A Guide to fall wine food pairings

As we eat, our taste buds adapt. After chewing on a sweet, salty or acidic food, the wine that follows is going to taste different due to the flavours that are now inside the mouth, creating an altered palette. This allows wine to be tasted in new and exciting ways! A sip of chardonnay after eating lobster, for example, is going to taste far creamier, buttery and rich than if it was tasted alone. Not only does the flavour of a chardonnay play on the strengths of the buttery sumptuousness of lobster, but chardonnay usually has a full-bodiedness that compliments lobster well. 

The practice of wine and food pairing goes back centuries, with many of the suggestions being as simple as ‘white wine goes with fish’ and ‘red wine goes with meat.’ Ultimately, the goal of wine and food pairings is to enhance the dining experience. 

When it comes to food and wine pairings, start with these pairing basics: 

1. The wine should be more acidic than the food.
2. The wine should be sweeter than the food.
3. The wine should have the same flavour intensity as the food.
4. Red wines pair best with bold flavoured meats (e.g. red meat).
5. White wines pair best with light-intensity meats (e.g. fish or chicken).
6. Bitter wines (e.g. red wines) are best balanced with fat.
7. When pairing wine with meat, focus on pairing with the sauce rather than with the meat itself.

A great food and wine pairing creates a balance between the components of a dish and the characteristics of a wine. However, keep in mind that wine pairing can be more subjective than an exact science, but that only leaves more creative space to find the pairings that work for your palette! 

We’ve pulled together some favourite fall foods to pair with wine that will create a mouthwatering flavour sensation in your mouth!

1. Pumpkin

Fall isn’t fall without pumpkin. From creamy pumpkin soups, to pumpkin pie, to roasted pumpkin, pumpkin is as synonymous with fall as mistletoe is with Christmas.  When it comes to pumpkin and wine pairing, there are several great options. 

For a savoury pumpkin dish such as pumpkin gnocchi, Dirty Laundry’s 2020 Woo Woo Gewürztraminer makes a perfect pairing, boasting floral notes of rose petal as well as notes of tropical fruit, honey and candied mango with a touch of sweetness on the finish. A light viognier also pairs beautifully with savoury pumpkin dishes. Try serving our 2021 Virgin Viognier with roasted pumpkin. With aromas of mandarin, honeydew and white flowers, the palate boasts of peach, apricot, and under ripe mango.

2. Apples

Another favourite fall flavour is, of course, apple. While apples are available year-round, they’re at their best in late summer and early fall, especially in the Okanagan. Sunrise, Braeburn and Honeycrisp are just a few of the varieties of apple that can be found in our region at this time of year. 

Apples are incredibly versatile. A few raw apple slices on a cheese plate can be served with a fruity gewürztraminer like our Madam’s, boasting aromas of ripe and juicy apricots, rose petals and sweet cantaloupe. If apple pie is more your style, our 2021 Riesling is a perfect accompaniment with aromas of green apple, jasmine, lemon and lime. 

However you choose to serve apples in the fall, there’s a white wine that will bring out those fall flavours and treat your tastebuds to a slice of flavour heaven.

3. Pears 

Pears are another popular fall fruit that can be enjoyed uncooked, as nature intended, or cooked and transformed into a delectable dessert. Pears go extremely well with all sorts of fall spices such as clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. A fruity gewürztraminer featuring these same sweet flavours will help pull out a pear’s flavour punch.

4. Sweet potatoes

Whether you like them baked, roasted or mashed, candied in brown sugar, or sliced into fries, the sweet potato is a versatile root vegetable to add into your fall menu. Sweet potato has an earthy flavour and moist texture and is often prepared with several spices, so seek out a wine with ample spice to match, plus enough acidity to refresh the palate. Our 2021 Riesling pairs well as it is high in acidity, which will cut through the richness of the sweet potato. Stay away from very dry or light wines, which would likely taste thin and bland.

For red drinkers, a lighter red blend or pinot noir will pair nicely with sweet potato dishes. With sweet potato fries, Dirty Laundry’s 2019 Merlot. The flavours of berry, cherry and spice, and the complex aftertaste will complement the salty-sweet flavour of the fries.

5. Butternut squash

Pumpkin’s less popular cousin, butternut squash can be made into soup, roasted, or, if you’re feeling adventurous, made into butternut squash ravioli or risotto — both true fall comfort foods.  A warm bowl of butternut squash soup pairs well with a white wine. Like pumpkin, a viognier that is a touch floral but full bodied would pair especially well with butternut squash, or a sweet sparkling wine to match the sweetness of the squash.

6. Brussels Sprouts

Before you turn your nose up and scroll past, we aren’t talking boiled brussel sprouts. Think brussel sprouts drizzled in olive oil, roasted until beautiful and crispy and covered in parmesan, or shredded and sautéed, topped with cheese and nuts. Cooked properly, brussel sprouts emanate a delicious nutty flavour that is nothing like the brussel sprouts your grandma used to make. Pair brussels sprouts with a zesty white wine like a sauvignon blanc that has plenty of herbal notes. On the nose, Dirty Laundry’s 2021 Sauvignon Blanc is bursting with tropical fruit: pineapple dominates then gives way to delicious mango salad and gooseberry.

7. Carrots

Carrots are another year-round vegetable, however they are undoubtedly at their best in the fall. If you’re into the simpleness of raw, crunchy carrots in a crudité platter, or carrots sautéed in butter, go for a light white wine such as our 2021 Hush White, a wine that is meant to be fun, interesting and flavourful. If carrot cake’s on the menu, pair this sweet delight with more of a dessert wine or even a port that can match the sweet and savoury taste of the cake.

8. Mushrooms

The vast majority of wild mushrooms make their appearance in the fall and can be found in abundance at local farmers’ markets. Mushrooms make a delicious snack by themselves, grilled on top of buttery garlic toast, or as a side to a meat dish prepared in any number of ways. Mushrooms pair perfectly with an unoaked chardonnay or a sparkling wine such as our  Bubble-Entendre Blanc (made from 100% chardonnay grapes). If you prefer reds, try our 2020 Pinot Noir pairing or a medium to full bodied blend with a hearty mushroom soup, stuffed mushroom cap, mushroom pizza, or risotto. 

9. Turkey

We can’t get to the end of a fall foods list without mentioning turkey, the traditional meat of Thanksgiving. Paired with the right wine, your dinner guests will be wowed with a feast full of fall flavour. There are a couple of options when choosing wines to serve with turkey.  A light, fresh pinot noir pairing will not overpower the meat, but will complement the cranberry sauce, a chardonnay will complement a variety of flavours such as the herbs used in basting, or even a light rose such as our popular Hush Rose would pair beautifully with turkey. 

10. Rich red meats

Wild game, venison, beef tenderloin and other red meats are plentiful as fall means hunting season. With roasts and stews a-plenty, a natural wine pairing is a rich, full-bodied red wine as these meats tend to have strong, rich flavour. Dirty Laundry’s 2019 Merlot is an obvious choice with its medium-high tannin structure that will smooth out when paired with the richness of the meat. Alternatively, opt for a full-bodied cabernet sauvignon. In our 2020 Cab Sav you will find a very round mouth-feel and tannin structure with hints of black pepper, cedar and dark chocolate notes on the finish. 

However you slice it, fall offers a beautiful bounty of vegetables and fruits and when paired with the right wine, you will treat your tastebuds to a flavour explosion! Remember, what we have suggested are just that - suggestions! There are no rules, and ultimately the wine pairings you chose comes down to your taste buds, personal preference and flavour perceptions.

Dirty Laundry wines are available for purchase online, shipped to your door. For wine club members, shipping is free!