Pairing food and wine is an art – and as autumn approaches, it can be useful to consider seasonal ingredients when choosing what to drink. While crisp whites and refreshing rosé are synonymous with summer and light dishes like salad, autumn is geared towards more comforting food and warming wines.
From hearty root vegetable dishes to fragrant spiced desserts, there’s a perfect wine pairing for every autumnal dish. There’s a beautiful synergy between food and wine, and if you’re looking for some culinary inspiration, we’ve got you covered.
Here are 10 tasty food and wine pairings for autumn.
1. Pumpkin and viognier
Of all the seasonal vegetables, none are as associated with autumn as pumpkin. The beauty of pumpkin is that it’s incredibly versatile: you can enjoy it in soups, salads, pies, curries, or pasta, so whatever your taste preferences or dietary requirements, you’ll find a way to enjoy this delicious ingredient. Why not try pumpkin-stuffed ravioli, or traditional pumpkin pie?
Whatever pumpkin dish you make, an aromatic viognier is the ideal accompaniment. Viognier is a white wine from southern France that’s known for its notes of peach, tangerine, and honeysuckle – but the exact type of viognier will depend on your dish. For sweet pumpkin dishes, a sweeter, richer viognier works best, and for savoury dishes, a lighter and more acidic wine is better.
To browse a selection of pumpkin dishes, check out these recipes from Olive Magazine.
2. Apple pie and riesling
After pumpkin, apples are arguably the key autumnal ingredient. Whether you’re a fan of apple pie, apple cobbler, baked apples or just biting into a crisp, fresh apple, these fruits are at their best during this time of year, and there are several incredibly delicious varieties you can only get in autumn.
If you’re making an apple-based dessert, riesling – a white wine with aromas of pear, apple, and citrus – is a great match. The high sugar levels of this wine perfectly pair with the sweetness of the desserts, yet it’s also offset by a high acidity. This makes your mouth water and moderates the acidity in the fruit, while still complementing the sweetness.
To make a traditional apple pie, try this recipe from Simple Recipes.
3. Spaghetti bolognese and pinot noir
Almost everyone loves tucking into a bowl of spaghetti bolognese, and this warming, comforting dish tastes even better on a chilly autumn evening. Whether you’re making a meat bolognese or a veggie version, spaghetti bolognese goes beautifully with lighter- to medium-body red wine.
Pinot noir is the perfect pairing with this dish. Thanks to the aromas of raspberries and bright cherry, and the savoury herbal profile, this versatile red wine contrasts delightfully with the earthy flavours of bolognese sauce. If your sauce is rich, try to go for a more acidic pinot noir, which balances it nicely.
To make beef spaghetti bolognese, try this recipe from Recipe Tin Eats. Or, to make a vegan bolognese, try this recipe from Tesco.
4. Butternut squash soup and chenin blanc
Butternut squash is another autumn staple, and while there are many different ways to eat this tasty vegetable, a bowl of warming soup is perhaps the most satisfying. Rich and smooth, butternut squash is the perfect partner for autumn spices like cinnamon, cloves, allspice, ginger, and nutmeg, which means your soup will taste wonderfully cosy.
A smooth, rich white wine like chenin blanc goes magnificently with butternut squash soup. Full-bodied but also crisp, fresh, and aromatic, it contrasts perfectly with the warm, deep flavours of the spices and the earthiness of the squash.
To make butternut squash soup, try this recipe from Love + Lemons.
5. Chilli and malbec
Chilli is a hearty, comforting dish that’s ideal for warming you up on dreary autumn days. It’s also incredibly versatile: if you want to make a meat-based chilli, you can use either pork or beef and if you want to keep it plant-based, you can use both veggie mince and protein-packed beans.
Whatever your go-to chilli recipe is, a French malbec is a great pairing. The earthy, smoky flavours of chilli match well with the slightly spicy notes of a malbec. Thanks to its bold taste and high alcohol content, this full-bodied red wine can take your tastebuds on an exciting adventure.
To make beef chilli, try this recipe from Delish or to make a veggie bean chilli, try this recipe from Cookie + Kate.
