Pumpkin and Wine Pairings

One thing that we love about pumpkin season is the fact that pumpkins are so versatile! They can be used to create amazing autumn dishes, from sumptuous soups to savory sides to scrumptious sweets. With such versatility comes a complicated question; is there a perfect wine that pairs with pumpkin?

While there may not be an easy answer to that question, the great thing about wine is that it is also highly versatile. Similar to the new-age adage “there’s an app for that,” there’s also a wine that pairs with just about any dish you care to make! Now there certainly isn’t one perfect wine that pairs with all pumpkin dishes. It can sometimes be challenging to find the ideal pairing, but as endless as the possibilities are when cooking with pumpkin, there’s also a variety of exceptional wines that will pair perfectly with this fall delicacy!

Let’s explore some great pumpkin pairings.






Appetizer:

Pumpkin Soup and Riesling

There’s nothing more comforting than a warm bowl of soup as the first cold fronts drift in! Pumpkin roasts nicely and can be combined with heavy cream to make a comforting autumn-inspired soup. In fact, we just shared a delicious Pistachio Harvest Soup earlier this month. Riesling is known for its fruity and floral notes. Our Riesling is a bouquet of white flowers and ripe pears! This wine is typically acidic and has varying sweetness levels, so it pairs perfectly with fatty foods and creamy soups.

Pumpkin Salad and Royal Zinphony

Craving something lighter? Even though fall tends to be the time when we crave heavier comfort foods, sometimes a healthy salad still hits the spot. This Roasted Pumpkin Salad topped with pistachios will surely put you in a festively fall mood. The medley of roasted veggies, nuts, and fruits reminds us of the beautiful marriage of our Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel grapes in our Royal Zinphony wine! The notes of raspberries, cranberries, and dried cherries mesh well with the fruits and nuts in this salad. Plus, if you’re looking for some pecans and pistachios to complete the recipe, you know where to find them!

Main Dish (or Side Dish):

Roasted pumpkin, sauteed mushrooms, and sage Risotto with Chardonnay

Like other squashes, pumpkin can be roasted with other vegetables to create a delicious side or main dish! We recommend this savory recipe with our Chardonnay! There are different types of

Chardonnays with varying flavor profiles depending on how they are aged. Our Heart of the Desert Chardonnay is aged in stainless steel instead of oak, so there is less of a dry, tannin flavor. This medium-dry wine has a crisp, rich flavor that pairs perfectly with roasted veggies! More of a red-wine person? The earthy tones of the mushrooms are also perfectly complemented by a lovely Cabernet Sauvignon. Did we mention ours is award winning?

Dessert:

Pumpkin Pie with Gewurztraminer

Oh, the possibilities are endless with pumpkin dessert! Pumpkin pie, pumpkin roll-ups, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cupcakes…. Should we go on? For the perfect pairing for these sweet treats, we would reach for our Gewurztraminer! Gewurztraminer is a classic sweet white wine that is served slightly chilled. Since it is complex with spicy overtones, it pairs wonderfully with sweet desserts!

We hope these recommendations will help you feel perfectly prepared for all your pumpkin preparations! Don’t forget to check out our entire list of wines to help guide you in your selection!

Heart of the Desert is a working pistachio ranch and vineyard with four retail establishments in New Mexico. They are best known for their farm fresh pistachios and Award-Winning New Mexico wines. Each store offers wine and pistachio tastings. They offer worldwide shipping and produce attractive gourmet baskets that make great corporate and family gifts. The main store, on the ranch in Alamogordo, offers farm tours that showcases how pistachios are grown and processed as well as a stunning Tuscany themed patio that overlooks the groves and is available for weddings, private parties or enjoying a relaxing glass of wine.

Resources:
https://www.heartofthedesert.com/wines-from-heart-of-the-desert/
https://unravelingwine.com
https://www.vinyang.com/blog