October is always an exciting time of the year not just for Halloween aficionados, but also for those of us who are wine aficionados as well. This is prime time for the year’s new wines to be released, in tandem with the harvest.

Here are some items that are making it into our hearts and our menus for the fall eating (and drinking) season:

White Wines

This year we’d like to focus on the white wines first, as we are finding the Albariños from Gallego country (located politically in the northwest of Spain) to be shockingly good this year. Albariño has went in recent years from a niche wine to something that’s been more and more dominating restaurant menus, and with very good reason. It pairs amazingly well with so many seafoods.

For meals that require something with a little more punch and depth to keep up with the complex dishes, South Africa has been putting forth a real nice little Sauvignon Blanc as of late that works wonderfully with those heavy-sauced fowl dishes, and indeed would be great for families who do the turkey or even more traditional goose thing during the holidays.

Red Wines

The Mendoza region of Argentina is famous for its production of fine wines and fine liquors, and this year has not disappointed. Our favorite for the season is a full-bodied little Malbec number called El Salvaje, and indeed, if you’re lucky enough to get some game meat on your table this fall, this would be an excellent choice to pair with it.

For the times when a lighter, fruitier red is called for, why not try this wonderful German offering. It’s called Dornfelder in their language, and is extremely similar to the Pinot Noirs we all know and love. This would go well with something like a filet mignon and is also an excellent choice for drinking solo at the after party.

Rosés

Honestly this hasn’t been the best year for this type of fine, but there are still some very notable offerings that don’t have to break the bank. Bila-Haute Rose 2016 is a house favorite this year, combining the best of both worlds, which is what a quality rosé should entail always.

Have we missed out on anything you think stands out this year? Be sure to drop us a line in the comments below and let us know if you can think of anything.