6. Mushroom risotto and Rioja
While cultivated mushrooms are available throughout the year, many wild mushrooms appear in autumn. If you like buying mushrooms from farmer’s markets – or even growing them yourself – this is the season to get cooking, whether it’s making a quick snack of grilled garlic mushrooms on toast or a creamy mushroom soup.
Mushroom risotto is one of the most delicious mushroom dishes around, and it goes really well with Rioja – a red wine from Spain with medium sweetness. The savoury earthiness of the mushrooms mirrors the earthiness of Rioja, both on the palate and the nose, and the umami-rich parmesan, which tops the dish, pairs perfectly with Rioja’s heavy character.
To make mushroom risotto, try this recipe from Love & Lemons.
7. Cheese soufflé and chardonnay
If you’re a cheese fiend, there’s a good chance you love soufflé. Warming, rich and indulgent, a cheese soufflé is an excellent choice for a luxurious autumn starter or side dish – but because this dish is so decadent, it’s important to find a wine that cuts through the richness.
A crisp white chardonnay is an ideal accompaniment to cheese soufflé. The wine’s bright, clean, and citrusy notes beautifully mingle with the creamy, rich flavours of the soufflé, and the well-balanced, smooth mouthfeel pairs superbly with the soufflé’s creaminess.
To make easy cheese soufflé, try this recipe from BBC Good Food.
8. Pizza and sparkling wine
Pizza and wine is a classic combination, and if you’ve never made your own pizza from scratch, autumn is a great time to try. You can use up the last of the late summer harvest of tomatoes, and include plenty of other seasonal delicacies like mushrooms, broccoli, or butternut squash.
While all kinds of wine go well with pizza, why not try something a bit different and go for a sparkling wine? Sparkling wines like prosecco or cava, or even a sparkling rosé, cut through the doughiness of the pizza and act as a palate cleanser. Plus the taste profile of most sparkling wines marries with the flavours of tangy tomato and fragrant basil.
If you’d like to have a go at making your own pizza from scratch, why not check out our article; How to make the perfect pizza at home?
9. Shepherd's pie and syrah
Shepherd’s pie is another autumn classic: warming, hearty, filling and delicious. Packed with veggies, creamy mashed potato, and minced meat (or a veggie alternative), this rich, heavy dish needs a wine that can stand up well to it, yet also retain a classic, traditional feel.
Whether you want to fill your pie with lamb or beef mince, lentils, or veggie mince, shiraz is the ideal accompaniment. Also called syrah in France, shiraz is a red wine with a wonderful depth of flavour, and the spicy hints of cloves and liquorice, and blue and red fruits on the palate, go beautifully with the rich flavours of shepherd’s pie. The faint hint of wood smoke on the finish tops it all off.
To make classic shepherd’s pies, try this recipe from Once Upon A Chef. To make a veggie alternative, try this recipe from Minimalist Baker.
10. Chicken pie and sauvignon blanc
If you’re a fan of savoury pastry dishes, there’s a good chance you like the thought of tucking into a warming chicken pie on a grey autumn afternoon. The combination of buttery, flaky dough with the creamy filling of the chicken pie is incredibly luxurious – and seriously moreish!
To offset the richness of the filling, a fresh, crisp white wine is the ideal accompaniment. A sauvignon blanc is an ideal pairing, as the herbal aromas and flavours go deliciously with the savoury herbs in the pie, and the higher acidity of the wine contrasts with the rich creamy sauce.
To make a traditional chicken pie, try this recipe from Taming Twins.
Final thoughts…
While it can be difficult to say goodbye to the long, light days of summer, the cosy comfort of autumn is a different kind of joy.
There’s nothing better than heading out for a crisp autumnal walk and then treating yourself to a hearty, comforting dish when you get home…and finding the perfect wine to pair with your meal just elevates the pleasure!
Whether you like full-bodied red wines or crisp, fresh whites, we hope this article has inspired you, helped you look forward to the months ahead, and given you a few ideas for what meals to cook and wines to serve!
For more seasonal inspiration, you might want to check out our articles; 10 autumn recipes and 11 reasons why autumn is the best season.
Are you tempted by any of these recipes? Or do you have your own favourite food and wine pairings for autumn? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.