While there are certainly no hard and fast rules about any type of wine, or wines, that wine connoisseurs should consume during any given season, there is often a natural palate shift. This odd taste bud migration might come with our collective gravitation toward cooking indoors and even baking when late September rolls around versus so much of the al fresco lunches nibbling on fruit salads while sipping a delightfully chilled Riesling or a rose that serves as a playful foil to cookout fare, such as cole slaw or saucy slabs of ribs.

Consider Some of the Best Autumn Wines

You don’t have to completely surrender your Bordeaux Blanc or your Pinot Grigio, but might you soon find yourself happily, and even a little helplessly and headily, showing a little love to some of the Autumn wines on their way to you favorite wine bar or local wine seller.

Similar to the way many people suddenly crave apple cider or pumpkin beer…well, pumpkin everything, when the chill that accompanies late September and early October arrives also, tends to cause wine aficionados to crave something a little warmer — certainly not chilled — to coat their throats and warm their stomachs. If this description rings any bells with you, you will probably appreciate finding out what some of the best autumn wines are and what types of mischief you can get into by trying them. Just imagine all the potential new wine pairings, such as some mysterious new Pinot Noir wine and chocolate of your choice.

Sipping and noshing are essential while decorating for your Halloween bash, basting the Thanksgiving turkey, wrapping holiday gifts and simply trying to stave off the chill of winter, so you might want to add a healthy dose of the following varieties to keep things lively all fall and winter.

• Meet the Middle Register With a Burgundy or a Bordeaux. The Los Angeles Times notes that the offerings from these two regions occupy “the middle register on the scale of power and amplitude, that provides warmth through cool nights yet nimbly manages late harvest fare.” Since these wines reflect the savory aspects of the fall season, they pair nicely with some slices of Havarti or brie and a few slices of apple. For dessert, enjoy a glass of Burgundy with a square or two of milk chocolate while your Bordeaux will enhance the intense flavor of a premium dark chocolate.
• Things Might Get a Little Fiery With an Austrian Blaufränkisch. Sometimes known as a “Lemberger,” this elixir features red fruit tendencies and veers toward tasting like a fruit-heavy wine like a Beaujolais boasting a psychedelic flair that hints at some kaleidoscopic combination of cherry and chocolate. Try your Blaufränkisch with a smoky burger or a BBQ tenderloin to keep things grounded.

These lovely selections are only the tip of the bottle. Some other fall favorites include a subtly sweet Shiraz from Australia, the Argentine varietal Malbec, and the perennial conversation starter Pinot Noir. You will probably soon find yourself falling for your autumn wine choices as hard as you fell for your summer favorites.