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    October 2023 Picks: One Ideal for Adult Halloween Revelers and the Other Offering Elegance at an Appealing Price

    By Leslie Sbrocco–

    Fall is here and with it comes beautiful colors, cooler weather, and hearty fare. If you’re looking to enjoy red wine with those rich dishes, enjoy my October picks. One is party-friendly and ideal for adult Halloween revelers, while the other is an elegant bottle ready for upscale fall evenings.

    Sandy Giovese Vino Rosso, Italy (3 Liter Box) $35
    www.sandygiovese.com

    When it comes to fun, this boxed wine packs a wallop of humor and a mouthful of delicious sipping. The name is a play on the famed red grape of Italy, Sangiovese. The founder of the brand, Amy Ezrin, joked that when living in Italy and training to be an opera singer, her alter ego was ‘Sandy Giovese’ because she preferred wine over opera (and yes, she ultimately became a vintner and wine importer).

    A juicy, affordable red wine made with mostly Sangiovese and a dash of the white Italian grape, Trebbiano, the wine is light on its feet and spicy at heart. It is ideal for parties or to pour a glass nightly as the 3 liter-box (equivalent of four bottles of wine) will keep fresh in the refrigerator until finished.

    2020 Post Scriptum de Chryseia, Douro, Portugal $35
    https://www.chryseia.com/wines

    One of Portugal’s top red wines is named Chryseia. An intense, world-class wine made in the historic Douro Valley, it is a partnership between two iconic wine producers: Portugal’s Symington family and France’s Prats family.

    Their Post Scriptum de Chryseia is a bottle I like to call an “insider wine” known for elegance and excellence at an appealing price point. It’s easily drinkable on a cool fall night, yet is also an age-worthy wine made from second selection grapes that comprise Chryseia. These include famed Portuguese red varieties such as Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, and Tinta Roriz. Smooth, sultry, and satisfying with dishes from braised meats to aromatic cheeses, it’s a wine to discover. 

    Author, speaker, wine consultant, and television host Leslie Sbrocco is known for her entertaining approach to wine and food. She has won multiple Emmy Awards for her work on PBS, which includes hosting the series “Check, Please! Bay Area,” “Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!” and “100 Days, Drinks, Dishes & Destinations.”

    Sbrocco Sips
    Published on October 19, 2023