It’s official! Today is the first day of the Fall season. Fall has always been bittersweet for me. I’m definitely a Summer person. I adore the dry, warm weather and the longer days.
But Fall is my second favorite season for two reasons. First, Indian Summer in California is quite nice (although it rained in the Bay Area yesterday). The second reason is the annual grape harvest.
Image courtesy of love2mags.blogspot.com
It’s gorgeous in wine country in the fall. The verdant vineyards are reaching maturity, and are it’s a time ripe with vinous possibilities. I love walking into a winery and seeing the harvest under way – grapes being destemmed and crushed, the smell of fermentation. And the wine events?! It’s definitely the best time of year for wine events! Fall is not so bad after all!
The change of season also signals a change in our tastes in wine. As we start to crave more substantial foods, we also start to want more substantial wines too. More oft than not, our tastes change from lighter summer-time whites, rosé, and perhaps a few select reds to more full bodied white, rosé, red wines. And that makes sense to me because one of the key principles of food and wine pairing is to match the “weight” of the food to the “weight” of the wine.
Check out this week’s fabulous fall fare put together by the #SundaySupper team and my wine pairing recommendations.
Amazing Breakfasts/Brunches
Pair these dishes with the 2011 Innocent Bystander Pink Moscato. It’s a blend of Gordo Muscat and Black Muscat from the Yarra Valley in Australia. It’s only 5.5% alcohol and it has a red berry, strawberry, peach, and zesty citrus character. It’s a fun and fizzy quaff that is moderately sweet but not cloying.
- Apple Spice Muffins from Pixie Dust Kitchen
- Skinny Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Donuts with Maple Cream Cheese Glaze from The Messy Baker
- Apple Spice Waffles from Treats and Trinkets
- Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts from Daily Dish Recipes
- Mini Pumpkin Pancake Kebobs from The Urban Mrs.
- Mini Apple Cinnamon Rolls from Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Cinnamon Apple Crepes from Juanita’s Cocina
- Maple Apple Bread from The Foodie Army Wife
- Pumpkin Ale Pretzel Buns from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Outstanding Soups, Starters, Sides, and Main Dishes:
Pair these dishes with a white Rhone blend. One of my favorites is the 2012 Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Blanc. It’s a blend of Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne with a mouth-filling peach, citrus, and mineral character.
- Farro Date Salad with Mango and Arugula from Shockingly Delicious
- Butternut Squash Tian with Herb Topping from Food Lust People Love
- Bacon, Corn and Shrimp Chowder from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Chicken, Spinach, and Gnocchi Soup from Cookin’ Mimi
Pair these dishes with the 2012 Borra Intuition. It’s an unusual blend of Kerner, Gewürztraminer, and Riesling. It’s medium-bodied with a rich mouthfeel, and refreshing peach, apricot and spice flavors.
- Spicy Korean Monkfish Stew (Agu Jjim) from Kimchi MOM
- Creole Shrimp & Cheddar Basil Grits Cake from The Roxx Box
Pair these dishes with Pinot Noir. Look for the 2011 Hahn Winery California Pinot Noir. It has wonderful mixed berry, lavender, and spice aromatics, that follow onto the palate.
- Autumn Risotto with Chicken & Cranberries from Momma’s Meals
- Vegan Mushroom Pie from Killer Bunnies Inc
- Onion Tart {Zwiebelkuchen} from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
- Mini Meatball and Goat Cheese Risotto from MarocMama
- Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili from Neighborfood
Pair these dishes with Chianti, the classic Italian red wine made from Sangiovese. And one of the world’s great gifts to the table. Look for the 2011 Coltibuono Cetamura Chianti. It’s a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo with a beautiful black cherry, spice, and licorice character with a kiss of rusticity.
- Pumpkin Tomato Sauce with Andouille Sausage from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Parmesan Polenta from That Skinny Chick can Bake
- Mushroom and Sorrel Lasagne from Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
- Roasted Fig & Pancetta Pasta Carbonara from Nik Snacks
- Penne with Spicy Pumpkin and Sausage Sauce from Webicurean
- Bacon Spinach Pasta from Magnolia Days
- Stuffed Meatballs in Tomato Alfredo Sauce from Family Foodie
- Butternut Squash and Lentil Pot Pie from Curious Cuisiniere
Pair with these dishes with a Syrah. I like the 2011 Andrew Murray Vineyards Tous Les Jours Syrah. This damn tasty wine is full-bodied, with wonderful acidity, and a dark fruit, spice, and slight earthy character.
- Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup from Alida’s Kitchen
- Chili from Casa De Crews
- White Pizza with Kale and Meatballs from The Hand That Rocks the Ladle
Decadent Desserts:
Pair these with a Cadillac, named for a little known village just south of Bordeaux that produces wonderful sweet botrytized white wines. It’s never reached the lofty status of Sauternes, just across the river. The wines are typically made from Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes. Look for the 2009 Chateau Suau, Cadillac. It a blend of 40% Sauvignon – 60% Semillon with a fruity, complex, and sweet peach and honey character with good acidity.
- Pumpkin Marshmallows from Home Cooking Memories
- Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Bars from Table for Seven
- Apple Cider Five Spice Caramels from girlichef
- Italian Apple Torta from La Bella Vita Cucina
- Apple Fig and Pomegranate Crisp from Take a Bite Out of Boca
- Caramel Apple Sugar Cookie Pizza from Chocolate Moosey
- Walnut-Stuffed Baked Apples from Foxes Loves Lemons
- Funnel Cakes from The Texan New Yorker
- Hot Apple Pizza from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Pear Almond Graham Cracker Tart from Vintage Kitchen Notes
Pair these with a Cream Sherry. Ok, so you might be asking..”um, it’s that the stuff my Grandmother used to drink? Well, yes and no. This is the sweetened inferior juice shipped to export markets. Look for the Emilio Hidalgo “Morenita” Cream Sherry. It’s a great example of the real deal from Jerez, Spain. It has a wonderful sweet date, mocha spiced ginger, candied orange peel character that is delicately sweet with well-embedded acidity. Yummy stuff!
- Pumpkin Bourbon Pie with Walnut Crumble from Gotta Get Baked
- Camotes Enmielados (Mexican Candied Yams/Sweet Potatoes) from La Cocina de Leslie
- Maple Syrup Pumpkin Bars from What Smells So Good?
- Buttery Bourbon Ice Cream from NinjaBaking
- Caramel Apples from Pies and Plots
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies from In The Kitchen With KP
- {Gluten-Free} Pumpkin Swirl Pecan Crumb Cake from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Chocolate Pumpkin Swiss Roll Cake from Big Bear’s Wife
- Savory & Sweet Coconut Cream Salted Caramel Apples from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
Tasty Drinks:
- Pumpkin Juice – Harry Potter Style from The Dinner-Mom
Don’t forget to join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EDT. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.
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The post The Best Wines For Fall Foods #SundaySupper appeared first on ENOFYLZ Wine Blog.