The warm days of summer are dwindling down, and fall is making its appearance. With autumn comes cooler days, cozy fireside gatherings, holidays, and warm comfort food.
Autumn is the perfect time to switch up your wine routine. This fall, we’re putting the light, fruity drinks on pause and are going in favor of rich, warm blends that will make fall feel like fall. So skip the cider and sip on one of our favorite fall wines!
Read on to find out the best wine pairings for this season.
What Makes a Good Fall Wine?
Sugar and spice and everything nice! Well…not quite. While popular autumn wines do include spicy aromatics, there are more things to consider than seasonal profiles. Red wines are very popular in the fall, but so are bold white wines. The trick is to pair your wine with what you’re serving.
When it comes to the fall season, comfort food and holiday dishes are big staples—think Thanksgiving and holiday dinners. We’ve taken this into consideration when compiling our fall wine list. All of our wines make great pairings with the heart-warming food of the holidays and fall season.
Best Wines for Cooler Weather
Cold weather is finally here! Check out these wine recommendations that will make you feel just like you’re wrapped up in your favorite flannel.
Rioja
Nothing says fall like an oak-aged red. Hailing from Spain, Rioja wine is a labor of love and it shows. Rioja grapes are only grown in specific parts of Spain and take years of aging in oak barrels. Its flavor profile has just the right amount of richness that makes it an excellent, versatile option for food. A bottle of Rioja is a great choice for hearty meals, like casseroles.
Our Pick: Pagos de Tahola Oak Aged Rioja
Flavor Profile:
- Ripe plum
- Raspberry
- Oak
- Clove
Grenache
Grenache—also called Garnacha—is a fall classic! Its notes of spice, herbs, and sweet fruit will warm you right up in the autumn chill. It’s lovely with a hearty stew but equally good as something to sip on next to a fireplace or throughout your next family get-together.
Our Pick: El Bombero Garnacha
Flavor Profile:
- Sun-ripe black fruit
- Red berry
- Spice
- Black currant
Chardonnay
We’re taking a break from the reds and offering a fresh white wine. Chardonnay pairs great with light meats and poultry. It’s delicious with Thanksgiving turkey or as a complement to apple pie. For fall, select a Chardonnay that comes from a warm region, like Maule Valley in Chile or Sonoma, California.
Our Pick: Casas Del Maipo Chardonnay
Flavor Profile:
- Fruity
- Fresh
- Balanced minerality
Wines Perfect for Picnics, Camping, and More
We’ve also added in some wines that go great for fall activities, like picnics and camping.
Merlot
Merlot is a fall go-to because of its balanced versatility and medium tannins. It pairs great with hearty, rich foods, making it perfect for a holiday meal or a wintertime campfire. Enjoy Merlot’s profile of black fruit and mellow spice on your next holiday outing!
Our Pick: Between the Vines Merlot
Flavor Profile:
- Red fruit
- Fresh plum
- Bramble fruit
Gewürztraminer
Autumn isn’t just for reds! White wines are a great option for fall activities because of their different, yet comforting, flavor profile. Gewürztraminer has notes of ginger, citrus, and rose in it, making it a lovely pairing with spiced meals and roasted veggies. Take a bottle of Gewürztraminer on your next fall picnic and savor its warm, bright flavor profile—it’ll be like enjoying a cozy campfire in the middle of a frozen forest.
Our Pick: Highway 253 Gewürztraminer
Flavor Profile:
- Exotic lychee
- Asian spices
- Peach
Leave A Comment