15 Wines Sommeliers Recommend For Fall

Fall is typically filled with changing leaves, bonfires, football games, pumpkins, and flannel — a time when the temperature transitions from hot weather to cooler temperatures and the food becomes warmer, heartier, and more comforting. Because of these seasonal swings, it only makes sense that your wine choices should change as well. Not only can the right wines for the season enhance your menu but they can also improve your dining experience, especially if you're choosing the perfect pairings. The key is selecting the correct wine based on intensity, flavor, and character.

To help you choose the best fall wines that will be in sync with both the weather and your food, we consulted several sommeliers. Below you will find wine selections from Kisong Mun, sommelier with The Dearborn; Jordyn Sotelo, sommelier with Trino; Covin Davis, sommelier with RPM Restaurants; Charlotte Marshall, sommelier with Nic & Junior's Tavern; Megumi Calver, sommelier and founder at Merobebe; and Laurie Forster, sommelier and founder of The Wine Coach.

If you're looking for a fall wine that has been created with little intervention as well as a commitment to what the fall season brings, then you may appreciate a Nicolas Reau wine. One such option is Kisong Mun's recommendation: the 2024 Nicolas Reau Cabernet Franc from the Anjou region in the Loire Valley, France. With notes of blackberry, red currant, and dark chocolate, this wine can be purchased for around $23 a bottle. "[It] finishes with a zippy acidity and delicate tannins, accented by green pepper and savory herbal notes," said Mun.

As a result, Mun shared that "The wine's dark fruit and chocolate notes complement rich, cool-weather dishes. This would be delicious with braised short ribs with potatoes and carrots. The savory green pepper and herb notes are an excellent match for our [restaurant's] Miller Amish chicken served with tarragon mustard crème, peas, chanterelles, and gnocchi."

The 2022 Hans Wirsching Silvaner from Franken, Germany, was recommended by Kisong Mun and retails for about $23. It has the fall flavors you would expect in white wine, including pear and green apple. According to Mun, you will notice bright acidity, a distinct mineral backbone, and herbal and stony notes. This flavor profile makes this dry wine a great choice for fall.

The silvaner is created by the Weingut Hans Wirsching estate, which is based in the wine village of Iphofen. "The estate's distinct character comes from the local 'Keuper' soils, a unique Jurassic Clay layer dating back 220 million years to the region's prehistoric past as an ancient swamp," Mun shared. These characteristics help build a wine with a vibrant, structured body that pairs well with autumn dishes like roasted vegetable recipes, mushrooms, and herb-forward preparations.

Kisong Mun shared that the 2024 Contacto, which can be found for around $20 to $25, is a collaboration between renowned Portuguese winemaker Anselmo Mendes and the Symington family. The wine is made with the Loureiro white varietal and comes from Portugal's Vinho Verde region. "The vines thrive on mid-slope sites, capturing a saline character influenced by the nearby Atlantic Ocean, which balances the wine's bright acidity," Mun explained. This results in a flavor profile including green apple, white blossoms, and peach.

"The palate is lean yet creamy, reminiscent of lime cut with accents of mirabelle plum and stone-ground minerality," Mun described. "It features bright acidity and a vibrant, lingering finish with a touch of pithy zest." You can expect the wine's bright fruit and acidity to cut through and contrast hearty, earthy fall dishes like a kale and apple salad with bacon lardons, candied walnuts, and a maple syrup vinaigrette. "It pairs great with our spicy boar sausage pizza, peppers, onions, and Calabrian chili, as well as our classic 'Beat Bobby Flay' fish and chips served with house-made slaw," he recommended.

According to Jordyn Sotelo, your fall wines should have some brightness, but they also need enough weight and spice to stand up to all the braised, roasted, slow-cooked food you may begin eating when the weather turns cold. One wine region that answers this call is in Mexico — an area most people don't consider when choosing a wine.

Consequently, Sotelo recommended the Terra Mädi Blanc de Noirs Brut from Querétaro, Mexico, which is available for about $20 a bottle. "Fall and winter dishes usually sing when paired with bubbly," Sotelo enthused. "This sparkling is made the real traditional Champagne way, bottle by bottle, then aged underground for almost two years before it's even released."

According to Sotelo, that dedication is revealed in its flavor: "Brioche, jasmine, a whisper of lemon, and a texture with real weight behind the bubbles." Because of that, it becomes more versatile than just another summer sparkling wine. Sotelo shared that she enjoys drinking it with something fried, or anything finished in brown butter, because "the toastiness in the glass meets the toastiness on the plate."

"Sangiovese is Tuscany's grape, and it rarely wanders," said Jordyn Sotelo. So, she considers the Tres Raíces Tré Sangiovese from Guanajuato, Mexico, a small miracle. "Zero oak, just stainless steel, so nothing stands between you and the fruit," she described.

Interestingly, this wine is the only red from Tres Raíces that is not aged in barrel. Instead, the wine is left in tanks for nine months and is minimally processed. These characteristics allow it to become a true expression of the soil and vines.

