The Absolute Best Wines For Fall

best fall wine

Bundle up and cheers! 

It’s fall y’all, which means it’s time to wear sweaters, make meals in a slow cooker, break out the leaf blower… and drink wine of course. But not just any wine will do! Take each fall activity to the next level with the perfect glass of vino. Follow along for the best wines for fall … 

COZY FIRES | MALBEC 

Malbec is the perfect wine for reading by the fireplace at night, or huddling around a fire pit in the backyard with friends. It’s the ultimate comfort wine — bold enough to warm you up, but less expensive than other full-bodied reds so you can always have a bottle on hand. 

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES | CANNED RED BLEND 

The beauty of fall is that there are still plenty of activities to keep adventurous people happy. Cabin fever isn’t a thing yet, and luckily canned wine exists so you can bring your favorite red along. That’s why a canned California Red Blend is satisfying no matter where you’re going or what you’re doing. Hiking, mountain biking, canoeing … it doesn’t matter. The experience is even better with a can of wine in hand. 

FOOTBALL TAILGATES | ROSÉ 

We know what you’re thinking right now, isn’t rosé so last season? The answer, friends, is never. 

Rosé is the perfect wine to go with chips, dips, burgers and brats. But we get it, your regular dry rosé might not cut it when the weather turns cold. To combat this problem, look for a richer rosé that’s darker in color and made with Malbec grapes. A Malbec Rosé will have more body and more alcohol to keep you warm as the weather dips into the fifties, forties, and (dare we say it) even during the first snow. 

RAKING LEAVES | PINOT NOIR 

Pinot Noir is the perfect leaf-raking wine for several reasons. First of all, these wines are less alcoholic than other reds so you can still get the yard work done without falling over (unintentionally) into the leaf pile. Secondly, a quality Pinot Noir tastes smooth, light and earthy, a total sensory experience while raking up leaves in the backyard. 

And finally, it’s wine. Drinking wine and playing in the leaves is just plain fun. 

HOSTING GIFT | RIOJA GRAN RESERVA 

Go beyond the classic last-minute Cabernet Sauvignon bottle, and present a Rioja Gran Reserva from Spain to the host of the fall party. This wine is aged in oak barrels for a minimum of 2 years, has rich fruity flavors, and expressive tannins for a more interesting wine drinking experience. 

FRIENDSGIVING | SPARKLING WHITE WINE 

Celebrations call for bubbles, and Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving might be the second best time of year (New Years being the obvious number one) to enjoy a sparkling glass of Champagne or Prosecco. It’s a refreshing palate cleanser during a big meal, and a great day drinking wine due to the crispness of the bubbles. With this canned wine, you can celebrate all day long from the first backyard touchdown until the very last slice of pie. 


Erin Hooker

Erin Hooker is a writer with experience creating wine, food, and interior design content. She began contributing to Graham + Fisk’s blog in 2021.

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