The Ultimate Autumn Wine Guide

Embrace the spirit of fall with wines that make pumpkin spice lattes seem really boring.

I usually tend to drink the same thing every season of the year: exactly what I am in the mood for. That is not a fact, however, that makes for a good blog post. So, I decided to make a change in the name of research: to taste test my way through the perfect varieties so that I could recommend the perfect wines for fall! You're welcome.

General Tips

Before we get to the list, let me suggest some general guidelines for transitioning from the lighter, brighter summer sips to some cozier options:

• Disclaimer: You do NOT have to change what you like to drink purely based on the time of year! If you want a full, 14% abv red in the middle of a hot July, then plop yourself in front of a fan and drink the damn thing. Same goes for when you crave a chilly glass of Sauvignon Blanc when it's snowing outside: just put on another sweater!

  
  

• If you do like to stay seasonally on-theme, think about the other things you do this time of year. Do you enjoy earthier, richer dishes? Do you like to feel warmed up by that first sip of hot spiced cider? Match your wine with that vibe by drinking earthy or oak aged reds. If you usually drink white or rosé, look for deeper hues that may indicate more body or intensity.

  
  

• Guess what also makes wine a perfect drink for fall? The grape harvest! In most of the Northern Hemisphere, vineyards harvest their grapes between September and November. You can visit local wineries and enjoy the wines from the previous year's fall harvest watching them pick grapes for the upcoming vintage. It really gets you in that autumn mood.

Wine Recommendations for Every Type of Fall Vibe

Wine for When it's Still Hot, But You Need to Feel Autumnal: Orange Wine!

• Before you freak out, there are no actual oranges in 'orange' wine. The color comes from the white grape skins soaking longer with the juice after being crushed in the winemaking process. You can sometimes find Pinot Grigio from northern Italian regions with a gorgeous, coppery hue referred to as 'Ramato.' Other key words that indicate this style include 'skin contact' or 'amber.' Not only does this hue pair perfectly with your fall decor, but it also delivers the lightness of a white wine with a touch more depth of flavor and tannic texture.

Wine for a Sunny Day of Leaf Peeping: Pinot Gris

• While Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are actually the same variety in different languages (the former French and the latter Italian), the difference in name often points to a difference in style as well. Pinot Gris from Alsace, France has an added layer of nuance and aroma that is harder to find in most Italian Pinot Grigio. (That said, there are some areas like Alto Adige in Italy that produce examples with more body and complexity.) Oregon Pinot Gris tends to follow in the French footsteps of winemaking: cooler climate lends good acidity, but sunny days concentrate deeper flavor profiles.

  
  

Wine for Crisp Evenings on the Porch: Pinot Noir

• I often find that a medium-bodied Pinot Noir with a touch of oak and/or bottle age is the perfect fall red! Pinot Noir as a grape variety typically has lighter red-fruit characters, and whereas a Cabernet might have bolder black fruit and tannins, Pinot is great for when you're just starting the transition into cooler weather. It also can take on more earthy flavors the longer it ages, while oak barrels are often used to lend pleasant aromas of smoke or spice. I recommend something not too light that still has a lift of acidity: my current favorite regions to find quality for fall are Pinot Noir are Carneros in Sonoma County and New Zealand's South Island (the Central Otago, Canterbury, or Nelson subregions in particular).

Wine to Get You in a Spooky Mood: French Syrah

• Syrah is one of the most naturally darker colored grape varieties: depending on where its grown, it can produce an inky black wine perfect for spooky season! It also possesses a characteristic peppery flavor that pairs well with the heavier, meatier dishes we start to see once October rolls around. While Syrah is fantastic in blends, I suggest trying it on its own first and narrowing it down to the Rhône Valley. While this region categorizes as warm and Mediterranean, its strong winds and hills help to grow structured Syrah. Check out wines with Crozes-Hermitage or Saint Joseph on the label for bottles around $30. Feel free to venture into Côtes du Rhône- but try to find out the blend used- since these are often fruitier and Grenache-driven.

Wine with the Flavors of Fall: Chianti Classico

• A good quality Chianti with longer aging requirements, such as Classico and Riserva, can be drastically different from its entry-level counterparts. Basically I'm saying don't buy the bottle that comes in the little basket or grab the least expensive Chianti on the shelf (often with the widest geographical area it can originate from). Do me a favor and grab a Chianti Classico Riserva: its made from the Sangiovese grape, which has a red fruit and dried herb profile that pairs beautifully with fall dishes and still isn't too full-bodied. This DOCG wine also contains baking spice aromas and flavors from its time in oak. The older and more complex bottles will even take on meaty and leathery characteristics. Need I say more?

Wine to Pair with Favorite Fall Desserts: Off-Dry Riesling

• Riesling confuses people. There is a wide range of styles made from bone dry to toothache sweet, but different languages, terms, and requirements (or lack thereof) can boggle the mind. While I don't want to generalize, to find an off-dry Riesling, or rather one with some sweetness, look for German bottles with the word "Spätlese" on the label. Going back to Alsace in France, there's a good chance that the terms "demi-sec" or "Vendange Tardive" on the label denote a wine with enough body and sugar to stand up to your fall desserts without fading into the background. The caveat: some producers of Vendanges Tardives decide to ferment the sugars in the wine for longer to result in a drier style. A trick of the trade for guessing sweetness is to the look at the alcohol (abv) percentage on the label. Lower abv usually indicates higher residual sugar after fermentation and thus a sweeter wine. New World regions like Australia, New Zealand, or Pacific Northwest in the U.S. don't have consistent labeling standards for their Riesling sugar levels, so when in doubt, look at the alcohol percentage, ask a wine expert, or use the Google machine.

Well, I think that does it for today's post! I hope you're as excited as I am to watch the leaves change with the perfect glass in hand.

If you are a DIY, fast-learner when it comes to wine, you can probably scope out some actual bottles online or a nearby store from the grapes and regions I mention in this post. If not- or you just don't have the time or energy to figure it out- just let me know! I offer a range of wine consulting services, including recommendation and shopping lists, through my website. You can even book a free consult HERE.

Best sips,

-Elise