Dancing in September: Wines for Grooving to Earth, Wind & Fire

In September of 1978, disco funk royalty Earth, Wind & Fire recorded their single “September,” which immediately became one of the group’s greatest hits of all time.

By 2017, this song had reached over 2 million digital copies sold, and it remains a dance party must-have to this day. To celebrate 45 years of “dancing in September” and 54 years of Earth, Wind & Fire, here’s a wine list to pair with these cosmic soul icons.

Earth, Wind & Fire’s Beginnings: Pet-Nat Sparkling Chardonnay

Earth, Wind & Fire was born in 1969 in Chicago. Maurice White’s first band, the Salty Peppers, was known for smooth and soulful psychedelic beats that influenced the foundational sounds of Earth, Wind & Fire. The group then added more band members, including White’s younger brother Verdine and iconic vocalist Philip Bailey, over the next couple of years and changed their name to Earth, Wind & Fire based on White’s astrological sign, Sagittarius.

To celebrate the birth of this musical sensation, I’d recommend popping open a sparkling pet-nat Chardonnay. Chardonnay is already a great variety for classic or tank method sparklings, so letting it ferment naturally helps bring out toastiness and bright acidity. Hippy Sippy, Tank Garage Winery’s pet-nat Chardonnay, is an excellent representation of how subtler notes of lemongrass and green apple can really shine with natural fermentation.

Early Days to Peak Years: Aged Sauvignon Blanc

Earth, Wind & Fire were very experimental in their early days. They immediately struck the music scene with high-quality, upbeat Afro-pop tunes and an energizing stage presence. Relatively new to making music, White wanted to pioneer new sounds to take funk and soul to a new level in the ‘70s. But many, including Rolling Stone, critiqued the group’s early moves as too similar to other bands of the time.

After rearranging the group and adding many new young musicians, Earth, Wind & Fire continued into the ‘70s and ‘80s with fresh sounds, harmoniously juxtaposing big band jazz, smooth R&B and free-form instrumentals. Their albums were making billboard charts, and audiences loved the way they utilized well-known musical styles to create something new.

This era was also a period of revitalization in winemaking. While California varieties were starting to make waves in the international wine scene, certain areas like the Santa Rita Hills and Willamette Valley were still largely overlooked. Kathy Joseph, a biochemist with an unusually sensitive palate, launched Fiddlehead Cellars in 1989 in Santa Barbara County, California, to showcase the unique terroir of these regions and deliver brand new styles of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

“Why do what anyone else is doing?” asked Joseph while explaining her pioneering mentality. At a tasting dinner together, she expressed her delicate consideration of pairing food and wine. Her wines—even the Sauvignon Blancs—are developed with aging in mind.

Fiddlehead Cellars’s Hunnysuckle is the perfect Sauvignon Blanc to pair with a nostalgic listening session of pre-90s Earth, Wind & Fire. It showcases the earthy yet crisp elements of this variety that “pay tribute to why we love the Sauvignon Blanc grape,” in Joseph’s words, and pairs with blue cheese, figs and shellfish.

Legacies in the ‘90s: Classic Cabernet Sauvignon

By the ‘90s, Earth, Wind & Fire was all about collaborations. Their tracks frequently featured other iconic musicians such as Sly Stone, MC Hammer and Prince, and they made appearances on renowned compilations like Epic Records’ Music Speaks Louder Than Words and Wu-Tang Records’ The Last Shall Be First.

To pair with this band’s transition into their legacy era, you’ll want to find a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon that echoes that collaborative style and high level of quality. Cabernet is a very age-worthy variety and happens to be the most popular wine in the world. Varying styles and blends of Cab abound, so finding a wine that stands out to you can be a challenge.

I recently had the privilege of visiting Vine Hill Ranch in Oakville, California, to taste some of their life-changing Cabernet wines. Owners Bruce and Heather Phillips attribute their Cabernet’s “hauntingly beautiful” style to the “integrative approach” of their winemaker, Françoise Peschon. They believe that the past few pandemic-ridden years have really galvanized the local community to get more involved in widespread structural and social issues and to share their perspectives on wine.

Unlike Earth, Wind & Fire, however, Vine Hill Ranch isn’t interested in fame and glory. They want their legacy to shine through their wines and the lifelong friendships they’ve made with their community. Their Baker & Hamilton 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, described by Heather Phillips as a perfect “pop and pour,” absolutely blew my mind. Silky and complex with a calm floral finish, this wine really showcases the meticulous work of winemaker Peschon and the love that the Phillips family puts into every bottle. 

Nostalgic Listening: Funky Red Blend

Today, Earth, Wind & Fire are considered one of the biggest musical legacies of all time. With seven Grammy Awards, this band has been sampled and covered by prestigious artists such as Missy Elliot, Whitney Houston, Snoop Dogg and TLC. Their timeless classic “September” gained increased popularity in the late 2010s through comedian Demi Adejuyigbe’s viral videos featuring elaborate dance routines and donations of over $50,000 to various charities. As a professor, even some of my own Gen-Z students, upon seeing a “September” poster in my office, lit up with excitement and told me they’d been dancing to the song in the car on the way to school.

So, this September 21, as you’re celebrating 45 years since Earth, Wind & Fire declared “love was here to stay,” I challenge you to find a funky red blend that stands up to the soulful vibe of this musical ensemble. I’ll be diving into Tank Garage’s Zinfandel blend, aptly named “I Love You, But I’ve Chosen Disco,” and dancing the night away to these dulcet tunes that perfectly facilitate the flow into the new autumn season.