October Seasonal Drinking Guide
The Shadow Cellar
October is a month of thresholds — the air sharpens, the nights stretch longer, and the wines seem to take on a deeper voice. This guide isn’t about what’s easy to drink; it’s about what lingers. The bottles here don’t flatter you — they challenge you, unsettle you, and invite you closer. These are wines for flickering light and quiet rooms, for when you’d rather be moved than merely pleased.
Wines That Belong to October
Syrah (Northern Rhône or Cool-Climate California)
Syrah is the midnight hour of red wines: peppery, smoky, and brooding. It tastes like blackberries eaten under moonlight, with a whiff of meat on the grill and violets crushed in your hand. It’s not an easy wine — it’s a demanding one. Perfect for nights when you want to lean into mystery rather than chase clarity.
Gewürztraminer
If wine could wear perfume, this would be it. Gewürztraminer smells like rose petals, lychee, ginger, incense — a little intoxicating, a little strange. Some people find it overwhelming; others are bewitched. That’s exactly why it belongs in the Shadow Cellar. Serve it with spicy food, or drink it alone while you’re unraveling your thoughts.
Aglianico
Known as the “Barolo of the South” in Italy, Aglianico is volcanic, structured, and shadowy. It grips you with tannins, then slowly reveals layers of black fruit, earth, and smoke. This is a wine for long-cooked stews, braised meats, or simply for staring into the fire. It demands patience — and rewards it.
Nebbiolo (Langhe or Barolo/Barbaresco if you’re bold)
Nebbiolo is deceptive: pale and delicate in color, yet ferociously tannic and hauntingly aromatic. Roses, tar, cherries, forest floor — it’s both ethereal and punishing, a wine of paradox. It dares you to sit with contradiction, to find beauty in austerity. If any grape belongs in the Shadow Cellar, it’s Nebbiolo.
How to Drink in October (Ritual > Rules)
☽ The Mirror Ritual
Pour a glass in front of a mirror. Take a sip while looking yourself in the eye. What comes up? What do you notice in the reflection and in the wine?
☽ The Candle Test
Drink by candlelight instead of overhead lighting. Notice how the shadows shift the way the wine looks — and the way you feel drinking it.
☽ Uncanny Pairings
Try a pairing that feels wrong at first glance (Syrah with chocolate, Gewürztraminer with blue cheese, orange wine with pumpkin pie). See what happens.
☽ The Tarot Pull
Before opening a bottle, pull a card. Let it guide your choice — or challenge it. Either way, the wine becomes part of the reading. And if you want some more guidance - get the guide!
☽ The Solitude Sip
Drink one glass alone, without distraction. No phone, no TV, no book. Just you, the wine, and whatever stirs in the quiet.
October is for Embracing The Shadows
This month isn’t about chasing perfect pairings or pleasing palates. It’s about stepping into the cellar of yourself, where the air is cool, the light is dim, and the bottles whisper truths you only hear when you’re ready.
Wine is not a mask you wear for the crowd. It is a mirror held in the dark.
