Entry 1 — Bubbles
Chelsea has one rule that works in every season: drink the bubbles. Champagne tops her fall list partly because, as she cheerfully points out, October is her birthday month — but she hardly needs an occasion. Effervescent, festive and endlessly food-friendly, bubbles can move easily from an afternoon gathering to dinner with friends. If you tend to save Champagne for holidays or major celebrations, Chelsea would happily encourage you to rethink that habit. Sometimes simply opening the bottle is reason enough to celebrate.
Entry 2 — Chenin Blanc
Think white wine belongs only to warm weather? Chelsea would like a word. Her fall pick is Chenin Blanc from France’s Loire Valley, whose baked-apple and honey notes bring an unmistakably autumnal feel to the glass. Its richer weight also makes it a bridge between crisp summer whites and the deeper reds many people reach for when temperatures drop. For anyone ready to put white wine away until spring, Chelsea’s advice is simple: give Loire Valley Chenin a chance to change your mind.
Entry 3 — Syrah
Chelsea readily admits she is a full-on Syrah fangirl, and fall is when she thinks the grape truly shines. With smoke, black pepper and dark fruit, Syrah feels right at home beside a fall barbecue or around a campfire. If your experience with Syrah has been limited to big, jammy versions, she suggests looking toward France’s Northern Rhône. The style can reveal a different side of the grape — savory, peppery and complex enough that Chelsea is confident she just might make you a convert.
“October is my birthday month and my favorite time of year, so this question is dangerous… I could go on forever.”