Best Fall Destinations (Plus Wine Pairings!)

Fall is one of my favorite times to head outside and explore the great outdoors—with crisp air, gorgeous foliage, and fun seasonal events, it’s worth picking out the best fall destinations to enjoy when summer winds to a close and winter’s not yet upon us. Join me on a virtual wine tasting as we explore some of my favorite fall destinations around the world, paired with some delicious wines delivered to me from ēlicit Wine Project.

When I discovered this brand, I learned that ēlicit Wine Project offers a fully customizable subscription wine service, where you can pick and choose the bottles you want and have them delivered right to your door. It’s a great way to try new wines and support small local growers and winemakers at the same time. Grab yourself a wine glass and let’s go exploring!

Full disclosure: While we explore the best fall destinations around the world and the wines that perfectly pair with each, please note that this post features a paid promotion by ēlicit Wine Project. Cheers!

The Eastern Sierras: MERF Rosé

I’m starting out with a rosé from the Columbia Valley called MERF. This rosé is mostly a blend of French Rhone varietals. It’s crisp and refreshing with notes of kiwi, mango, grapefruit, and white peach. Since more than 50% of American peaches are grown in California, I’ve paired the MERF rose with the Eastern Sierras of California. 

The Eastern Sierras are a spectacular fall destination. During the autumn months, the birch and aspen trees turn a golden yellow. The cooler temperatures in the region are perfect for hiking, backpacking, and rock climbing adventures. You can spend the night in Mammoth or Lone Pine before setting off into the forest. From here you can hike to glacial lakes and hot springs or visit Yosemite National Park and the curious-looking Mono Lake. 

Washington State: Fruit and Flower Chardonnay

The next wine in the virtual wine tasting and pairing is the Fruit and Flower Chardonnay. While I’m not usually a Chardonnay fan, this one was quite good. The Fruit and Flower Chardonnay has notes of pear, citrus blossom, and apple. The apple notes reminded me of Washington State, where there is abundant apple picking!

Apple picking is a traditional fall activity, and Washington State is full of organic farms from Olympia north and within the Spokane Valley. If you’ve never gone apple picking, round up some friends or family, grab a basket, and head over to an orchard. Picking your own apples is a great way to spend some time outdoors and you’ll be rewarded with a bucket full of delicious apples. Make sure to hit the kitchen after to make pies, tarts, ciders, and applesauce! 

Southern Brazil: Liquid Light Sauvignon Blanc

The final white wine I’m trying from my elicit Wine Project curated box is the Liquid Light Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Blanc is one of my favorite wines. This one from Liquid Light has only 1 gram of sugar and 105 calories per serving. It’s refreshing and crisp and features notes of tropical fruits like lime, grapefruit, and green pineapple. 

Green pineapples originate in Southern Brazil, which is why I’m pairing it with the Liquid Light Sauvignon Blanc. Fall in America is actually spring in Brazil, so a trip to Såo Paulo at this time of year will be full of beautiful blooming trees. I would suggest taking a few days to explore the city before heading over to Iguazu Falls, which is one of the world’s largest waterfalls. This is one of the best fall destinations if you want to get away from the chill!

More About Elicit Wine Project

ēlicit Wine Project is a way to try new wines and have them delivered directly to your door! You can build your own box of wines that contain anywhere from 1-12 bottles. The more bottles you order, the more of a discount you receive on your order. When you are an active subscriber of a box with four bottles or more, the discount will be applied to all orders you make. 

When you subscribe to a full case (twelve bottles) of wine with ēlicit Wine Project, you will receive 15% off the entire order and pay only a penny for shipping. Visit their website right here to start building your case for maximum savings!

Oregon: Altered Dimension Cabernet Sauvignon

It’s time to move onto my red wine pairings. The first red is a cabernet sauvignon from Altered Dimension. This wine is very earthy and features notes of chocolate and marionberry. If you’ve never heard of marionberry before, it is similar to a blackberry! Marionberries grow in Oregon, which is our next on the list of the best fall destinations.

Oregon in the autumn is incredible—the state really comes into its own. The spectacular fall foliage season can be experienced by hiking through the Cascades, picking pumpkins in the central region of the state, cycling through the Willamette Valley, and touring the rugged Oregon coastline. 

Sweden: Intrinsic Red Blend

Next up is a 2017 red blend from the Columbia Valley called Intrinsic. This wine opens with refined notes of raspberry, white tea leaves, and a hint of fresh mint and lavender. The flavors are layered with a milk chocolate fig reduction, dark plum, and licorice fruit. These are all some of my favorite flavors! The licorice flavor instantly transported me back to Sweden, which is the best fall destination to pair with this wine.

Sweden is one of the best fall destinations in general, and the Swedes love their licorice! Start your visit with Stockholm, where you can spend a few days exploring Old Town, touring museums, and of course eating licorice. Next, head to Abisko National Park, located in Lapland. Here you’ll experience unbelievable waterfalls and the incredible fall colors. When winter comes, you have the opportunity to see the Northern Lights and Scandinavia’s largest alpine lake.

Adirondacks, New York: Borne of Fire Cabernet Sauvignon

Last but certainly not least is the Borne of Fire Cabernet Sauv, also from the Columbia Valley. This rugged yet elegant wine leads with herbal flavors pomegranate and follows with flavors of currant, savory spice, red pepper, and cherries. The cherry notes instantly transported me to the Adirondacks in upstate New York, which is home to the black cherry tree.

The Adirondacks are quite possibly the best place in the United States to view the fall leaves. I recommend taking a road trip through the towns of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Ticonderoga. For the best views of the foliage, make sure to hike to Titus Mountain and High Falls Gorge as well!

The Best Fall Destinations: Even Better With the Right Wine

The temperatures may be dropping, but that doesn’t mean there is any shortage of fun fall activities to go out and experience. All across the country, there are leaves to see, apples to pick, and incredible hikes to explore. So grab your favorite bottle of wine from Elicit Wine Project and go out and explore some fall destinations! Which bottle would you want to try? What’s your idea of the perfect destination and wine pairing? Let me know in the comments!