Italy reigns as “il numero uno” among wines imported to the United States. But in Italy, grappa is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages. You might say that grappa is the cool, younger, indie cousin to its older, more worldly and established wine relative, as both have their roots in Italian vineyards and, since 1989, only grappa produced in Italy can be labeled grappa. Being deep into a St. Louis winter, it’s the perfect time to curl up in front of a roaring fire with a tall flute filled with an artisanal grappa while you get the scoop about this native Italian spirit.

Every November, it’s the same question. What to serve with the traditional Thanksgiving feast? When you have such dispirit flavors as lemon-dilled Brussels sprouts, green peas a la Francaise and apricot-glazed sweet potatoes, not to mention a turkey that could be roasted, braised, baked or grilled, your wine choices can be just as varied.

As you’re opening a bottle of crisp Sauvignon Blanc, buttery Chardonnay, spicy Zinfandel or unctuous Cabernet Sauvignon on a cool October evening to enjoy with pork chops, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, roasted green beans or other dishes featuring autumn’s bounty, remember that it’s harvest time. America’s farmers are reaping the rewards of their year of hard work cultivating crops such as pumpkins and various squash, all kinds of beans, root vegetables, apples, pears, plums and of course, grapes.

Not to confuse the average wine lover any more than we already are, in the world of wine viticulture, a number of grapes have different names depending on which country they are from. Spain’s Tempranillo grape is called Tinta Roriz in Portugal, while France’s Carignan grape is known as Mazuelo in Spain’s Rioja region. 

Spain is hot, especially in August! Like St. Louis, temperatures can rise as high as 100 degrees. Despite the heat, Spain is best known for the production of red wines, largely because of the hardy Tempranillo grape, which is widely planted all over the country and used in the vast majority of Spanish red wines.