced its fair share of changes due to societal and generational shifts in consumers. Just like grapevines, the industry has shown its resilience and has adapted to these shifts to meet new demands. For thousands of years, wine has been the preferred beverage when bringing people together and the Come Over October movement advocates for more of these instances of connection.
Fall Wines to Explore in October
J. Christopher Volcanique Special Selection Pinot Noir
The wine showcases the savory quality, the fruit purity, and the fine-grained texture that characterizes the deep, red volcanic clay of the Dundee Hills. The 2019 is an excellent example, with its delicately floral fruit aromas, silky texture, and structural finesse. It has the depth and structure to age gracefully for many years.
Food Pairings: slow-cooker pot roast with potatoes and root vegetables, wood-fired pizza, spicy chipotle chicken wings, and smoky BBQ.
Jim Barry Wines Assyrtiko
The wine opens with citrus rind, lemon blossom, and a lick of wet slate on the nose. This wine has a sense of purpose in its line. Clean mineral, white florals, and a nice texture through the mid and back with the classic saline edge to finish. The finish is clean and refreshingly long.
Food Pairings: lobster with butter sauce, cream-based fettuccine pasta dishes, Cajun blackened fish, Nashville-style hot chicken.
Mosel Riesling Kabinett
Naturally Low in Alcohol – Perfect for October Gatherings!
Kabinett is the lightest and most delicate style of Riesling, made from normally ripe grapes picked early in the harvest. In a cool-climate region like the Mosel, Kabinett can be quite low in alcohol (7.5-8%), with brisk acidity and moderate residual sweetness (40-50 grams/liter). Mosel Riesling Kabinett is an excellent opportunity to showcase how quality and moderation can go hand in hand.
Kabinetts in the Portfolio:
- Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett
- Fritz Haag Juffer Riesling Kabinett
- Maximin Grünhaus Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett
- Zilliken Saarburg Riesling Kabinett
- And more!
Food Pairings: scallops, Moroccan chicken with couscous, crab legs, salt and pepper fried calamari, and shrimp cocktail with lots of fresh lemon.
Sober October
This Sober October, elevate your offerings by showcasing exquisite Mosel Riesling Kabinett and alcohol-removed Rieslings! Sober October is a growing social movement encouraging alcohol moderation and healthy lifestyle changes. Today’s consumers are shifting their lifestyle choices to healthier and more sustainably produced products. Alcohol-removed wine meets this new consumer demand; thus, catapulting its growth int he market.
There can be great health benefits that come from putting a pause on alcohol: better sleep, increased energy, weight loss, lower blood pressure, and even lower cholesterol levels.
The Dr. Lo Alcohol-Removed Rieslings
The Alcohol-Removed Market
While the overall Wine category is down 3.4% dollars and 5.5% units, the NA Wine category, now worth over $81.4M, is up 27.0% dollars and 17.7% units! Impressive growth in the NA Wine category is even stronger in the last 28 weeks: overall Wine category is down 3.5% dollars and 5.3% units while the NA Wine category is up 29.8% dollars and 23.7% units (Nielsen, 52 weeks, 7-13-2024).
The Dr. Lo Alcohol-Removed Rieslings
With its striking blue label and no added sugar or fruit juice, Dr. Lo shines on the palate and stands out on the shelf. It’s a delicious, guilt-free line of wines that pairs perfectly with any occasion and any meal. The wines are free from unnecessary ingredients like GMOs, as well as from allergens such as gluten and nuts.
As October unfolds, let’s embrace the spirit of Come Over October by gathering with friends and loved ones over a glass of wine. This month is a perfect opportunity to deepen connections, share stories, and create lasting memories. Whether it’s a cozy night in or a lively gathering, let the warmth of wine and conversation bring us closer together. Cheers to fostering and celebrating the joy of togetherness this October!
