close

Search Term

Enter a search term (optional)

Categories

Select One (optional)


Wine Varietal

Select One (optional)

Price

Select as many as you like (optional)

  • Under $10
  • $10-$20
  • $20-$40
  • $40-$80
  • $80-$150
  • Over $150
Style of Wine

Select as many as you like (optional)

  • Approachable
  • Big
  • Bright
  • Chewy tannins
  • Creamy
  • Crisp
  • Dry
  • Earthy
  • Fortified
  • Fresh
  • Fruity
  • Full-bodied
  • Herbal
  • High acidity
  • Light-bodied
  • Low acidity
  • Medium acidity
  • Medium-bodied
  • Moderate tannin
  • Oaked
  • Off-dry
  • Rich
  • Savory
  • Silky
  • Smooth
  • Soft tannin
  • Spicy
  • Strong tannin
  • Sweet
  • Toasty
  • Unoaked
Wine Region

Select One (optional)

Advanced Wine Search
TheWineBuyingGuide.com

10 Fall Food and Wine Pairings

These wine and food pairings will keep you cozy all season long.

Fall Food and Wine Pairings

There are a lot of things to love about fall, and one of our favorites is the food and wine. It’s time to swap the salads of summer for fall recipes like soup, roasted squash, and spiced apples. As the food trends move into fall, so should the wines!

Wine and food pairings for fall should be cozy, comforting, and have a little spice. While you might think that red wines are the most traditional for fall, be sure to consider some white wines as well. Toasty and buttery white wine flavors are an effortless match for fall foods like pumpkin. Chardonnay and Viognier are both great options to have on hand.

These food and wine pairings will help you enjoy all of the flavors that fall has to offer. From easy sides to showstopping main courses, these foods are a great starting point for your seasonal menu. Try them all, and have a great autumn!

Wine Braised Short Ribs with White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

This fall recipe is the perfect way to begin the season of savory comfort food. Bone-in short ribs are braised with vegetables and rich red wine until the meat is tender and falling off the bone. The white Cheddar mashed potatoes are the pièce de résistance of this delicious meal.

Pair this recipe with a Pinot Noir or Merlot. These medium-bodied reds will highlight the earthy flavors of the dish. You can also use the same wine for cooking.

Try the Route Stock Route 99W Pinot Noir 2013.

Wine Braised Short Ribs with White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

Chili

Whether you’re celebrating game day or just enjoying a cool weather favorite, chili is a great fall food idea. It’s also an easy meal to serve to a crowd, which makes it perfect for entertaining.

Malbec is a great wine pairing for chili. The smoky notes in the chili match well with the slightly spicy flavors in a Malbec. This bold red wine can stand up to the robust flavors of your favorite chili recipe. We recommend the Jamieson Ranch Vineyards Whiplash Malbec 2014.

Apple Cobbler

Apple desserts are an essential part of fall cooking. Whether you love apple pie, apple cobbler, or baked apples (all of the above?), some apple dessert is probably featuring in your fall recipe lineup.

Riesling is a great wine to pair with baked apples and other cooked apple dishes. The wine's sweetness is a good match for the sweetness of the dessert, and yet it is balanced by a high acidity.

Try one of these apple desserts with this Paul Cluver Close Encounter Riesling 2015.

Mom's German Apple Cobbler

Rosemary Oven Roasted Mushrooms

Fall is a great season for entertaining, and so impressive appetizers are a necessity. These Rosemary Oven Roasted Mushrooms are the perfect elegant appetizer for any occasion. Pair them with Malbec or Pinot Noir. Malbec is fantastic with ultra-savory flavors like mushrooms, and Pinot Noir is a classic pairing. We recommend the Landmark Overlook Pinot Noir 2014.

Rosemary Oven Roasted Mushrooms

Roasted Winter Squash

Is there a more iconic fall food than squash? We don’t think so. Roasted winter squash like butternut, acorn, or delicata is a perfect match for Chardonnay. Chardonnay has plenty of body and rich flavor, often with a touch of butter that makes a spectacular complement for roasted squash. Try this Patland Chardonnay 2013.

Pumpkin Quinoa Risotto

This Pumpkin Quinoa Risotto is a creative twist on classic pumpkin recipes. Serve this delicious fall recipe with a wine like Chardonnay or Viognier. Both of these wines have great body and a rich flavor to match well with a risotto.

We recommend this Yalumba Virgilius Viognier 2014 for a fantastic pairing.

Pumpkin Quinoa Risotto

Italian Sausage Bolognese

Try this recipe for Italian Sausage Bolognese when you want to have an elegant and easy fall dinner party. Sangiovese or Barbera would each make a great wine pairing for this dish. The Italian style of the wines would match well with the Italian dish.

Try it with the Peterson Dry Creek Valley Sangiovese 2013.

Italian Sausage Bolognese

Roasted Pork with Sage

Turning on the oven for a roast is a sure sign that it is time to enjoy sweater weather. Enjoy this delicious dinner with light-bodied red wines like Grenache or Pinot Noir. Pork can also be lovely with white wine, so consider a Grüner Veltliner.

This Donkey and Goat Grenache Noir 2015 is an excellent option with this classic fall dish.

Spiced Red Wine Poached Pears

Pears are always a fall favorite, but they become dazzling when poached in red wine and served with mascarpone whipped cream. Serve this dessert with a rich and complementary dessert wine, such as this Rombauer Vineyards Vintage Port 2011.

Spiced Red Wine Poached Pears

Chicken Pinot Noir with Wild Mushrooms

Ending on a classic, Chicken Pinot Noir with Wild Mushrooms is a great recipe for fall. Enjoy it with the same wine that you use to make it, and you will be very pleased with the results. Consider trying this Talbott Kali Hart Pinot Noir 2013. Happy fall, everyone!

Chicken Pinot Noir with Wild Mushrooms

What is your favorite fall food and wine pairing? Tell us in the comments below!

Free wine recommendations, giveaways, exclusive partner offers, and more straight to your inbox!

Reviews

I have not made this yet so I cannot rate it.

Include a Photo Include a Photo

Click the button above or drag and drop images onto the button. You can upload two images.

Cancel Reply to Comment

Thanks for your comment. Don't forget to share!

This is a very helpful article because I know very little about food and wine pairings. I can't wait to eat some of these dishes and drink some of these wines this fall!

Butternut squash soup oaked chardonnay is one of my favorite pairings. It's simple but rich, which is why it's so good for the fall )

Close

Report Inappropriate Comment

Are you sure you would like to report this comment? It will be flagged for our moderators to take action.

Thank you for taking the time to improve the content on our site.

Sign In to Your Account

Close Window
Sign In with one of your Social Accounts
Facebook Twitter
OR
Sign In using Email and Password