Oct. 05, 2011 - Issue #833: Fall Style 2011
Veni, Vidi, Vino
Giving thanks
Options abound for Thanksgiving wines
One thing we should clear up right now: there are no hard rules about wine pairings at Thanksgiving. With the variety of meals that will be prepared—turkey, ham, and roasts—as well as every family's variation on style of stuffing, gravies, etc, there's plenty of room for creativity when it comes to showing up with a bottle of vino. While there's no one bottle that can cover all these bases, there's certainly some no-brainers to get you pointed in the right direction.
So, let's focus on some broad guidelines. If Thanksgiving dinner is an all-day affair in your home, focus on wines with lower alcohol content. White wines and sparkling wines generally have a lower alcohol content, and double as great aperitifs. For a great palate-cleansing sipper that will stimulate everyone's appetite, try a Sauvignon Blanc that will be dry, light-bodied, and full of mouthwatering, acidic zip. Sparkling wines are also a terrific way to kick off a dinner party. Traditionally dry and bubbly, these wines are not only fun to drink but also a complement to pre-meal appetizers and conversation.
As we turn our attention to the meal itself, let's look at what we're trying to achieve with our wines: they can either complement the meal or help balance the variety of taste sensations, from the herbal and savoury turkey and stuffing to the buttery richness of gravies, potatoes and roasted vegetables, to the crisp sweetness of cranberry sauces and pumpkin pie.
A good complement to Thanksgiving dinner is a heavier, oaked Chardonnay with buttery, toasted notes. At the other end of the spectrum, white wines like Grüner Veltliners and Rieslings are classic pairings that will cut through the oils in turkey and gravy with their acidity while providing a spicy flare. Rieslings are particularly handy because they come in a variety of styles from dry to off-dry to sweet, depending on your (or your guests') tastes.
As for red pairings, again think about what you're trying to achieve. Unlike steak or roasts, turkey is complemented by lighter reds like Pinot Noir and Beaujolais, which won't overwhelm your appetite like Cabernet Sauvignon or an Australian Shiraz. If you're craving Shiraz's spiciness to accompany your meal, try a French Rhone blend (which typically features Shiraz or Syrah).
Another excellent choice of reds is Spain's Tempranillo grape, also labelled Rioja or Crianza. These medium-bodied, fruit-forward wines carry an earthy, herbal character that carries Thanksgiving's taste spectrum without overtaking it in any one area.
The best part of these wines? You can find them all around the $15 – $20 mark. So you can throw a great dinner party or show up as a guest without breaking the bank. Thankfully. V vueweekly.com comments: powered by Disqus
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