Fall flavors are definitely some of the most associable tastes to the specific weather of their season. Fruits like apple and pear or spices like cinnamon and chai are almost always consumed during the -ber months. The need for pumpkin in your daily coffee is completely understandable when the drink specials go away as soon as snow hits the ground, but what trumps all of these flavors as the best fall delight is wine.
During this time of year, all I want to make for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is cozy recipes using seasonal veggies and fruits. I tend to experiment a lot more in the kitchen during colder months when the sun sets at 6 p.m. and I’m back in my apartment at night much earlier. Since turning 21 over the summer, I’ve gotten extremely into wine because of my proximity to the North Fork of Long Island at home and Charlotteville, VA at school. These two places are both hotspots for vineyards, and I’ve definitely had my fair share of experimenting with wine. I’m also learning how to pair different wines with specific flavors in food, so I wanted to see if I could get creative with fall versions. So if you’re wondering how to pair fall flavors with wine, keep reading.
Pumpkin & Chardonnay
Everyone loves this quintessential fall flavor whether that be in coffee, dessert, or breakfast. I personally even love to throw cubed pumpkin into salads or pasta recipes, making it a clear staple for the season. When conjuring up a beverage pairing for pumpkin in a savory context, I imagine crisp and fruity wine like chardonnay. On the other hand, moscato makes for the perfect dessert wine to be sipped alongside pumpkin pie or other pumpkin treats.
Apple & Pinot Grigio
Apples are my favorite fall flavor, and I think their balance of tartness and sweetness makes them incredibly rich during this time of year. Whether snacking on them alone, with cheese, or baking them into desserts, I can’t imagine a more perfect pairing than apples and pinot grigio. This was one of my wine obsessions when abroad in Italy last fall, and I swear it’s the perfect white to pair with an already sweet food like an apple. If that’s not your jam, any sparkling white would be amazing with any of the apple varieties you can find in the fall.
Maple & Zinfandel
Maple is an underrated fall flavor, but my local coffee shop includes it as a seasonal syrup alongside pumpkin drinks. I think maple needs to have more of a moment in breakfast or dessert recipes for fall, and if I’d assign a wine to it I’d choose zinfandel. This wine definitely has some fruity notes, and the berry flavor that presents itself in every sip reminds me of a crust on any crumble or fruity pastry. I think the maple adds the more sugary sweetness to go with the fruit, which is why I’d choose a red zinfandel to balance this out.
Cinnamon & Merlot
This warm spice in fall is unbeatable, and it would be a shame to not pair it with a mild red like merlot. I love red wine when it’s chilly outside, so the visual of sipping on one of these with any cinnamon flavored food seems like heaven. Cinnamon can go in both savory and sweet dishes, so this type of red definitely offers a sweet element to the spice’s warmth when included in food.
Chai & Malbec
Talk about spice! Everything in fall-flavored foods feels like a warm hug, but to go the extra mile you have to cook with chai. If you’re a big fan of this cozy spice, definitely try pairing these types of dishes with spicy red wines. For extra spice, I’d go for a malbec because it’s tangy and perfect for the fall weather. To tone it down a notch and still have a successful pairing, syrah also has the spiciness but at a more manageable level. This one is all up to the consumer!
Pear & Prosecco
Pear is one of those fruits I just discovered as a key fall staple, especially because it gets overshadowed by apples during this time of year. A local bakery I went to made a pear tart I recently had that was divine, but if I were to enjoy it later in the day with some wine, I’d go for a sparkling white. As someone who loves wine with bubbles, Prosecco is definitely my go-to, but you can sub any sparkling wine of your choosing. Pear also goes well in salads, on pizza (if you’re feeling creative), and in many other savory dishes, so try out a pear recipe for fall and sip on some sparkling wine while you taste test.
Ginger & Riesling
The final flavor that needs a wine pairing is ginger, another spicy ingredient that elevates all fall salads and pastas. Ginger is another slightly spicy root veggie, and the best wine to balance that sort of heat is a white wine like riesling. It’s high in acidity and can be dry or sweet depending on how much sugar is added. But overall, its complete flavor profile has somewhat flowery notes, which I believe would enhance the ginger in whatever dish is being paired with the riesling.