The Best Wine to Pair With Your Favourite Autumn Dishes
Do you love a good glass of wine but aren’t quite sure how to pair it with your favourite autumn dishes? Whether you drink wine purely for enjoyment or like to enhance the flavour of your meals, we’ve got you covered on both occasions. We’ve developed a handy guide to help you navigate the wonderful world of wine and how to pair it perfectly with some delicious autumn meals. Hearty soups, delicious pies and slow-cooked meals are just some autumn and autumn meal favourites. When you think of autumn, you associate it with pumpkin pie and earthy flavours that are utterly irresistible. Of course, you can have your own spin on what an autumn meal is, but it’s the season of comfort food and good wine. The air is crisp and its slightly warmer outside – it’s time to invite family over, crack open a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and serve up an array of autumn favourites! Pairing the right wine with the right dish is to enhance the flavour and have an enjoyable experience. From casseroles and salads to soups and stews, we’ve got the perfect wine pairing for you. Check out some of our recommendations below:
• Autumn salad recipes with seasonal fruits and vegetables: Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon Blends
• Vegetarian autumn recipes packed with lots of crunch: Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Grenache
• Fish and seafood-based autumn pastas: Riesling, Semillon, and Chardonnay
• Meat and vegetable autumn pastas: Pinot Noir, Barbera, Merlot and Grenache
Overview of Autumn Wines
While we believe that a glass of wine is good for any season of the year, there are some wines that are best enjoyed in a particular season. The most popular autumn wines have us feeling warm, comfortable, and completely relaxed. It’s the time where we put down the ciders to show a little more appreciation for red and white autumn wines. An all-time favourite red wine to savour in the winter is your choice of Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, or Cabernet Franc – they’re lighter in taste and less intense to enjoy this time of the year. Not forgetting white wine lovers, Chardonnay is a classic to sip on, but if you’re looking to step outside your comfort zone, Viognier is one to try. With the change of season into autumn, give yourself the opportunity to try something new and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. While there are many different grape varieties out there, sticking to the classics aren’t bad – it simply means you enjoy what you already know. Some go-to grape varieties include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sangiovese and Barbera. A good rule of thumb to remember when selecting the right wine, is that red wines are for darker meats and white wines are for lighter meats.
Wine Pairing for Autumn Dishes
No party is complete without an array of appetisers and starters. For those that appreciate the craft of wine, there are some ideal wines to serve alongside your choice of snacks. A safe bet is pairing a sparkling wine with salty foods such as crisps or fries and spicy food such as wings and spring rolls. It’s refreshing, keeps your palate fresh and cuts through the salt. If you’re whipping up a vegetarian starter, Sauvignon Blanc is a great choice! There are many different types of soups, stews, and casseroles that you can serve. The real question is – what type of wine will you serve it with? White wines are perfect for lighter meals and red wines are ideal for the heartier types of meals such as stews and casseroles. We recommend Riesling for light soups and Pinot Noir for earthier, darker soups. You can’t go wrong with a classic Shiraz wine for stews and casseroles. The star of the show – roasted and grilled meats – deserves to be showed off with the right bottle of wine. Delicious and tender meats such as roasted chicken are taken to the next level with classic white wines such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and even a medium-bodied glass of rosé. Darker, juicier cuts of meat such as beef, duck, or lamb can burst with flavour when paired with red wines such as Pinot Noir and Bordeaux. There’s always room for dessert! Autumn desserts such as pumpkin pie, apple tart and caramel apple pie are best enjoyed with a low-alcohol sparkling wine and dessert wines such as fortified wines and sweet red wines.
Autumn Wine and Cheese Pairings
Cheese isn’t just cheese in the world of wine – it’s all about the right pairings. In this more auspicious season, you should be looking for cheeses that have a deep flavour and have had their time to age and mature. Popular autumn cheeses you should try are savoury cheddar, aged gouda, mountain cheeses like gruyere and full-bodied blue cheeses. With great knowledge, comes great wine and cheese pairings. Here are some tips on how to pair wine with cheese and some classic pairings that you have to try this autumn. 1. Cheese and wine have their own level of intensity – try pair them equally to prevent an overwhelming flavour. 2. Aged cheeses tend to pair best with red wines because of their high-fat content. 3. Those stinky cheeses can be masked by pairing it with sweeter wines and dessert wines. 4. If you’re enjoying a creamy cheese, pair it with a glass of sparkling wine to cleanse your palate. Some well-known cheese and autumn wine pairings include:
• Malbec and sharp cheddar
• Cabernet Sauvignon and smoked gouda
• Pinot noir and Manchego The Art of Serving and Storing Autumn Wine In order to unlock the full flavour and aroma of wine, it’s imperative to serve certain wines at their ideal temperature.
• Red wine – best served slightly cooler than room temperature, preferably 15 – 20 degrees.
• White wine – best served slightly warmer than a fridge’s temperature, preferably 7 – 12 degrees.
• Sparkling wine – best served at a cooler temperature, preferably 6 – 8 degrees. Storing wine in the correct temperature is often overlooked and not taken seriously. Unfortunately, the storing of wine doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. During autumn, it’s best to store wine at a consistent humidity and temperature – not too hot or cold. Make sure that you lay the wine bottles horizontally so that the cork stays in contact with the wine, to prevent it from drying out. Got leftover wine? Try out these handy tips on storing and preserving leftover wine. • Put your leftover wine bottle in the fridge to keep cool.
• Try re-corking the leftover wine if possible.
• Keep out of the light and avoid leaving it on the counter. There’s no better way to enjoy the autumn season than cosying up to your favourite movie, a homemade comforting meal, and a chilled glass of wine. No matter your wine preferences – red or white – there’s an autumn dish and cheese pairing for everyone. From white wine classics such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to popular reds such as Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, your autumn dinner party will be filled with lots of good moments and bold flavours. Life’s simple pleasures can often be shared with those you love and a glass of wine in your hand. We encourage you to experiment with new wine pairings - step outside your comfort zone and taste the myriad different varietals for every season. This is your cue to visit a wine farm soonest, and develop your palate to the incredible world of wine.