There’s a definite nip in the air! Living in the DC metro area, we do have actual seasons, although the switch from one to the next is rarely well-defined. I’ve turned the furnace on, but will have to turn it off again since we have a predicted high of 70F for Halloween Day. Changing seasons inspire a change in cocktails, and have I got a versatile cold-weather stand-by. I’ve served this to crowds, heating the cider on the stovetop (the scent warming the entire house), or served it to just myself, heating the cider in the microwave.

For the rum, I am currently obsessed with the Gosling’s Black Seal Bermuda Black Rum (used in the Dark and Stormy). I especially like the caramel notes in this rum — works especially well with apples. But any full-flavored dark rum would work well.

Any unfiltered apple cider would work nicely here, but I am fond of Trader Joe’s Spiced Cider. The right balance of cinnamon, nutmeg, and citrus — they already did the work for me (also delish cold without the rum).

Rummed-up Spiced Cider

2 – 4 tablespoons of dark rum
Enough spiced cider to fill the mug
Cinnamon Stick

Put 2 – 4 tablespoons of rum in a mug. Separately, heat the cider in the microwave or on the stovetop to a near boil. My little secret: while the cider is heating, gently rasp some of the cinnamon into the mug with a microplane (yes, there’s already some cinnamon in the cider, but the freshly ground cinnamon adds a nice warmth). Pour the hot cider into the mug, stirring with the cinnamon stick.

I gotta remember to take this down in a thermos the next time I’m fishing for Rockfish in the brutal November wind on the end of our community’s 450′ fishing pier!

Standard caveat: This is a personal recommendation. Neither Gosling’s nor Trader Joe’s know I exist and has provided neither product nor compensation for this endorsement. In fact, they’ll probably sue me if this ever gets in a search engine.

I don’t even remember WHEN I picked up this bottle of wine, Bogle Phantom. Maybe last fall? I got it at Trader Joe’s and probably spent a little more than usual, like maybe $14? $16? It’s something that only comes out once a year and when it’s gone, it’s gone. At least that’s what my wine buddy at Trader Joe’s said.

This particular bottle is the 2009 vintage (I think the 2010 recently came out). With a preponderance of Old Vine Zin, I knew it wasn’t a summer wine. But we’ve had some cool nights recently and I had a winter squash baking off in the oven, so I thought it might be time to pop the cork.

To start — it is a beautiful dark purple. Opaque. Lush. Just a really pretty wine to look at. The scent reminds me of berries. It’s a full, round wine on the tongue — dry but not too tannic — definitely fruity. A hint of peppery. I really do love a good zinfandel.

I think this would work well with autumnal food — heavier pastas, pork, beef.

Standard caveat: This is a personal recommendation. Neither the Trader Joe’s nor Bogle folks know I exist and have provided neither product nor compensation for this endorsement. In fact, they’ll probably sue me if this ever gets in a search engine.

This is my ORIGINAL Tuesday Night Wine … a non-vintage Prosecco from Trader Joe’s ringing up at $6.99/bottle. I think it’s been that price for the 10 years we’ve been drinking it! It’s a versatile wine with enough body and acidity to hold up to hearty dishes, such as pork or steak, and is especially good with spicy Asian dishes. But also quite lovely with fish and seafood. I also use it in sangria. We buy it buy the case because we drink at least one bottle a week — it goes with so much that we eat. It’s also my standard house-warming or Happy Birthday gift

Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine. My experience is that it is a tad less fizzy than Champagne or domestic sparkling wines made in the méthode champenoise. It’s on the dry (not sweet) side, but if I have a guest that prefers a sweeter wine, I float a little creme de cassis or other sweet fruit liqueur in it.

If you have a Trader Joe’s that sells wine in your area — definitely give this a try.

Standard caveat: This is a personal recommendation. Trader Joe’s doesn’t know I exist and has provided neither product nor compensation for this endorsement. In fact, they’ll probably sue me if this ever gets in a search engine.

Yes — another Tuesday Night Wine offering. A domestic Riesling from Fetzer (Goosefoot Road, 2010) that should be readily available at mass retailers — I paid $6.99 or $7.99. I would characterize it as semi-dry with a lot of summer fruit notes (melon, for example). Serve well chilled. I think it would make a fine white sangria as well.

Standard caveat: This is a personal recommendation. These folks don’t know I exist and have provided neither product nor compensation for this endorsement. In fact, they’ll probably sue me if this ever gets in a search engine.

My friend Beverly, over at One Week Closer, took my comment about not having much luck with the under $5 wines as a challenge, and gave me a bottle of Rene Barbier Mediterranean White to try. At a price point of $4.99, I was a **bit** skeptical, but she was spot on! It’s a nice crisp white, not too sweet, not too dry, and seems pretty versatile. I ate it with delivery pizza, but I could definitely pair it with cheese and fruit as a summer party starter. I think Bev pegged it when she described it as a Houswives Wine (she shares my guilty pleasure for the Bravo RH series).

Beverly got this at a local liquor store and I think I’ve seen it at Trader Joe’s, so it should be readily available at mass retailers.

Standard caveat: This is a personal recommendation. These folks don’t know I exist and have provided neither product nor compensation for this endorsement. In fact, they’ll probably sue me if this ever gets in a search engine.

I’m the ANTI wine snob. I’m always on the lookout for those priced well-under $10 … I call them Tuesday-night wines. That’s because you don’t think twice about opening them on a Tuesday night (or a Wednesday, or a Thursday, etc). I haven’t had much luck with the under $5 wines — guess I’m just not cheap enough?

My latest find — a fruity Pinot Noir from CA’s The Naked Grape. It’s a medium-bodied wine, not too drying on the tongue (non-astringent? non-tannic?), and pretty versatile, as are most of the pinots I consume. I pay about $7 at the local grocery store. So definitely a Tuesday-night wine (yes, I realize today is Monday).

Standard caveat: This is a personal recommendation. The Naked Grapers don’t know I exist and have provided neither product nor compensation for this endorsement. In fact, they’ll probably sue me if this ever gets in a search engine.