As for taste, Sotelo shared that this fall wine recommendation has notes of spiced fruit compote and cigar wrapper with dark chocolate underneath. The result is a richness that can stand up to a chimichurri-rubbed steak or anything with warm spice and char, without ever feeling heavy. She said it's the kind of red that people may be surprised to hear comes from Mexico and can be purchased for under $30 a bottle.

Valle de Guadalupe in Mexico is becoming a popular wine tasting destination — and with good reason. This area of the country is putting out incredible wines that are not well known. One such wine from the region that Jordyn Sotelo said you have to try is the Paolo Paoloni Nebbiolo — a choice she is extremely excited about. A bottle of this wine can be purchased for about $30.

What makes this wine so intriguing is that experts say the area of Valle de Guadalupe often imparts a distinctly different taste from the nebbiolo you taste in Italian wines. What's more, Sotelo said this grape is brutal to grow. "It's the grape behind Barolo and barely performs anywhere outside one pocket of Piedmont — so an Italian winemaker getting it right in Baja is either a stubborn bet or a genuinely exciting one."

Sotelo said when tasted blind, this wine could pass for Napa — big and full-bodied with vanilla, baking spice, dark plum, and tannins that are "silky instead of gripping." Pair this wine with braised short ribs or a rich authentic mole — anything that spent hours in the oven.

According to Covin Davis, a fall wine should be versatile enough to handle sporadic weather changes. For this reason, he prefers white wines with more body and texture for fall and recommended the 2023 Edi Keber Collio Bianco.

This wine is made in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, which contains some of Italy's finest white wines and borders Austria, Slovenia, and the Adriatic Sea. As a result, Davis said Collio boasts minerality you would expect from its location, with additional notes of white peach, elderflower, and almond. "Edi Keber's vineyards sit on the famed 'ponca' soil," he described. "This soil consists of layers of sandstone alternating with marl and silt, which gives its wines a distinctive minerality."

This wine pairs perfectly with signature fall dishes like butternut squash gnocchi with smoked ricotta, a favorite of Davis'. You can typically find a bottle for about $35, or sometimes slightly more.

Côtes du Rhône is a popular regional wine appellation in southeastern France, and two sommeliers, Covin Davis and Laurie Forster, recommended wines from this area. According to Forster, Côtes du Rhône is often made from a blend of grapes including grenache, syrah, and mourvèdre.

"This blend gives the wine a nice balance of structure, fruit, and spice," Forster said. "You can find a lot of good value with these wines, many of them under $20 a bottle, which I know is a sweet spot for a lot of wine lovers. I am a huge fan of the St Cosme Côtes du Rhône, which is 100% syrah and around $19 retail." She explained that the wine's focus on syrah imparts dark fruit flavors like blackberries and black currant, but it also contains spicy notes like sandalwood and black pepper. This wine pairs well with grilled meats, venison, game, and roasted vegetables.

Meanwhile, Davis recommended 2024 Domaine Mayard Côtes du Rhône. Domaine Mayard is a sixth-generation estate in the famed region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. According to Davis, its Côtes du Rhône "jumps out of the glass with fresh red berries, Mediterranean herbs, subtle spice, and a touch of smoke, and finishes with fresh and juicy tannins." This wine pairs well with fatty meats and bold sauces and can be purchased for around $25 to $35 a bottle.

Megumi Calver suggested that during the fall, you may want to look for fuller red wines with bolder tannins that pair well with stews, roasts, and fatty meats. "Reds also tend to be higher in umami, which makes them a great match for the savory, umami-rich dishes we crave in cooler weather," she added.

One wine in particular that's great for fall is Scott Kelley Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. This is one of Calver's top picks for pinot noir, especially for the price of around $30 per bottle. "It's a bit of an unusual recommendation, as it's only available through Naked Wines, an online retailer and subscription service that supports small wineries and independent winemakers," she noted. According to Calver, this pinot offers a balance of earthy notes like dried leaves and herbs alongside delicate red fruit, a little spice, and smoky undertones. Pair it with a creamy mushroom risotto or roast chicken or duck.

If you don't have a Naked Wines subscription, another pinot noir worth noting is the 2023 Sylvain Pataille Bourgogne Rouge, which is one of the more expensive picks that can be found for around $50 a bottle. According to Charlotte Marshall, this wine is light enough to complement your meal yet earthy enough to match well with mushrooms and root vegetables.

There's no doubt the temperature outside changes how we perceive our wine. Megumi Calver explained that this is partly because cooler temperatures amplify acidity and tighten a wine's overall structure while muting fruity characteristics, sweetness, and alcohol. The right fall wine satisfies the craving for something earthier and fuller-bodied on the patio, perhaps next to a fire pit.

