THANKFUL FOR WINE
It’s that time of year again. You know, where the kids’ table gets further and further away from the ADULT table?
Joking aside (kind of), this is my favorite holiday because it is about food and wine. It’s the one celebration where no one has any expectations for presents because it is all about being thankful. Although I think my daughter would tell you she would be more excited if presents were involved.
Choosing wines for Thanksgiving can cause some anxiety, kind of like trying to cook Thanksgiving dinner for 50 people while your three kids ‘help’. According to my son, a turkey baster is excellent for catching worms outside. Don’t worry, I didn’t let him touch the turkey. Lets just say, it is not the most relaxing experience, although let’s be honest – wine helps any mommy with kitchen time.
Thanksgiving dinners tend to be built on varied flavors – you might have sausage in the stuffing, or a fried turkey, cranberries and/or Brussel sprouts, all of which would call for different wines. What to do?!
Most sommeliers will tell you to pick up a Riesling or Pinot Noir. But from my experience, the former doesn’t suit a lot of palates. You need a wine with acid. What’s acid you say? It’s like that cousin of yours (aka Martha Stewart) who’s bright eyed, wakes up at 5am and bakes 50 turkey cupcakes for the kids with absolute perfection all the while giggling and bubbling over with excitement. The acid levels in a white wine are important for a turkey pairing, the high acid wines give that crisp, tart flavor which complements the Thanksgiving feast, which is why it is commonly recommended.
Riesling is crisp, high acidity and low in alcohol, which makes a perfect pairing for a heavy dinner. While Riesling is commonly thought of as sweet by American drinkers, Germany, Austria and Alsace, France produce dry Rieslings, as does Washington State. It isn’t always the party wine everyone appreciates, except those few wine savvy peeps, so I tend to go in another direction. But I would be remiss to not recommend this extremely food-friendly wine. If your local try a Lieb Cellars Pinot Blanc, its hails from Long Island, NY and is delicious for $22. http://shop.liebcellars.com/product/2014-Reserve-Pinot-Blanc?pageID=A4AC9B9D-0B62-DFAF-D440-0C4ECE532198&sortBy=DisplayOrder&maxRows=14&
My suggestion try a Chenin Blanc, an often overlooked grape that seems to be increasing in popularity. We all know my affinity for anything South African (hey, I married one), and they happen to be the largest produces of Chenin Blanc. My favorites though tend to be found in France (Vouvray, Anjou, Languedoc, Savennieres) all making great examples. If your looking for a little USA wine, Washington State has been turning out some great Chenin Blanc’s. Word of advice, look for dry, un-oaked examples.
Pinot Noir is one of my favorite red wines to have at Thanksgiving. It is a general crowd pleaser, and with low tannins, high acid and generally a medium body (avoid the oaked pinots), with loads of berry flavors, this is a great wine, if not THE perfect Thanksgiving wine.
Burgundy is the first choice for me, although I admit it’s hard to find a good one under $30. I recently found a crowd pleaser called Joseph Drouhin Pinot Noir for $17.00 though.
For higher-priced Pinot Noir, I have a few favorites made in California and Oregon.
But I always check the alcohol levels, because some American Pinots can get into the 15% ABV range, and the last thing you want is to get your mother in law drunk (or maybe you do?).
Above $20 limit look for:
Oregon: Cristom, Ponzi, Eyrie Vineyards, Lumos, Penner-Ash, Evesham Wood, Domaine Drouhin, Domaine Serene, Beaux Freres
California: Sta.Rita Hills, Robert Sinskey, Barnett Vineyards, Failla, Hanzell, Littorai vineyards.
Sparkling wine/Champagne: Why not? The acidity and crispness is refreshing with a turkey spread. Plus, bubbles! J wine made in California is having a Thanksgiving special now, so check out their bubbles, you can’t go wrong. https://www.jwine.com
White wine: If you want to try something different for a white wine selection, I’d try Argentinian wines made from the Torrontes grape. These tend to be well made wines at a lower price point, where the cooling effect of a higher altitude brings refreshing acidity. These wines have a crisp floral taste with an underlying spice that a little turkey could benefit from. Recently tasted a Tomero Torrontes for $17.00 that would be a perfect dinner compliment.
Three other red wines I would recommend would be Rhone wines (Northern, Southern and Cotes du Rhone), wines from Tuscany in Italy that are made from the Sangiovese grape, and California red Zinfandels.
Red Rhone wines: With the primary grapes often a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mouverde, these have the berry and spice balance that can give some weight and flavor to a turkey dinner. Wines from this region that are labeled Cote du Rhone Villages are a great value, but you can also try a Cornas from the Northern Rhone region (known for premium wines), which is 100% Syrah. Either way, you cannot lose in the Rhone area. Again, watch the alcohol level (lower in the cooler climate of the Northern Rhone) and overuse of oak in a wine.
Tuscany wines: Sangiovese These wines are usually un-oaked, fruity and have the high acidity that complements a rich, meaty meal. This is, by the way, a wine suggestion for my friend (shout out) who wanted an Italian wine suggestion.
CA Zinfandel: This full-bodied, fruit-forward wine is best if chosen for smooth tannins and lower alcohol levels; you will be in for a treat. Price can vary from $10-premium wines.
Whatever you do, enjoy! Give me feedback on what you paired with dinner and what you thought!