by David Haley
The challenge of serving wine at Thanksgiving is not necessarily matching the wine with the food (there are some simple guidelines to keep us on the straight and narrow); the greater challenge is allowing for the varied tastes of our friends and family!
Here’re some wine suggestions to keep everyone happy as you raise your glasses at Thanksgiving.
Stellar Whites
Chardonnay
We have to serve at least one chardonnay or risk “mutiny on the Turkey.” Sonoma Chardonnays have a delicious soft texture and ripe fruit. Some great names to look for: Sonoma–Cutrer $24, Chalk Hill $18.00, Geyser Peak $13, and Rodney Strong $12.00.
Riesling
Probably the best all around wine to have on your T-Day table. Alsace-styled Rieslings are dry, neat, graceful and well-balanced wine. (German-styled Rieslings are a much sweeter wine.) Very versatile. Look for Fox Run Riesling –New York Finger Lakes $11.00, Schlumberger or Hugel from Alsace $15-$17, Columbia Winery Washington $10.
Other Whites
Keep Pinot Grigio handy for the non oak lovers. White Bordeaux works with turkey as well. Albarino from Spain and Viognier from France make for some other interesting pairings.
Charming Reds
Beaujolais Nouveau or not?
Beaujolais Nouveau is a more of a marketing concept than a true style of wine. Creating an “early wine” of recently harvested grapes allows producers to generate cash flow. The hype created around Nouveau helps push sales. Pretty simple. For my money though, you get more pleasure and higher quality with a Beaujolais Villages wine (Jadot or Mommessin are good). For a few dollars more, ask your retailer for a “Cru Beaujolais,” which is a wine of higher designation from one of the ten superb Crus of Beaujolais. Morgon Jean Descombes from Georges Duboef at $13 is trés bon.
Bordeaux Red
Chateau Larose-Trintadon $12 (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc blend) medium bodied. Very good.
Pinot Noir
As a general guide, good Pinot Noir will cost between $15 and $30 dollars. Here are some labels to seek out: A-Z or Benton Lane-Oregon $17-22, Angeline by Martin Ray $15, Castle Rock Monterey or Mendocino Good Value $12, Deloach $20, David Bruce Central Coast $25.
To please the varied wine desires that friends and family have I use a time tested method. I open 2-3 whites and 2-3 reds (or more for larger crowds) and invite everyone one to taste through and pick out the ones they want for dinner. Everyone is happy and the day is a success. Enjoy!
Seed NewsvineAs president of Haley Marketing Group, a New England based wine brokerage, David Haley travels to wine regions around the world to discover exceptional wine values. (He calls it work, but that’s debatable.) His background in wine spans sixteen years in the wholesale and wine import business with some of the most prestigious importers in America.
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