Dayton Fall Wine Guide

Ushering in autumn means shifting into a spicier, warmer, cozier mode in everything from clothing to candles to wine. Here are the fall wines your favorite local wine shops recommend.

The Local 937

I love that The Local 937 curates such a great wine selection – it’s so convenient to stop in for a bottle or two. The Local 937 Wine Manager, Nic Meade, recommends these wines for fall:

“For fall/colder weather wine, I absolutely love to gravitate to light red for when the weather just starts to turn. Something like Domaine Tessier’s Point Du Jour, where it’s 80% point noir and 20% Gamay. Or even Giovanni Rosso Langhe Nebbiolo. Nebbiolo or Barolo are perfect for the fall setting. They have such versatility that both are perfect for those late summer evenings, or for sitting at home on a fall day.”

“When it comes to white wine, I lean HEAVY on Chardonnay for fall/winter. Things like Jean Marie Berrux’s Le Petit Têtu, or even Sroner & Suto Richard which is Strekov1075. Both of those are perfect white wines with a lovely balance that are great for walking around or being outside enjoying the cooler weather with a glass. Skin-contact wise, the Pullus Pinot Grigio doesn’t miss for a perfect Pinot Grigio for fall, along with other really great ones like Mae Son’s Orange or Swick’s Lacewing. The versatility is endless. Not to mention all the lovely Malvasia that we have that would be great for fall, Espigol from Pares Balta or even Venica & Venica Petris.

“We have endless selections where all of it is perfect for that super late September, still trying to hold onto summer or needing those cooler weather pick me ups. Everything we have on the shelves fits that mold of perfect late summer transition into fall, you really couldn’t go wrong with anything you pull off the shelves right now, as we have the perfect combo of both.”

Joui Wine

For me, Joui Wine makes me think of spring and summer with their fun colors and delicious wine cocktails. It’s great to know that there’s a place that evokes summer for me that I can visit all year round! Lauren Gay, Joui Wine Owner and CMS Certified Sommelier, has plenty of great fall wine recommendations for when I have to admit summer might be ending:

“For us, this summer has been all about bubbles, mineral-driven whites, and crushable rosés. As we get a taste of the chilly weather on the horizon, we are gaining a taste for wines with a bit more heft. It’s still too early to jump into the big, bold, powerful wines of winter. These are transitionary wines that reflect the flavors and weather of our favorite season: autumn.

2023 Cornelissen ‘Susucaru’ Rosato (Sicily, Italy) $31

Is it a rosé? Is it a light red? Can it be both? While we love the light, quaffable, provençal rosés for summer, this has a bit more structure and texture – a perfect fall rosé. Produced by legendary winemaker Frank Cornelissen who garners a cult following, this is a limited production wine with only 6 bottles that hit our shelves.

2022 Alexander Zahle ‘Gemischter Satz’ White Blend (Vienna, Austria) $25

Gemischter Satz is a famous field blend grown within Vienna that consists of six grape varieties. The Zahel family was the first to ever bottle Gemischter Satz in the 1930s. This wine shows refreshing acidity, but an impressive richness and weighty mouthfeel, which lends itself towards holiday dinners and chillier nights.

2022 Pavese ‘Blanc de Morgex’ (Valle d’Aoste, Italy) $43

This wine, made from the local Prie Blanc grape, hails from the highest vineyard site in Europe. Extremely small production quantities make this a unique offering. It is austere, mineral-driven, and with great complexity and length. It has great agreeability and will continue to develop in the bottle, so don’t be afraid to hold on to this for a few years.

2021 Raul Perez ‘Ultreia’ Mencia (Bierzo, Spain) $23

Raúl Pérez is a magician – and not just because he looks a bit like a wizard. This Spanish winemaker from Bierzo is celebrated for his innovative and minimalist approach to winemaking and focus on indigenous grapes. He is highly awarded and considered one of Spain’s most influential winemakers. This Mencia is floral with notes of coffee, plummy fruits, and a little gaminess – all flavors that remind be of the changing of the seasons.

2018 Inconnu Merlot (Sonoma, California) $45

Inconnu Wines is a small, independent winery in California known for its minimalist, low-intervention winemaking, producing elegant, terroir-driven wines. Winemaker Laura Brennan Bissell focuses on organic farming and creating unique expressions of classic varieties, emphasizing sustainability and purity in her craft. These 40 year old Merlot vines create a powerful yet elegantly balanced wine that will change your mind about Merlot.

NV Proxies ‘Red Ember’ Non-Alcoholic $24

Proxies is a brand that creates nonalcoholic beverages designed to mimic the complexity and experience of fine wine, blending ingredients like fruit, spices, teas, and botanicals. Crafted with food pairings in mind, Proxies offer a layered, sophisticated alternative for those seeking the depth of wine without the alcohol. ‘Red Ember’ is a rich and spicy red to be paired with steak, stews, and bonfires.”

The Parlor

When I asked Ashlea Sogard, The Parlor owner and wine curator, for some fall wine recommendations, she was ready, explaining that “good wine and a chill in the air just go hand in hand.” I could’t agree more! Here are her recommendations for fall wines:

Matanzas Creek Chardonnay Alexander Valley 2019

This Chardonnay delivers a classic fall profile with baked apple, pear, vanilla, and butterscotch notes, complemented by a creamy texture and balanced acidity. It’s the perfect white for those cozy autumn meals that call for a bit of richness.

Recommended Pairing: Butternut squash risotto or roasted salmon with lemon-butter sauce.

Martin Woods 2021 Hyland Vineyard Pinot Noir

This elegant Oregon Pinot Noir offers flavors of cranberry, cherry, and earthy forest floor, with bright acidity and silky tannins. It pairs beautifully with lighter fall dishes like roasted poultry or mushroom-based meals, making it a versatile choice for the season.

Recommended Pairing: Herb-roasted chicken with wild mushrooms.

Luca Malbec 2018

Rich and full-bodied, this Argentinian Malbec brings forward blackberry, plum, and mocha flavors with smooth tannins. It’s perfect for pairing with hearty dishes like grilled meats or a comforting beef chili, ideal for those cooler nights.

Recommended Pairing: Grilled sausages or beef chili.

HALL Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019

For lovers of bold reds, this Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is a top pick. With robust blackcurrant, cassis, and dark chocolate notes, this wine offers a long finish with firm tannins. It’s ideal for hearty fall meals, adding richness to any table.

Recommended Pairing: Braised beef short ribs with rosemary.

Press Coffee Bar

One of the best things about finding great wine at Press is that you can grab a delicious coffee, too. Here are the perfect fall wine recommendations from Janell Barker, Press Coffee Bar owner:

2020 Pinot Noir from Bloomer Creek Vineyard

This Pinot Noir is from Bloomer Creek’s Auten Vineyard out of the Finger Lakes, NY region. This is one of our favorite producers in the states at the moment.

All grapes were crushed and fermented with 100% stem inclusion for three to four weeks. After pressing, the wine was matured for 24 months in neutral French oak barrels and bottled unfined and unfiltered. High-toned and aromatically complex, showing red fruits and forest floor notes with a distinct savory quality.

2021 Stein Riesling from Mosel Germany

This dry riesling sings with flavor – green apple, slate minerals, pear, big lemon pith on the nose and almost cider like!

Want to have great wines selected for you from local wine shops? Check out these local wine clubs.

Find great wine in Dayton here.