Turkey Day Wine Drinkin’

It suddenly dawned on me a couple of days ago that Thanksgiving is actually next week! I know it is kind of a cliché to do a Thanksgiving wine article but I love wine AND I love Thanksgiving, so what the hell.

I don’t really think there are too many right or wrong wine choices on this day, given the variety of traditions, cultures and flavors represented. It would be virtually impossible to match every course perfectly with all of the different flavors and spices. The possibilities and choices are endless, so why not have some fun and try some wines you may not have thought of experimenting with before? I say the more wines the better!

Chances are, no matter what type of wine you throw out there, it will eventually pair right with something somebody brings to the table, and if not, just take it in the corner somewhere to polish off yourself when no one is watching. No matter how great your family is, everyone can use that extra little bump to get you through the inevitable chaos that tends to come from this type of gathering.

I personally think every holiday should start with some serious Champagne drinking! I like all sorts of sparkling wines, but since this holiday is all about overindulgence, why not go for the really good stuff? Although a great idea in theory, I recognize that this can get pretty expensive. I found one that although not cheap, is a fairly affordable, incredibly yummy real (meaning from France) Champagne.

Pommery is a French Champagne house that does make some incredible higher-end Champagnes, but also has come out with a more affordable, “approachable” Champagne, marketed towards a “hipper” crowd who may not always be willing to fork out the extra dough for the spendy stuff. I don’t care if it’s stylish or not, I DO LOVE Champagne and if a trendy marketing campaign allows me to buy it cheaper, I am so in! As apples, oranges, and lemons explode in your mouth, this creamy, sparkling deliciousness can be apart of your T Day celebration for around $40 a bottle.

Almost any wine article you read about T Day will inevitably mention the importance of a sweet wine or two. Much of this stems from the days of our grandparents when any holiday celebration was not complete without a nice bottle of Mogen David (yes this is the same company that makes MD 20/20) or the beloved White Zinfandel. As wine palettes have expanded and progressed, Riesling has become a choice that satisfies both those whose only qualification is that it be “sweet” and those of us who have a little higher standard.

Even though I am not huge on the sweet wines, I do admit there is something to be said for a nice Riesling with your turkey. It just works! If I am going to drink wine of a sweeter nature though, I am going to pick a damn fine one. Eroica Riesling is a collaboration of Chateau St Michelle, known for some excellent Washington state Rieslings and Dr. Loosen, who makes some world class German Rieslings.

This intriguing combination of Old World and New World techniques with its bold acidity and restrained mineral undertones is of a different breed. This is not an inexpensive Riesling at around $20 a bottle, but even if you don’t like a sweeter style of wine you will be pleasantly surprised.

When deciding on what you will be serving for your main course, the key is to choose wines somewhere in the middle of the flavor spectrum, such as fuller bodied whites and medium to light reds. It is important to go with well balanced wines with an appropriate amount of both acidity and tannins.

For your whites, don’t just stick to the norm. Go for something a little bit different than you would normally serve. Given the amount of times I have mentioned Sokol Blosser out of Dundee Hills, Oregon, I am obviously a huge fan. Their Pinot Gris is an excellent choice for one of your T Day whites. This earthy wine with its citrus and spice components compliments anything from your cranberry sauce to your holiday salads. You can usually find this for around $20 a bottle.

As for your red wines, Pinot Noir is a pretty standard and popular choice of wine for this type of large banquet, but it really is a great all around food wine. My choice this year is another selection from Oregon where they are currently making some pretty insane Pinots, both Noirs and Grises.

The Willamette Valley Vineyard Pinot Noir screams fruity, but in such a good way. Raspberries and cherries explode in your mouth. This wine is delicate enough to accompany most parts of the meal, yet is bold enough to stand up to some of the heartier dishes. Again, not the cheapest at around $18-$20 per bottle but hey, it’s the holidays, live a little!

If you want to go for something a little different, try a Cotes Du Rhone. For a fairly inexpensive version, the Paul Jaboulet Parallel 45 is such an incredible wine. With 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, this great food wine will show well throughout the entire meal. At around $12 per bottle and the least expensive of the wines mentioned today, in terms of quality this wine stands up easily next to its more expensive counterparts.

Whether you are a dessert wine person or not, Thanksgiving is the time to try something new, and Rosenblum Desiree Chocolate Port is the one to try. This is a Californian version of Port which adds liquid chocolate to a blend of Zinfandel and Syrah, two varietals known for their chocolaty characteristics. This decadent treat can be served on its own or as a compliment to any of your T Day dessert courses. If you are not already there, the high alcohol content will provide you that last little bit of bliss to successfully put you over the edge and into the inevitable Thanksgiving coma.

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