Come Over October is back again this year, encouraging people to open some wine and celebrate the simplest thing of all: time together. Wine is an ancient beverage designed to be savored over the course of an afternoon or evening. It is one of the few libations that changes with time, evolving in the glass and revealing new flavors and nuances as time passes. Wine also lends itself to endless discovery with different varietals, vintages and regions to explore. Make your Come Over October gathering an adventure and offer a range of wines from across the globe; invite guests to rate each one, guess at the price and where the wine is from. Regardless, enjoy the wine and enjoy being together. Below is a list of intriguing options that have their own story to tell, be it the first-ever California wine made by a Bosnian winemaker, a wine from Versailles or a simple Sicilian red that drinks like a juicy cherry lifesaver.
Wine from Versailles
La Bouche du Roi, Abondance, Pinot Noir, 2023: Grown on the Versailles plain—a region that was once the King of France’s hunting grounds—this pinot noir’s uniquely royal provenance makes for an intriguing wine. Farmed organically, the wine shows bright red cherry notes on the palate threaded with a bit of spice and smoke.
A Rare Red from Portugal
Taboadella Reserva Alfrocheiro, 2021: The grape variety first emerged in Portugal and in the Dão region after the phylloxera epidemic. It’s a rare one and it does well at higher altitude in difficult conditions. Elegant, polished and surprising in it’s depth and complexity—it drinks like a pinot noir but with rustic sensuality.
Pinot Noir with a Story to Tell
Alma Rosa El Jabali Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir, 2021: Samra Morris, California’s first Bosnian winemaker, is receiving some of the highest scores in the Santa Barbara region. The Jabali vineyard is a unique one, originally planted by Richard Sanford (who still lives on property) in 1983—Sanford is considered “Father Pinot” for being the first to plant the variety on the Central Coast of California.
Presqu’ile Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2023: ‘Presqu’ile’ is a creole term for “almost an island” –in this case it is homage to a gathering spot for the generations of the winemaker’s family on the Gulf coast—a spot that was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina. This enveloping, delicious, remarkable wine represents those years of family heritage and togetherness—a stunning tribute to a time and place with deft touch on the winemaking and skillful balance, the palate dance with vibrancy and juicy raspberry-currant fruit. Just a marvel. $48
Seven Springs Gamay Noir, 2024: First, this is not a pinot noir—but it’s in the same lane with a palate of ripe berries, warm spices and pretty violet notes. Lower in alcohol at 12% and biodynamically farmed, this is a great wine to sip all evening long. It will also play well with a casual meal of burgers or roasted chicken. $45
Nero d’Avola—Sicily’s Great Value Red
Mazzei Zisola Doppiozeta Sicilia Noto Rosso DOC 2021: The name of this wine is a mouthful—but it’s worth the trouble. Made entirely from Nero d’Avola, the fruit for this wine hails from beautiful southeastern Sicily. Doppiozeta is a single-cru bottling sourced from the estate’s three finest vineyard blocks. The result of this selectivity is a wine that drinks like an elegant, juicy pinot noir with a cassis-inflected spicy kick. It’s silky, elegant and even better as the evening progresses. $44.99
Tenuta Regaleali Rosso del Conte Sicilia Contea di Sclafani DOC 2018: Tenuta Regaleali is the Tasca d’Almerita family’s historic estate—here, the Rosso del Conte is crafted from a blend of Nero d’Avola and Perricone—fruit sourced from the estate’s oldest single-vineyard block. Loads of blue-black fruits on the palate and a warm, complex layer of cocoa and spice. It’s bold but elegant and delivers astonishing depth for the price point. $69.99
Unconventional Red Wines
The Walls Stanley Groovy, Washington State Red Wine, Vinho Tinto, 2022: A fascinating blend of red varietals (eight to be exact), including several traditional Portuguese selections. The result is playful, cherry bomb deliciousness.
La Sansonina Merlot Garda DOC, 2021: Merlot grown in and around Lake Garda (near to Lake Como) is unconventional and viewed as a bit of a risk—but this succulent, delicious wine is proof to the contrary. In a region known for whites such as Trebbiano di Lugana and reds such as Valpolicella, Merlot is an outlier—but a delicious one. This wine shows big black cherry fruit and a satiny fresh core. Elegant and original, it’s a fun one to sip with burgers or a grilled flank steak.
Caiarossa Pergolaia IGT, 2020:Using cover crops such as fava beans, clover and mustard in conjunction with following the lunar planting cycle are just a few things this Italina winery does to adhere to biodynamic winemaking. No pesticides or herbicides are used. This wine is bouncy, fun and pleasing—made from a blend of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot.
Poderi dal Nespoli Gualdo Sangiovese, 2022: A biodynamic Sangiovese from Italy’s lesser-known Romagna region. Drinks like a fresh pinot noir with notes of raspeberry, cranberry and a soft touch of rose. Elegant, fresh and juciy. A steal at $29
A Father & Son Winemaking Team
Coil Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, 2024: Family-run is still a thing in California and wines such as this one remind us of why that matters. Father and Son Chris and Josh Phelps undertake winemaking in difficult conditions (this vineyard sits at the edge of the Petaluma Gap where fog, chilly winds and fast-draining soils force the grapes to work hard to ripen). The wine shines with pretty peach and pear notes and a juicy, crisp tension on the palate that makes it perfect with creamy risotto.
The Intriguing White Wine Value
Troon Vineyard Druid’s White Biodynamic Blend, 2024: Six varietals comprise this lip-smacking delicious white wine—roussanne, grenache blanc, picpoul blanc, clairette blanche, bourboulenc, and vermentino. Biodynamically farmed grapes left unfined and unfiltered yield a wine with character, charm and a palate of ripe peach, beeswax and spice. $20 average online
Pazo de Lusco Albariño, 2024: Anyone who loves chardonnay should have Albariño on their white wine playlist. Made in both Spain and Portugal, this beautiful white grape delivers on ripe richness and savory, juicy freshness. Like biting into a ripe Honey Crisp apple—it’s perfect for spicier dishes—try this one with chicken panang or stir fry.
One of Napa’s Finest Sweet Wines
Far Niente Dolce, 2021: Far Niente Winery is known for their chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, but one would be remiss to overlook their legendary late harvest sweet wine—a wine that has been in production since 1985. Made with semillon and sauvignon blanc, Dolce shimmers with buttery brioche and ripe mango notes laced with hits of orange peel, ginger and warm spice. Sip this one with something like a slice of apple pie or a selection of strong cheeses.