It is that time of year again when we prepare for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
The dishes are plentiful. The classic offerings include roasted or baked turkey, sausage stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and green beans or Brussels sprouts. The flavors come together on one table, and many of you will prepare your own dishes. That’s what makes pairing meals with specific wines so challenging. Here are some of my top selections. Email me for pairings for specific offerings.
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White wines
Lucashof Riesling, QbA, Pfalz, Germany. Wines with great acidity and robust fruit are great partners for the Thanksgiving table. This riesling is an off-dry style with notes of tropical and citrus fruit notes. All stainless steel fermented, it has a nice viscosity without being heavy but is still full-bodied. The winery is owned by a family with more than 50 years in the business. The wine melds well with the classic dishes and those with a hint of sweetness such as sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and desserts such as apple pie. Less than $20.
Diatom Chardonnay, California. You may not think of chardonnay as a pairing for the Thanksgiving table. However, this selection is unoaked and stainless steel fermented. So, there is no wood to interact with dishes. It’s vibrant and fresh with hints of tropical and citrus fruits that offers a crisp ending. It is still medium-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel. It pairs nicely with the roasted turkey, stuffing with sausage, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes. Less than $30.
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QUITE THE GATHERING: Finding the right wine pairings on Thanksgiving can be challenging. One of these wines should cover most situations.
COURTESY JESSICA NORRIS GRANATIERO[/caption]
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Rosé Wine
Domaine Houchart Rosé, Côtes de Provence, France. Made from a grenache blend, this rosé bursts with notes of raspberries, strawberries and bing cherries. The grapes are grown on limestone and clay soils that give the wine its acidity and mouthfeel. Rosés are between whites and reds and are sometimes the best choice for matching food because they are versatile. The more fruit-forward styles will work best. It will pair with any cuisine on the table, including beef. Less than $20.
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Red wines
Chateau Pizay Beaujolais, France. Beaujolais is the region in southern France, and this is one of the best pairings for the Thanksgiving table. Made from the gamay noir grape, the wine marries well with almost any dish. The wine envelops the mouth nicely with a light to medium body, fresh acidity and notes of zingy cranberry, raspberry and strawberry. It has a hint of allspice on the end. Stainless-steel fermentation allows it to maintain its freshness on the palate. Less than $25.
Family Meal Red Blend, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. A unique wine that is perfect for Thanksgiving. From Virigina, this is made from a red and white blend of blaufränkisch, chenin blanc, sauvignon blanc and cayuga white. It has soft plum and blackberry notes with a hint of black pepper. It’s medium bodied with present, soft tannins. Great with the entire classic Thanksgiving meal. Less than $35.
Chateau Lescours Saint Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux, France. This is a higher-end selection. This red is a rich blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. From its time maturing and aging in oak barrels, it has ever-present tannins. The flavor profile is dark berry fruits with a hint of spice and vanilla on the end. It is a beautiful pairing for more hearty dishes, such as lamb chops, filet mignon and stuffing with sausage. Its tannins will cut through the meat’s protein and fat. Less than $60.
Jessica Norris Granatiero is the founder of The Savory Grape, a wine, beer and spirits shop in East Greenwich. She can be reached through her website, www.jessicagranatiero.com or by email at jessica@thesavorygrape.com.