With this in mind, Calver recommended Tyler Winery Chardonnay from Santa Barbara, which retails for about $30 per bottle. She explained that this wine is softer and rounder than the crisp summer whites you may have on hand but doesn't veer into "buttery oak-bomb" territory often associated with California chardonnays. "You'll still get those zesty citrus notes, balanced by floral aromas, minerality, and a light creaminess that will pair with seafood, roast chicken, or drinking solo," she said.

If you enjoy the hunt as much as the wine, then you may want to consider a pinot gris from Alsace. While harder to find, Megumi Calver said this is a perfect white wine for fall. "Unlike its light, Italian counterpart (where it goes by the name pinot grigio), these Alsatian wines have more body and texture, with light smoky aromas that complement honey, apricot, ginger, and dried fruit notes balanced by minerality," she detailed.

"These range from dry to off-dry, so check the label or ask someone if you're not sure," Calver advised. Pair an Alsatian pinot gris with root vegetables and squash, like creamy pumpkin soup, mushroom risotto, tarts, pork chops with apples, or richer seafood dishes. Calver also recommended not serving your white wines ice-cold but instead taking them out of the fridge about 20 minutes beforehand. According to Calver, you can find a bottle of pinot gris from Alsace starting at about $20.

Lambrusco is a sparkling red wine made from lambrusco grapes and is often produced in northern Italy. According to Megumi Calver, this type of wine is ready-made for fall. She recommended the Cleto Chiarli Vecchia Modena Lambrusco di Sorbara Secco. "This sparkling red wine has tangy cherry and strawberry notes complemented by fresh herbs and violets. It's great for charcuterie, meat sauces, duck confit, and pork dishes."

At first, you may not consider pairing this wine with your fall cuisine. Calver shared that in the 1970s and '80s, "some cheap, sickly sweet versions became popular in the U.S." However, Italy produces a range of lambrusco styles, including drier ones. And though the very sweet versions of lambrusco are still widely available, the Italian versions tend to be lighter and may be dry, off-dry, or sweet. You can find a bottle of the Cleto Chiarli Vecchia Modena Lambrusco di Sorbara Secco for about $20.

As the weather gets cooler and the food gets heartier, Laurie Forster said we naturally tend to move toward wines with more body, texture, spice, and savory notes. "A crisp Vinho Verde is great by the pool in July, but a richer white like Chardonnay is more appealing on a cool fall evening," she noted.

Forster recommended white Rioja as an ideal transition wine for fall because these wines still have crisp, food-friendly acidity but boast more structure than the whites we may enjoy in the summer. She mentioned white Riojas feature a flavor profile with savory notes, apple, and stone fruit.

In particular, Forster suggested Bodegas Muga Blanco for the fall, which is mostly a blend of viura and grenache blanc with flavors of peach, citrus, and herbs. This wine pairs well with heartier seafood dishes, risottos, grilled chicken, mashed butternut squash, and root vegetables, and a bottle can be found for about $18.

Riesling is sometimes considered one of the kings of white wine. The grape creates a complex and versatile wine that can run the spectrum from dry and sparkling to full-on dessert wine. It can also easily meet the needs of a variety of wine preferences and palates, depending on the type of riesling you choose and its purpose.

For fall, Charlotte Marshall recommended the 2024 Weingut Robert Weil Riesling Trocken. She called this wine a Thanksgiving go-to, versatile enough for a table filled with a variety of dishes, including those that are sweet, savory, tart, and rich. Describing its flavor, Marshall said, "Crisp to lightly sweet, with green apple, pear, and honey notes. The acidity and slight sweetness cut through stuffing or mashed potatoes while still working well with cranberry sauce." It also pairs well with turkey, ham, or squash. She noted that German rieslings may run more expensive, with this bottle retailing for about $25.

Fall wines are known for having earthiness and warmer spices that pair well with the comforting flavors of the season. They also stand up to sturdier, more robust fall produce like root vegetables and squash without being too overpowering.

"Fall food is savory and rustic, so you want to look for wines with notes of forest floor, dried fruit, or baking spice rather than pure fruit-forward brightness," Charlotte Marshall said. "Fall wines have a little roundness and less acidity than a summer wine, but still enough freshness that they don't feel heavy."

One such wine is the 2024 Jean Marc Burgaud Morgon. According to Marshall, this Beaujolais pairs well with fall because it is light, juicy, and low in tannins. It's "the red you reach for before you're ready to commit to something heavier," she said. It's also chillable, which means you could consider it a summer wine that carries over into the cooler seasons. Marshall suggested pairing this wine with charcuterie, roast turkey, or a harvest vegetable tart. It can be purchased for around $25.

After contacting eight sommeliers, we received nearly 30 recommendations for red and white fall wines. From that list, we selected 15 wines with distinctive flavors and a price point less than $35. Our goal was to develop a list of wines that retail for roughly $15 to $25, with a few that might be slightly higher in price. We also looked for wines that would expose readers like yourself to something new and interesting, as well as pair nicely with the earthy flavors of the fall season.