Eating seasonal ingredients is so important for many reasons including quality, flavour intensity, environmental sustainability as well as getting value for money. Seasonal ingredients are often a good price because they are in abundance at particular times in the year.
Root vegetables and squashes
Autumn is the most abundant month for the vegetable garden! Squashes and sweet potato dishes pair perfectly with aromatic white wines with good acidity such as Riesling, Gewürztraminer, or Pinot Gris. Earthy root vegetables such as parsnips, beetroot and carrots pair well with earthy, medium bodied wines such as Burgundian Pinot Noir, Chianti (Sangiovese) or Rioja (Tempranillo).
Joseph Cattin Riesling, Alsace, France
Gold in colour, complex nose and rich underlying aromas of mature fruit with floral and citrus notes. Refreshing with great body and smokiness with white fruit and peach flavours.
Selvapiana Chianti Rufina DOCG, Italy 2021
Vibrant nose of cranberry, raspberry, and red cherry fruit with a deft violet lift. Juicy and generous on the palate with soft, silky tannins and a svelte, generous mouthfeel that gives way to more red berry fruits and a touch of black pepper spice on the pleasing finish.
Green vegetables – kale, spinach, cabbages and broccoli
Generally, a dry, aromatic Sauvignon Blanc pairs best with green vegetables, as their leafy, herbal, grassy and citrus aromas complement the flavours of the vegetables. Big, powerful, concentrated wines will overpower the leafy greens and brassicas.
Cramele Recas Umbrele Sauvignon Blanc, Romania 2022
Bright aromas of lemon, passionfruit as well as hints of orange and nectarine. Crisp and clean on the palate with zesty acidity flowing through into more citrus fruit and a dash of white pepper spice.
Apples and pears
If your orchard fruits are being served with a savoury dish, pair with either oaked or unoaked Chardonnay, as the aromas and flavours are reminiscent of freshly fallen fruit which will complement the dish. Quality Chardonnay gains complexity with bottle age, and can develop flavours ranging from vanilla and nutmeg, to hazelnuts, almonds and cloves. This enables the wine to pair well with a wide range of textures, cooking methods and flavours. If your Apples or pears are part of a dessert, pair with a classic Sauternes or a botrytised dessert wine that is bursting with honey, apricot, caramel, ginger and baking spices. The high sugar levels in the wine are balanced with equally high acidity which will make your mouth water and complement the sweetness in the dessert and moderate the acidity in the fruit. It will be a taste sensation!
Scheid Vineyards Metz Road Chardonnay, Monterey, California, USA 2019
This is an opulent wine that reflects the character and complexity of this windy, cool-climate property. The nose includes notes of green apple, pear, citrus, and mango with hints of toasted oak and lemon peel. The medium-bodied palate is lush, round and concentrated, with balanced acidity and a lingering vanilla finish.
Boschendal Vin d'Or Noble Late Harvest, Western Cape, South Africa 2021 (50cl)
Seductive aromas of orange and tangerine with added pineapple and honeysuckle. Concentrated and complex on the mid-palate underpinned by bright, uplifting acidity and wonderful fruit purity. Further citrus and tropical fuse on the core with a wonderful streak of honey on the long, lingering finish.
Mushrooms
Pair with wines that display earthy and savoury notes like Beaujolais (Gamay), Pinot Noir or Syrah. If you would rather pair with a white wine, try a richer style with some oak maturation like white Burgundy (Chardonnay) or Chenin Blanc which can complement the smooth, creamy texture of the mushrooms.
Cramele Recas Umbrele Syrah, Romania 2018
Deep, dark notes of blackcurrant, cassis and black cherry fill the glass. There’s nice complexity and depth thanks to the savoury, and smoky undertone that supports the melange of bramble and hedgerow fruit with well-integrated black pepper spice leading into a lingering finish.
Cave Talmard Macon-Montbellet 'La Bergerie', Burgundy, France 2022
Concentrated aromas of ripe apple and lemon citrus fuse together added peach, apricot, and a touch of honeysuckle. Round, generous, and multi-layered mid-palate, yet balanced by bright, racy acidity and a wonderful mineral streak that cuts through a core of further citrus and white stone fruit. Impressive length with a sprinkling of white pepper spice that seals the deal.
