By Christopher Wood
Introduction
Imagine a crisp autumn afternoon, where golden leaves drift down, and the air carries a hint of warmth and spice. It’s the perfect setting for a cozy backyard wine-tasting picnic—a gathering where you and your friends can savor seasonal wines, share laughs, and embrace the magic of fall without leaving home.
Hosting a wine-tasting picnic offers a unique way to celebrate the season, pairing rich flavors with vibrant colors and a relaxed, inviting atmosphere.
Here’s everything you need to create a memorable fall wine-tasting experience, from setting a cozy, stylish scene to selecting the perfect wines and snacks to complement the season’s charm.
Choose the Perfect Fall Wines
One of the most important aspects of hosting a backyard fall wine-tasting picnic is the presence of seasonally appropriate wine choices. There are many fall-friendly wine varieties that pair well with the season, such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Syrah.
Particularly, white wine lovers can enjoy Albarino, Cava, Chenin Blanc, Fino Sherry, and the lesser-known Viognier. On the other hand, red wines such as Grenache, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon, are seasonally appropriate choices for red wine enthusiasts for a fall wine-tasting picnic.
If you want to offer a classic wine pairing experience to your guests, try pairing the following popular fall foods with the right wine:
- Roasted root vegetables that are sweet and earthy in taste pair well with Spanish Rioja and Pinot Gris. Alternatively, green root vegetables with a pungent taste are best enjoyed with a glass of Chablis or Cabernet Franc. But if you’re ever in doubt or are generally new to the wine pairing process, you can rely on the versatile Soave, Barbera, or Crémant to save the day.
- Squash and pumpkins are the most popular foods of the leaf-falling season. That’s why they need to be enjoyed with the right kind of wine. While all rose wines go perfectly with squash and pumpkin, if you’re leaning toward white wines, Gewürztraminer and Reisling can be good choices. For reds, Pinot Noir and Gamay are most suitable.
- For apple-based dishes made with Honeycrisps and cameos, you need a Moscato or Pinot Grigio. But Chardonnay or White Bordeaux will pair better with Fuji and Ambrosia apples.
Pro Tip:
Include at least one sparkling wine for a celebratory feel and a fortified wine like Port to close the tasting on a cozy note.
Create a Cozy Picnic Setup
To create a cozy picnic setup, you must make your seating area comfortable using blankets, cushions, and throw pillows to create a relaxed, rustic ambiance. You can also add low tables or picnic trays to give guests a place to set down glasses, plates, and decor. A setting by your home garden, whether it’s a floral or herb garden, enhances the picnic experience. For a classic fall-inspired backyard look, pick fall-inspired decorations like pumpkins, dried flowers, and fairy lights to enhance the atmosphere and make wine tasting a fun experience for all your guests.
Pro Tip:
To keep your landscape pristine for a fall wine tasting, use maintenance hacks like mowing, fertilizing, pruning, mulching, and pest control, including the use of a weed barrier to mitigate the risk caused by weeds and pests and create a perfect space for outdoor enjoyment. By ensuring your backyard space is well-prepared, you can focus on creating a chic ambiance.
Prepare Fall-Themed Tasting Flights
As the name suggests, a wine flight is a selection of 3 to 6 different wines that are presented in a wine tasting. You can use the idea to organize a tasting flight with 3-4 wines for guests to sample, ranging from light to bold. There are many different types of wine flights. You can keep it simple (e.g., white to red) or make it thematic (e.g., “Harvest Reds” or “Autumn Whites”).
If you plan to offer a wine flight based on different types of wines, try adding base flavors such as oak, compare tannins, and pick wines from different regions to compare which wines give off an earthy tone and which ones have notes of fruitiness to make the wine flight as diverse as possible.
Thematic wine flights can add a touch of whimsy to the experience, making it memorable. Some popular themes include blind tasting, autumn wine special, light to bold, and wine, chocolate, and cheese combinations. You can also provide tasting note cards to your guests which will help them jot down their impressions of different wines, adding a touch of sophistication to the experience.
Pro Tip:
Consider adding a blind-tasting element to make the event interactive and fun, with guests guessing varieties or regions.
