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Pairing guide for Autumn flavours
Autumn is one of my favourite seasons – the light gets softer, warmer, and the evening more cozy. Autumn is the season of comfort food — roasted vegetables, earthy mushrooms, slow-cooked stews, and cozy evenings with a glass of wine in hand. As the air gets cooler, our palates naturally shift toward deeper flavors and fuller-bodied wines. In view of this, my drink of choice also changes. I like spicy wines, but elegant, full-bodied white wines also often suit the autumnal atmosphere.
Here’s how to find the perfect wine for your favorite autumn dishes.
1. Roasted Vegetables & Earthy flavours
Think pumpkins, sweet potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms — all those earthy, caramelized flavors call for wines with similar depth.
Try: A Portuguese red from Dão or Bairrada, with soft tannins and notes of spice and forest floor, or an aged white with nutty complexity (look for these “Reserva” white wines).
👉 Perfect pairing: Roasted pumpkin with sage and a glass of Encruzado.
2. Creamy Soups & Risottos
Autumn soups and risottos often have creamy textures and rich flavors — from mushroom risotto to butternut squash soup.
Try: A textured white wine, like a barrel-aged Arinto or Chardonnay, or a light red, like a Bastardo work fine with this type of dishes. Sometimes you can also find Pinot Noir from the coast – another excelent match.
👉 Perfect pairing: Mushroom risotto with an oaked Arinto — smooth, earthy, and balanced.
3. Hearty Meat Dishes & Stews
Slow-cooked meats, game, and stews are autumn staples — full of deep umami and spice.
Try: A robust red, such as Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet, or Trincadeira. These wines bring structure and warmth to rich dishes.
👉 Perfect pairing: wild board stew with a Alentejo Reserva red.
A soft Rosé paired with a Carrot Tarte Tatin.
4. Autumn Desserts
Apple tarts, roasted pears, and chestnut-based sweets pair beautifully with wines that echo their sweetness and spice.
Try: A late harvest white or a Port wine. The gentle sweetness will complement rather than overpower the dessert.
👉 Perfect pairing: Apple crumble with a Late Harvest from the coast regions – Lisboa or Vinho Verde.
Final Tip
Autumn wine pairing is all about balance and comfort — matching warm, earthy, and spiced flavors with wines that mirror that depth. Think medium- to full-bodied, with smooth textures and a touch of spice.