It’s that time of year. Thanksgiving dinner shopping and choosing wines to serve with it. There’s lots of advice out there this week on-line so thought I’d share my pairing guidance.
Whether you chose red or white wine, I recommend serving both, the general advice is pair simple wines (lighter and less complex) with complex meals (meaning rich foods, heavy spices and herbs) and pair complex wines with simple meals. Thanksgiving dinner is a little of both so totally up to you! I’m going with simple wines for our big dinner at friend’s house…probably a bottle or more of each category below.
Bubbles
Any special meal should start and end with bubbles! You could go high-end Champagne or serve a bottle of Prosecco or other sparking wine.
- Champagne: Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, Brut N.V. is a great everyday choice with delicate bubbles and balanced herbal notes ($30). Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, Brut Rose N.V. is a gorgeous pink color with lots of red fruit undertones ($50). Louis de Sacy Brut Grand Cru‘s beautiful golden color with citrus and herbal notes ($35).
- Prosecco: This Italian option of sparkling wine is my favorite. I love Baby Prosecco for its crips tropical and green apple notes ($9.99).
- Sparkling Wines: Go American this Thanksgiving with Virginia’s fabulous Barboursville Vineyards’ Barboursville Brut, a great fruit aroma and pear taste ($18).
Red Wines
Red wines with low tannins are suggested for Thanksgiving so a lighter bodied fruity wine to go with the richness of the meal.
- Beaujolais: Beaujolais Nouveau, a red wine made in less than 10 weeks from the Gamay grape in Burgundy, France, is meant to be enjoyed immediately upon its release last week (always the 3rd Thursday of November). It’s a light bodied fruity, easy to drink wine. Georges Dubouef’s is the classic you’ll see everywhere ($11). Or you could go with a fuller bodied Beaujolais-Village from Dubouef or Louis Jadot (either $14).
- Pinot Noir: Another great option is go American with Oregon’s red wine specialty, Pinot Noir, made of ripe red fruit for lots of berry and juicy flavor. Last weekend I discovered Lachini Vineyard‘s amazing Pinot Noir wines. Their 2008 Estate Pinot Noir was full of raspberry and white pepper with taste of sweet fruit, floral and dark chocolate ($40). King Estate is another great option…their namesake Signature Pinot Noir ($30) or their Acrobat ($19).
White Wines
White wines with bright flavors are perfect for Thanksgiving dinner.
- Viognier: Viognier (Vee-own-YAY) is the official grape of Virginia making a nice dry to slightly off dry white with tropical fruit and honey. So one of these must be your choice: Barboursville Vineyards 2009 Viognier Reserve ($22) or Blenheim Vineyards 2010 Viognier ($19).
- Pinot Gris: Oregon’s white wine specialty, Pinot Gris is a nice option as its between Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. I bought a bottle of Lachini Vineyards 2010 Pinot Gris last weekend, tart yet fruity with medium body. Again King Estate’s namesake Signature Pinot Gris ($20) or their Acrobat ($15).
Snooth and wine.com are great resources for your wine ordering online.
Cheers to Thanksgiving week with great wine and food![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]