As summer draws to a close and the gates of autumn open wide, it is also a vegetable beloved by fans of this season that comes out of hibernation: the pumpkin.
Not only an ornament for Halloween parties, but above all a gastronomic product with infinite facets, this ingredient is as beautiful to look at as it is versatile in the kitchen.
But which bottles should go with your taste profile? Here are the best wines to pair with a pumpkin menu!
Wine and pumpkin pairing tips and interesting facts about the queen of autumn
There are many reasons to love the arrival of autumn: the yellowing of the leaves dots the landscape with magnificent hues, while among the vegetables of the season, the pumpkin makes its reappearance.
This ingredient - with its many varieties - has been used since ancient times not only in the kitchen, but also as a raw material for making bowls, wineskins and accessories of various kinds.
Gastronomically speaking, besides being an excellent ingredient to include in a balanced diet, pumpkin can be cooked in hundreds of different ways, winning over gourmets with its versatility. Its characteristic sweetish flavour (with differences from one variety to another) is well suited to soups, pasta dishes, stir-fries, salads and other side dishes, not to mention the irresistible desserts it can create.
For a correct combination of pumpkin and wine, it is therefore necessary to consider the cooking method of the vegetable and the other ingredients that make up the dish: so here is a complete menu based on pumpkin, from starters to dessert, and the matching wine!
Pumpkin appetisers and soups: which wines to pair with them?
When one thinks of autumn dishes, the mind conjures up soft textures, enveloping flavours and that comforting embrace that only a lovingly cooked dish can give. These are precisely the traits of a pumpkin-based menu, which opens the dances with tasty starters and warm soups... and of course good wines to go with these recipes!
Savoury pie and Gewürztraminer
Hors d'oeuvres and aperitifs are not complete without a slice of savoury pie, a simple dish that everyone can agree on. It can be made with vegetables alone, so that even vegetarians are won over, or enriched with various kinds of meat and sausages.
A rustic pumpkin pie is an excellent recipe to celebrate the arrival of autumn, especially if the delicate flavour of this vegetable is accompanied by elements that give the recipe a savoury touch. You can add smoked cheeses or bacon or speck, gritty flavours that should be enhanced with a good aromatic wine.
Among the best wines for autumnal cuisine is Gewürztraminer, which on the one hand supports the sweetness of pumpkin with its sugary notes, and on the other pushes the savouriness and spiciness of the meat with aromas ranging from rose to exotic fruit, to hints of cloves and a slight peppery note.
Pumpkin soup and Franciacorta
More than just a soup, pumpkin soup is a true love poem to autumn. Warm and velvety, it is a pampering for the palate from the first spoonful to the last, thanks to its creamy texture (made from cooked pumpkin blended with a dash of milk or cream) and the typical sweetish aftertaste of pumpkin. These taste notes can be enlivened through the addition of spices and flavours, such as garlic and a pinch of nutmeg.
A gloomy day and a glass of wine are the perfect accompaniments to pumpkin soup. Among the excellent wines for a pumpkin-based menu is a 'Berlucchi '61' Franciacorta Nature DOCG 2015 Metodo Classico, a wine capable of lending dynamism to this dish, contrasting the full flavour of the soup with its citrus and dried fruit scents and the yeasty notes typical of bottle fermentation. With its aromatic and persistent perlage, this Franciacorta will tickle and refresh the palate, preparing it for the rest of the menu!
Delicious first and second courses with pumpkin and matching wine
Those who claim that pumpkin is poor in flavour have never had the chance to enjoy this vegetable in a creamy risotto or a meaty main course. It is thanks to the variety of possible pairings with these dishes that the pumpkin once again demonstrates its remarkable adaptability.
Risotto and Primitivo wine
One of the best recipes with pumpkin and wine pairing is risotto. For lovers of delicate flavours, pumpkin can be the only ingredient, but for those who appreciate a touch of colour in the kitchen, the dish can be livened up by adding some sausage flakes while cooking, both to give it texture and to create an interesting contrast to the sweetness of the vegetable.
What are the best wines to pair with pumpkin dishes? Although the sweetness of the vegetable cries out for a white wine, the presence of the sausage, with its full-bodied and savoury flavour, makes it possible to uncork a bottle of red.
The choice may fall on a Primitivo Puglia IGT 2020, a wine with violet hues that releases intense floral and fruity aromas with persuasive notes, but which demonstrates its character above all thanks to well-balanced spicy and dried fruit scents. Velvety and warm, just one sip with pumpkin and sausage risotto and it will be love at first sight!
Meat with pumpkin chutney and Tuscan Chardonnay
Chutney is a preserve of Indian origin consisting of various ingredients, whether fruits or vegetables, which are flavoured by adding sugar, vinegar and spices while cooking. This is then sifted through a sieve to create a tasty cream ideal for seasoning meat.
A pork fillet with pumpkin chutney requires a wine that can hold its own against both the flavours of the meat and the aromatic notes of the condiment. Among the most suitable autumn wines to accompany the pumpkin, one can bet on a young and fresh Tuscan Chardonnay, balanced on the palate and perfumed to the nose: it welcomes notes of white-fleshed fruit, such as apple, peach and pear, as well as hints of flowers and citrus fruits that will cleanse the palate of the different textures of the dish.
There is always room for a pumpkin dessert and a sweet glass of wine!
An ingredient as sweet as pumpkin can only result in sensational desserts! One of the most representative is Pumpkin Pie. Again, it plays on the sensory contrasts between the crunchiness of the shortcrust pastry and the softness of the filling and cream decorations, between the sweetness of the pumpkin and the slight spiciness of the spices, including cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves, which give the recipe an extra kick.
Pairing pumpkin and wine is also a great idea here, because with a glass of Recioto di Soave DOCG 'Vernus' 2020 the experience becomes even more persuasive. With its golden mottling, fascinating amber reflections, and aromatic richness, including notes of acacia honey, vanilla and dried fruit, this sweet and velvety Veneto wine will captivate the senses of diners, surprising them with an interesting almondy background note that softens the sweetness.
Now that you have numerous wine and pumpkin pairing tips at your disposal, explore the Svinando catalogue and choose the best wines for your autumn menu!