After years of planning and dreaming of launching a wine club, when it finally came time to make it a reality I reached out to an incredibly knowledgeable, talented and trusted colleague, Fred Mullins, from Vias Wines and he provided advice about the logistics of running a monthly club. Months later, I was fortunate to attend an Italian wine seminar he was hosting at Scales in Portland. When I heard his stories and tasted the wines, my wine club came to life. I can't thank Fred enough for his guidance, support and time to help with this launch!

With the holidays around the corner, a traditional Thanksgiving feast was my focus for this month's selections. Whether you are hosting or bringing a bottle, each of these wines will be a wonderful compliment to your meal, not only because of the delicious culinary pairing, but because of the stories you can bring to the table with them.

These wines also have richness and boldness, perfect for the cooling weather. In addition to traditional Thanksgiving dishes, these wines will also be a great pair for warm comfort foods. Many thanks to Chef Kathy Oberman Tracy for providing us with a recipe for her hearty Short Rib Chili for you to explore at home.