8 Pumpkin Wine Pairings

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It’s that time of year again–pumpkin flavored items are reappearing on Starbucks menus and your local grocery store. Even if you aren’t affectionate towards the seasonal gourde, chances are you will find a dish on your dinner table that includes pumpkin or someone will request such a dish. Depending how the pumpkin is prepared can make it tricky when it comes to selecting a wine to go along side of it.

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Pumpkin can be somewhat of a challenge when it comes to pairing wine. Like wine, not all pumpkin varietals are created equally and it would be remiss to assume that they’re all the same. The same can be said for the way the pumpkin is prepared. To take some of the hassle out of the guesswork involved with pairing your favorite pumpkin dishes with delicious wines that won’t be too overpowering or simply incorrectly matched.

There’s lots more to pumpkin than good old pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread. Think main dish! Think side dish! Think warming you from the inside on a cool fall evening! 

When preparing a creamy pumpkin dish, such as a pumpkin soup or pumpkin risotto, think “dry” or “creamy” on the palate when it comes to wine. Here’s the place for your Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, a dry Prosecco or an Albariño. 

Yes, there is such a thing as pumpkin ravioli or pumpkin lasagna! It all depends on the color of sauce and spice profiles you are using. For a while sauce, grab a Viognier, a gruner veltliner, or a nice pinot gris. Prefer the flavors in a red sauce? You can’t go wrong with a Sangiovese or a nice Rhone blend.

Pumpkin stew, you may wonder. Does such a thing exist? Yes it does, and it will warm you from the inside on one of those getting-longer evenings. There’s room for your chardonnay here, if you must, but why not be as bold as your pumpkin stew and choose a Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot?  

Are you still not convinced that pumpkin isn’t only for desserts? There’s still a wine for that! Alongside your pumpkin pie, pumpkin-spiced cake or cupcakes or pumpkin pots de creme, look for a Riesling, Madiera, sherry, ice wine or a sparkling wine. There’s certainly a wine that will please the fussiest palate at your dinner table.

Great Pumpkin Recipes & Wine Pairings

Pumpkin Risotto

A rich dish in itself, select a rich and creamy white wine such as Chardonnay (like La Crema which is widely available) or Viognier. 

Pumpkin Risotto recipe via A Nerd Cooks.

Slow Cooker Mole Chicken

Pairing this chocolate based sauce can be as simple as pairing it with a regional wine (temprantillo) or a wine with a bit of spice to it (petite syrah).

Recipe via Food Done Light.

Kale Mushroom Pumpkin Alfredo Pasta

With a white sauce, you might be thinking wine is the obvious choice but a nice Barbera from Italy is robust enough to handle the creaminess of the Alfredo but it's not so overpowering that your hard work will be masked by a wine.

Recipe via Two Purple Figs.

Pumpkin Lasagna

This white based sauce will be balanced by a white wine, such as a Gruner Veltliner.

Recipe via Goodie Godmother.

Pumpkin White Bean Chili

Combat the subtle spiciness of this chili with a dry riesling. It's important you do not select a sweet riesling for this recipe!

Recipe via Family Food On The Table.

Pumpkin Ravioli With Browned Butter, Sage And Walnuts

The light butter sauce would be overpowered by a buttery Chardonnay, instead choose a zesty white such as a Pinot Gris. It'll highlight the earthy flavors of the sage and pumpkin!

Recipe via What A Girl Eats.

What is your favorite pumpkin recipe?