Fall Wine Time: The Best Wines for Fall

As the warmth of summer makes its exit and the cooler days of fall slowly ebb in, the chance to take a closer look at rich, seasonal wine choices appears too. Autumn marks cool evenings around the fire pit, warm food, and some beautiful fall wine choices that pair well with many of autumn’s best dishes. What’s at the core of a good fall wine? And how do you select the perfect option for your table? This quick guide can help. 

The Best Wines For Fall Mean These Ingredients

When most think of fall wines, they think of spicy aromatic ingredients, but those aren’t the only key flavor profiles you want in your fall wine choice. Instead, you want a warming wine that includes flavor notes like jam and spices. This is the ideal time of year to think about wines aged in oak - both red and white varieties - and look for notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. While many think those light-bodied white wines and rosés have to disappear until the following year, the reality is that not all of them need to wait until next Spring. Instead, you simply need to switch things up a bit to include richer flavors that help complement the season. 

A Few Great Fall Wine Choices

Not sure what to put on your table? Here are a few different choices you may want to consider. 

• Pinot Noir: This is a lighter-bodied red wine, and it’s great early in the season. It works well with a dish like stuffed mushrooms or even something a bit meatier like turkey chili. Look for a Pinot Noir that incorporates notes of cherry, vanilla, and spices. 
• Chardonnay: This white wine may have graced your outdoor living space in the summer more than once, but it works just as well on your fall table. Thanks to notes of fall fruits like pear, you’ll find it’s the ideal complement to options like creamy pasta dishes.
• Viognier: This is a white wine, but it offers a richness that you’ll find with traditional Chardonnay choices. Search for an option that includes notes of rose, honeysuckle, and mango or one that incorporates flavors of the season like golden apple, walnut, and cream. It will work well if you’re roasting a chicken this season. 
• Carignan: This medium-bodied red wine incorporates many of the flavors you might associate with the season in one space. Here you’ll typically find notes of cranberry and baking spices. It works well with traditional Thanksgiving foods including butternut squash. 
• Zinfandel: A higher ABV choice, this red wine is an excellent addition to your fall table. You’ll find notes of fruit and smoke, as well as a hint of cinnamon. It works well with chicken or veal. It’s also the ideal bottle to pull out on pizza night. 

And last but not least:

• Gewürztraminer: If you could bottle fall, you’d easily end up with a Gewürztraminer variety. With notes of ginger, citrus, and rose, it pairs perfectly with spicy root vegetable combos. In fact, it’s perfect whether you’re headed out for a fall picnic or a night around the campfire. 

Ready to make your perfect fall wine selection? Take a look at a few varieties we have to offer.