Serve Seasonal Food Pairings
The most interesting part about hosting an outdoor fall wine tasting is enjoying various fall-themed food pairings that complement the wine flight, such as charcuterie boards with cheeses, roasted nuts, figs, and smoked meats. Some of the popular wine and food pairings include apple pie with Riesling, pumpkin pie and Sherry, and chili and Zinfandel.
To make it simpler for guests to enjoy the wine flight with bite-sized foods, pick easy-to-eat dishes like mini pumpkin pies, caramelized onion tarts, or apple slices with brie. The aim is to create an experience that offers your guests an opportunity to taste as many combinations as possible easily.
Focus on balancing flavors by pairing rich, full-bodied wines like Gewürztraminer and Roussanne with savory flavors such as cheese or sweet flavors like fruit pies to enhance the tasting experience.
Pro Tip:
Offer warm dishes like butternut squash soup or baked brie to keep guests warm as the temperatures drop.
Keep Warm with Blankets and Throws
While your backyard can be a fun place to host a wine tasting, it can also turn chilly. As the temperature can drop quickly in the fall, it’s a smart move to have extra blankets and throws available for guests. Not only will it keep your guests warm but also make the ambiance aesthetically pleasing.
Placing a few cozy shawls or scarves around can also be a considerably thoughtful touch, especially if the picnic goes into the evening or you’re planning to have an all-day gathering.
Pro Tip:
Consider a fire pit or outdoor candles for added warmth and ambiance if your space allows.
Set the Mood with Fall Lighting
Just like the choice of wine and food, the importance of lighting in creating an intimate ambiance, especially for evening tastings, can’t be disregarded. For an ethereal mood setting, string fairy lights in trees or around the picnic area and add candles or lanterns for a warm glow. For a creative touch that encompasses the festive fall vibe, you can use pumpkin lanterns or mason jars with LED lights.
Pro Tip:
Battery-operated candles are safer outdoors and won’t blow out in the breeze. Instead of lighting up your backyard with real candles, choose electric/battery-powered mood lighting to set the scene for the festivities.
Add a Fall-Inspired Soundtrack
A wine-tasting picnic can benefit more from a fall-inspired soundtrack. As a gracious host, think of creating a playlist that complements the cozy atmosphere. Think acoustic, jazz, or classical music. Since you know the kind of music your friends and family enjoy, it can be a great way to mix music, wine, and food and have a good time for merrymaking.
Focus on creating a calming and subtle mix, allowing conversation and wine tasting to take center stage. You can use a portable speaker to play the playlist at a low volume to maintain a relaxed vibe throughout the picnic as your guests enjoy their sophisticated food and wine pairings.
Pro Tip:
Add nature sounds (like gentle rainfall or crackling fire) to your playlist for an authentic autumnal touch.
Provide Wine Tasting Tips for Guests
For guests new to wine tasting, provide a few tips on how to swirl, sniff, and savor each wine. Encourage them to notice flavors and aromas specific to fall, like spices, ripe fruit, and earthiness. You can also add a tasting guide for each wine, including region, flavor notes, and suggested food pairings, to enhance the experience. If all or most of your guests are new to the wine-tasting experience, they will appreciate tips on palette cleansing through water, avoiding intoxication, and ways to assess a wine.
Pro Tip:
A short printed or digital tasting guide can add a professional touch and give guests something to take home. You can use this guide as a party favor along with mini pumpkins or a fall-inspired gift to make the experience memorable.
Conclusion
Hosting a fall wine-tasting picnic is a perfect way to savor the season and connect with friends over rich, autumn-inspired wines. With thoughtful preparation—from selecting fall-friendly wines and pairing them with seasonal bites to creating a warm, inviting setting—you can make this gathering memorable and effortless.
Remember to choose comfortable seating, add ambient lighting, and consider blankets or fire pits to keep guests warm. With a touch of creativity and intention, you can transform your backyard into the ideal spot for a relaxing, flavorful autumn celebration.
So, gather your friends, pour the wine, and toast to the beautiful season!