According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the average temperature in Japan in 2025 was the highest since records began. Although temperatures are expected to remain above average, it is already autumn on the calendar. It’s a season to enjoy choosing wines that match autumn ingredients and dishes.
At "CRAFT WINE SHOP," we introduce Japanese wines that pair well with autumn flavors. All are perfect for autumn ingredients like mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and Pacific saury. Please use this as a reference for choosing your autumn wines.
How to choose wines to pair with autumn flavors
Summer was a season where refreshing and light wines were popular.
Autumn is also a season where refreshing wines shine, but as sweeter and more flavorful ingredients and dishes increase, wines with a bit more body become easier to use.
If you have been drinking mostly sparkling and white wines, you might soon want to try red wines, orange wines, or medium-bodied rosé wines.
Now, even when we say "wines that go with autumn flavors," the choice changes depending on the ingredients and dishes. For root vegetables like mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and lotus root, two types of wines can be considered as below.
- Aromatic white wines with a smooth, mellow, and rich mouthfeel
- Light-bodied red wines with high acidity and earthy notes
Wine selection requires a bit of thought depending on how you enjoy the ingredient. For mushrooms, a barrel-aged creamy Chardonnay might be good, but if you grill mushrooms simply with plenty of herbs, olive oil, and salt and pepper, a medium-bodied Syrah, Pinot Noir, or Zweigelt could be interesting.
Autumn flavors often feature spices and herbs, creamy tastes, or rich seasonings like soy sauce, mirin, and sake, resulting in bold and intense flavors. Enjoy choosing wines while imagining how the autumn ingredients will be prepared.
Below is a summary of some examples of autumn ingredients paired with wine.
| Pumpkin and root vegetables | Aromatic wines with sharp acidity like Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris. Root vegetables pair well with Pinot Noir, barrel-aged Muscat Bailey A, and medium-bodied Merlot or Syrah. |
| Vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, and broccoli | Herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc and cool-climate Cabernet Sauvignon are also recommended. Wines like Koshu and Pinot Gris, which offer a subtle bitterness, are also appealing. |
| Autumn fruits like apples and pears | Fresh flavors and fruity aromas, high-acidity wines like Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Kerner are recommended. Wines from Delaware and Niagara, which have a strong fruit scent and sharp acidity, are also great choices. |
| Fish such as Pacific saury and salmon | The rich flavor of fat, the savory aroma when grilled, and the mellow taste pair perfectly with Japanese red wines like Muscat Bailey A. Also recommended is Koshu orange wine, which retains strength while offering citrus nuances and acidity. For salmon dishes with butter, a barrel-aged white wine is also excellent. |
In Japanese cuisine, autumn ingredients are often prepared with rich, sweet seasonings, so wines with smoothness, earthiness, elegance, and deep flavor tend to pair well. Muscat Bailey A is especially recommended, but since mushrooms have a unique flavor as well as freshness, native varieties like Koshu are great, as are slightly fuller-bodied Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs, and Pinot Gris. Also, if you don’t want to overthink it, orange wines with light tannins or medium-bodied blended red wines might be easy to use. "Aromatic, sharp acidity, medium body, fruity sweetness, earthiness (deep flavor) that pairs well with autumn ingredients, long finish, and a slight tannin or astringency in the aftertaste." By keeping these elements in mind when pairing wine with autumn ingredients and dishes, you can create an attractive food pairing experience.
CWS Recommendations! 3 Wines to Pair with Autumn Flavors
From here, we will introduce three Japanese wines recommended by "CRAFT WINE SHOP" that pair well with autumn flavors. If you want to fully enjoy the tastes of autumn, please use this as a reference.
Tsuno Wine / Onoshita Estate Chardonnay 2023 #5
"Onoshita Estate Chardonnay 2023 #5" is produced by the prestigious Tsuno Wine winery in Tsuno, Miyazaki Prefecture. This Chardonnay pairs widely with autumn flavors. It uses only Chardonnay grapes grown in their own vineyard (*Makuchi Agricultural Production Cooperative). Fermented, aged, and sur lie aged in oak barrels, it offers a pleasant freshness, creamy texture from barrel aging, and a rich umami flavor.
Pairs well with a wide range of mushroom dishes, including butter-based mushroom dishes, charcoal-grilled mushrooms seasoned with salt and finished with a squeeze of kabosu citrus, mushroom rice, and mushroom salad with citrus dressing.
Tsuno Wine / Onoshita Estate Chardonnay 2023 #5
3,960 yen (tax included)
More details about the wine here
Lumiere / Sparkling Orange 2022
An orange wine from the long-established winery "Lumiere" in Yamanashi Prefecture. Made from Koshu grapes and crafted into sparkling wine. It is produced using the carbonic maceration method, offering a charming wine with a floral aroma, soft and fruity flavor, and the distinctive strength typical of orange wine. "Lumiere / Sparkling Orange 2022" pairs perfectly with fatty autumn fish like autumn salmon, Pacific saury, autumn mackerel, and returning bonito. The refreshing citrus-like aroma of simply salted grilled fish, the mineral flavor with a sprinkle of salt, and the slightly bitter aftertaste enhance the ingredients' deliciousness. It also pairs well with Western-style dishes like butter, carpaccio, and acqua pazza, so enjoy its versatility with various cooking methods.
Lumiere / Sparkling Orange 2022
3,080 yen (tax included)
More details about the wine here
CruX / THANKS, LOVE ROUGE
"THANKS, LOVE ROUGE" is a food-friendly red wine packed with the charm of Japanese wine. It features a slightly sweet aroma from a blend of Muscat Bailey A, Pione, Kyoho, and Black Queen, resulting in a refreshing yet mellow medium body.
With the acidity, tannins, and rich flavors of Black Queen, this wine pairs easily with the "deeply delicious" tastes of autumn like pumpkin, sweet potato, and chestnuts. It goes perfectly not only with sweet simmered dishes but also with sweet potato or chestnut rice and simple charcoal-grilled dishes. These ingredients also pair well with stronger meats like beef and pork, and even with robust dishes made with meat, "THANKS, LOVE ROUGE" handles them effortlessly.
It pairs well with Japanese dishes such as simmered seasonal fish, teriyaki chicken, and braised pork belly, so try incorporating it into your everyday meals.
CruX / THANKS, LOVE ROUGE
1,760 yen (tax included)
More details about the wine here
Summary
As the saying goes, "autumn is the season of appetite," and it is a time when many delicious ingredients are available. Delicious wine is essential to enjoy the tastes of autumn.
Why not fully enjoy the appetite of autumn by referring to the wines recommended by "CRAFT WINE SHOP" that pair well with the flavors of the season?
