Thanksgiving Wine
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
If you are looking for a wine for Thanksgiving, here are some ideas. I plan on drinking some Pinot Noir and Gewurstaminer this year. I have had Zin in the past and decided its time to mix it up a bit. As for bottles, I am still deciding, I have a couple Oregon pinots in the basement and I will grab one of them. Michigan has some great whites so for those of you looking to support the local economy, check out Bel Lago, Black Star Farms, Chateau Grand Traverse, and Chateau Fontaine. If you are outside of MI and cannot get any of our wine, look for New Zealand Sauv Blancs and either German or Washington Reislings and Gewurtz. For your red, you have both Oregon and Cali pinots and of course Cali zins. The Beaujolais Nouveau was good this year but a bit too sweet for my taste. There was a bit too much cherry ring pop flavor for me to enjoy with dinner. For dessert, you cannot go wrong with a Sauternes or a moscato di asti.
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- Sauvignon Blanc – a crisp white wine that is noted for its earthy, herbaceous flavors – a prime candidate specifically for turkey and herb-filled stuffing.
- Viognier – a white wine with low levels of acidity and characterized by light floral flavors often surrounded by delicate touches of peaches and pears.
- Riesling – a white wine that may either be bone dry or fairly sweet, excellent with any dishes that may have a bit of spice to them.
- Gewurztraminer – another white wine that may present itself dry or sweet, depending on the style. This wine has a zestiness that allows it to pair nicely with side dishes that may have a bit more kick to them, but also settles well with a variety of dessert options.
- Pinot Noir – this red wine is a traditional favorite for Thanksgiving. It is easy going enough to complement just about any flavor you can throw at it.
- Zinfandel – a red wine that ups the intensity from a Pinot Noir, but still maintains a balancing effect on many traditional side dishes. This would be a great pick for those looking for a heartier wine with deeper flavors.
- Syrah/Shiraz – another red wine that picks up the intensity and flavor, yet graciously handles the cornucopia of flavors in a traditional Thanksgiving meal. The peppery notes will accent a flavorful helping of stuffing as well as both the white and dark turkey meats.
- Beaujolais Nouveau - a light, fruity red wine that goes very well with turkey and all of the fixings. This wine is released from France on the third Thursday of November, just in time to highlight your Thanksgiving feast!
Posted by mardenhill 11/21/2006 09:55:00 AM
Labels: Wine
1 Comment:
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10:22 PM
Great Thanksgiving selections. One correction, the winery is Black Star Farms (not Blackstone). Another great Michigan winery is Peninsula Cellars on Old Mission.
