5 Pairing Tips for Turkey Day 2014
Beth Ribblett
Those of you who shop with us know that we just love food and wine pairing so helping to make your selections for holiday meals is a real treat. What should you drink with all of those sides and mounds of turkey? There are so many answers to that question that sometimes the best choice would be to open a bubbly, white, red and rose, put them on the table and let people chose for themselves because it’s all about personal preference!
Every year I give a few pairing tips and recommendations from our staff. We've chosen traditional and some more adventurous options at different price points so there is something for palate and every wallet. Each of the wines will have a tag with our silly turkey photo above to let you know who picked it and if you purchase any 4 of these wines for your celebration, we’ll give you a 10% discount. Here's a sampling of our picks, but you'll find lots more when you come in to shop...
1. For the wide array of flavors on the Thanksgiving table, sparkling wines are a no-brainer. Bright acidity, fruit and yeasty undertones make bubbly extremely food-friendly. Especially good are Brut Rosé and Blanc de Noir, which can take you from the lox or chevre hors d'oeuvre to the vinaigrette salad right through the turkey and potatoes and onto the pie. The Pinot Noir in these wines provide body, some tannin for texture, red-fruit character, complexity and acid balance. And in general, the bubbles and the wine's acidity can help cleanse your palate and get you ready for the next course!
Our Picks: Budget Conscious (under $12) Matt: Florinda Cava
Solid Values ($12-$29) Kimi: Jean Paul Brunn FRV; Casey: Gerard Bertrand Rose' Cremant
Indulgent ($30 and up) Beth: J. Lasalle Rose Brut Champagne, Adam: Monte Rossa Franciacorta; Tarani: De Sousa Brut Champagne
White wines with lively fruit and acidity and little to no oak are also versatile. With its aromas and flavors of citrus, apple and pear and zippy acidity plus herbal notes, Sauvignon Blanc pairs with everything from butternut-squash soup to green salad to turkey with a dressing made of briny oysters and herbs. Even notoriously tough-to-pair Brussels sprouts will sing with Sauvignon Blanc. Alsatian and German whites like Rieslings, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Gris with their tropical fruit, citrus, green-apple, pear and mineral notes combined with thirst quenching acidity, work with almost any Thanksgiving dish except the cranberry sauce.
Our Pick: Budget Conscious (under $12) Adam: 2013 Nobilissima Pinot Grigio; Beth: 2013 Marcato I Prandi Soave
Solid Values ($12-$29) Tarani: 2012 Domaine Flaugergues Blanc; Kerry: 2013 Alessandro Bianco del Borgo Viognier, Erin: 2013 Groiss Gruner Veltliner
Indulgent ($30 and up) Kimi: 2009 Deux Montille Rully; Kerry: 2011 Alice & Olivier de Moor Chablis
Fruity reds and dry rosés are a favorite "go-to" pick for Thanksgiving. They bring soft, easy drinking affordability to the table that's perfect for the variety of flavors and large group setting that Thanksgiving brings. With their bright fruit flavors, they can perk up the milder dishes and enough have structure to hold their own with the more robust courses made with sausage and herbs. As an alternative, a good Dolcetto or lighter style Barbera and a young Etna Rosso can offer similar characteristics and are real crowd pleasers.
Our Pick: Budget Conscious (under $12) Kimi: 2012 Honoro Vera Monastrell; Matt: 2012 Castello Monjardin Garnacha
Solid Values ($12-$29) Casey: 2011 Kyklos Agiorgitiko; Kerry: 2012 Vino Lauria Frappato; Erin: 2011 L'Argentier Cinsault
Indulgent ($30 and up) Beth: 2012 Caciorgna Etna Rosso
Bigger reds with spicy, dark fruit and berries like Syrah and Zinfandel can bring out the best in cranberry sauces as long as the wine has soft tannins and ripe, forward fruit and the sauce is balanced -- moderately tart and not too sweet.
Our Picks: Budget Conscious (under$12) Casey; 2012 Delas Frere Ventoux
Solid Values ($12-$29) Adam: 2011 Complicated Red; Kimi: 2011 Vina Robles Petit Syrah; Erin: 2012 Bastide Miraflors
Indulgent ($30 and up) Tarani: 2010 Mont Redon Chateaneuf du Pape; Beth: 2007 Dominio IV Syrah
The most popular single wine to choose for Thanksgiving is Pinot Noir. This versatile varietal has tangy red fruit of strawberry and cherry, with nice acidity to balance and low levels of tannin. With elegance and a touch of earthiness, Pinot Noir will subtly support most things on the Thanksgiving table without overpowering them. Cranberry sauce and dessert are exceptions again, with the sauce too tart and the dessert too sweet.
Our Pick: Budget Conscious (under $12) All Staff: 2012 Sea Glass Central Coast Pinot Noir
Solid Values ($12-$29) Matt: 2012 Dominio IV; Adam: 2010 Daniel Rion Cote de Nuit; Tarani: 2012 Sean Minor 4 Bears; Kerry: 2010 Brella Willamette Valley
Indulgent ($30 and up) Beth: 2008 Carlton Hill Yamhill Pinot Noir; Casey: 2009 Domaine du Meix-Foulot Mercurey 1er Cru; Erin: 2010 Moises Yamhill Carlton
So there you have it! But remember the most important thing is to drink wines that make you happy with people that make you smile, because that is what it's all about!
Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving to All of You!!