Can we have a bottle of each, yeah?

If you’re anything like me when it comes to drinking habits, the shorter days and cooler evenings of autumn tend to call for reds with a bit more robustness and spice and whites with more texture and body to help keep the impending chill at bay. I'm no connoisseur, so I decided to reach out to a wine expert to get some tips on the best wines for Autumn. I hit up my pals at JN Wine, because they know pretty much everything there is to know about vino. Below are a few suggestions of both reds and whites that are perfect for autumn that’ll be sure to help you tackle the transition from summer with ease. Côtes du Rhône Domaine des Argelas Red 2016 (€15.50) Côtes du Rhône is a reliable style for almost any time of year and this one with its medium-full body, cherry and red berry fruit, subtle spice and powdery tannins makes it a fine accompaniment to a warming stew! Villa Wolf Pinot Gris 2017 (€15.95) With its hint of sweetness, spice and slight spritz, this wine pairs impeccably with the suitably autumnal combination of pork in apple sauce or cider. Secateurs Red Blend 2018 (€15.50) Consisting mostly of Cinsault, it offers crunchy red fruit and a distinct earthiness that makes it an ideal match to the array of mushrooms that are just coming into season. Höpler Grüner Veltliner 2017 (€16.99)  From Austria and its most widely-planted grape variety, this style of wine might not be the first that springs to mind when thinking of one’s suited to the Irish autumn but it’s salted lemon and white pepper notes work perfectly with smoked ham and gammon. Give it a try! Domaine Jean-Michel Gerin La Champine Syrah 2016 (€18.99) Its medium-body, hints of violets and thyme and inherent savoury quality make it the textbook partner to game dishes such as venison or pigeon. Pask Kate Radburnd Liquid Gold Chardonnay 2014 (€16.95) This lightly-oaked example from New Zealand’s Pask-Kate Radburnd offers a rich golden hue with ripe pineapple, lemon curd and pie crust flavours that will complement any chicken dish roasted in butter or coated in hearty, creamy sauces. Herdade Do Portocarro Autocarro No27 Tinto 2017 (€14.99) With its robust body, sinewy tannins, piercing acidity and dark, brooding fruits this provides ample pedigree to stand up to the Saturday night sirloin. Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana Napoleon Amontillado Sherry (€15.99) With its inherent nuttiness and salty tang, this Amontillado (a highly underrated style of dry sherry) is a seamless accompaniment to the staples of autumnal grazing such as nuts, cold meats and ripe/aged cheese. Rustenberg Straw Wine 2018 (€11.99) This South African ‘straw wine’ (wine made by grapes left out to dry on straw mats) offers flavours of apricot, honey and barley sugar that’ll propel even the most middling of apple tarts to extraordinary heights. Quinta De La Rosa LBV Port 2014, (€27.50)  Fortified Port wines are another style that are criminally overlooked and undervalued. Although more associated with Christmas, I defy anyone not to enjoy a tipple of this decade-old Late Bottle Vintage offering from Quinta de la Rosa while huddled on the sofa or next to the fire as the nights grow darker and colder. Pair with your favourite chocolate and you will achieve true Hygge bliss! So if you're looking for some delicious wines for Autumn, be sure to keep this list to hand. Oh, and BY THE WAY, JN Wine has a home delivery service, which means you could get these babies delivered to your door. That way, nobody has to go outside and endure the cold. Stunning.