For Fall Dinners and Desserts, Choose These Italian and Portuguese Red Wines
As the weather cools down, our palates crave heartier flavors. Pairing a rich and filling dessert with a robust red wine is perfect for fall evenings. If you're looking to elevate your dinner party, consider these Italian and Portuguese wines.
First up is the Quinta da Vinha dos Padres from Portugal's Alentejo region. This 2022 vintage boasts a field blend of Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, Touriga Franca, Aragonez, and Trincadeira grapes, aged in oak barrels for five years to create a textured mid palate with flavors of raspberries and dark blackberries. The wine's firm tannins are balanced by fresh acidity, making it an excellent pairing for grilled steak or pepper sauce, as well as custard desserts.
Next is the Campo alla Sughera from Italy's Tuscany region. This 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend features a full-bodied attack and rich flavors of blackberries, mocha, and figs. The wine's firm but unobtrusive tannins are supported by acidity that adds depth to its complex finish. Pair it with dark poultry glazed in sesame sauce and enjoy the perfect complement to Tuscany's iconic vin santo cantucci almond biscuits.
Lastly, we have the Barone di Valforte from Italy's Abruzzo region. This 2022 vintage is a powerhouse of flavors, boasting bramble, prunes, gorse, red cherries, cola, and orange peel aromas. The wine's full-bodied texture combines succulent dark chocolate flavors with maple syrup and molasses in its rich mid palate. Suave tannins add an allspice note to the finish, while the overall effect is luscious and sumptuous.
Whether you're hosting a dinner party or simply want to elevate your dessert game, these Portuguese and Italian red wines will help create unforgettable fall dinners and desserts.
As the weather cools down, our palates crave heartier flavors. Pairing a rich and filling dessert with a robust red wine is perfect for fall evenings. If you're looking to elevate your dinner party, consider these Italian and Portuguese wines.
First up is the Quinta da Vinha dos Padres from Portugal's Alentejo region. This 2022 vintage boasts a field blend of Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, Touriga Franca, Aragonez, and Trincadeira grapes, aged in oak barrels for five years to create a textured mid palate with flavors of raspberries and dark blackberries. The wine's firm tannins are balanced by fresh acidity, making it an excellent pairing for grilled steak or pepper sauce, as well as custard desserts.
Next is the Campo alla Sughera from Italy's Tuscany region. This 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend features a full-bodied attack and rich flavors of blackberries, mocha, and figs. The wine's firm but unobtrusive tannins are supported by acidity that adds depth to its complex finish. Pair it with dark poultry glazed in sesame sauce and enjoy the perfect complement to Tuscany's iconic vin santo cantucci almond biscuits.
Lastly, we have the Barone di Valforte from Italy's Abruzzo region. This 2022 vintage is a powerhouse of flavors, boasting bramble, prunes, gorse, red cherries, cola, and orange peel aromas. The wine's full-bodied texture combines succulent dark chocolate flavors with maple syrup and molasses in its rich mid palate. Suave tannins add an allspice note to the finish, while the overall effect is luscious and sumptuous.
Whether you're hosting a dinner party or simply want to elevate your dessert game, these Portuguese and Italian red wines will help create unforgettable fall dinners and desserts.
i just had the best dinner party at my place last weekend and i was so stoked to have those Quinta da Vinha dos Padres grapes on the table! the Campo alla Sughera wine was a total winner with those dark poultry glazed in sesame sauce it was like they were made for each other. but you know what really took the cake? the Barone di Valforte it was like sipping liquid chocolate and molasses at the same time... or maybe that's just my sweet tooth talking lol.
i mean who doesn't love a good pairing with grilled steak or custard desserts? 
the quinta da vinhos padres from portugal sounds like my jam - firm tannins balanced by fresh acidity, yum! 
and then there's the campo alla sughera from italy which is like blackberry heaven with mocha and fig flavors... need to try that ASAP 
. Like, who thought pairing a rich wine with grilled steak was a good idea? It's like they're trying to mask the flavor of the food instead of elevating it. And don't even get me started on the dessert pairings... custard desserts with red wine? No thanks! 
- I'm obsessed with those wine suggestions! The Quinta da Vinha dos Padres sounds sooo good for grilled steak 
️, and the Campo alla Sughera would be perfect with dark poultry glazed in sesame sauce 
. And oh man, Barone di Valforte is like a rich dessert all by itself - dark chocolate and maple syrup are my fave combo! 
. When it comes to pairing wines with desserts, I always say go bold, go rich! Those tannins from the Portuguese Quinta da Vinha dos Padres pair perfectly with creamy custard desserts 
. I love the fact that it's aged in oak barrels for 5 years, giving it a textured mid palate with those raspberry and dark blackberry flavors. 
. While it sounds rich and full-bodied, I worry that its firm tannins might overpower some desserts. And what about the Barone di Valforte? That's a mouthful of flavors 
! I'm not sure if it's my cup of tea, but hey, to each their own 
. Overall, these wines sound like great options for fall dinners and desserts 
! i need to try the quinta da vinha dos Padres ASAP - firm tannins balancing fresh acidity sounds like perf for a grilled steak dinner 
. and can you even imagine pairing it with custard desserts? my mind is blown 
. also, barone di valforte sounds like it'd go crazy well with dark chocolate desserts... maple syrup & molasses is giving me all the cozy feels 
. i'm def gonna have to look out for these wines at my local wine shop 
. The complexity of the wine really showed off the richness of the chocolate without overpowering it. I don’t usually drink super rich wines but this one was different 
. I’m totally going to have to try more Italian and Portuguese wines now.
do you think these wines would go good with pumpkin pie? i heard that sweet and savory is a thing but is it really? 
. Like, I remember my grandma used to make this crazy-good dessert with figs and gorgonzola, and every time I take a sip of this wine, I'm transported back to those cozy fall afternoons spent around her table. It's like the wine is bottlin' up all these emotions and experiences for me to relive 
. Anyway, if you're lookin' for a wine that'll make your taste buds do the happy dance, I'd def recommend this Barone di Valforte! 
I'm not sure about this wine pairing thing... can we get some actual stats on how well these wines match up with the desserts they're paired with? Like, what's the source for those raspberry and dark blackberry flavors in the Quinta da Vinha dos Padres? Is it a blind tasting or just someone's opinion?
. I'm not saying the wine isn't good, but we gotta keep an eye on our food and drink choices, ya know?