by Rachel Voorhees
Think it’s impossible to pair wine with all of those turkey day flavors? Believe it or not, it’s actually quite possible. Pairing wine with the variety of flavors and textures can be tricky but there are certain wines that pair well with your holiday turkey, sides and pies. After all, your family’s traditional dishes deserve some fabulous wine served alongside.
Start with sparkling bubbles and toast the holiday!
Thanksgiving is all about being thankful for what we have in our lives. Why not celebrate what we are thankful for with bubbles! Choosing sparkling wine for the holidays doesn’t have to break the bank either. Try the Mumm Napa Brut Prestige from BevMo, ClubBev price just $14.99. The Mumm Napa Brut Prestige is elegantly pleasing to the palate with apple, baked pear, floral, yeast and vanilla notes. During the holidays, it’s always fun to celebrate with the most prestigious of all bubbles, Champagne. Champagne from France doesn’t have to put a dent in your wallet either. Try the Moet & Chandon Imperial, ClubBev price $36.99 or the Joseph Perrier Champagne Brut Royale, ClubBev price $39.99. Both Champagnes are stylish, elegant and perfect to sip this holiday season.
Enjoy classic pairings at your Thanksgiving table
Riesling and Beaujolais wines are classic matches to pair with traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Not only is Riesling a good match for the flavors of turkey day dishes because of the acidity, most Riesling wines are low in alcohol, making it a smart wine to drink if you tend to eat your Thanksgiving meal earlier in the day. After all, you want to stay awake for your turkey sandwich at the end of the day while you watch football! Try the 2011 Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling Eroica, ClubBev price just $19.99, from the Columbia Valley in Washington state. Two other food friendly Rieslings to try this holiday; the 2010 Clean Slate Riesling, ClubBev price $9.99 or the 2011 Mozelle Sweet Riesling, ClubBev price also just $9.99, both from the Mosel region in Germany. Both are delicious and have just the right amount of acidity to stand up to any holiday dish.
Beaujolais wine, which is a light red wine from France made from the Gamay grape, has nice fruit structure and good acidity, making it a classic red wine match for your holiday meal. Try the 2010 Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages, a classic Beaujolais wine, consisting of crushed red berries, excellent acidity and a great finish. ClubBev price $9.99.
Go All American this turkey day
If you want to stay with the red, white and blue this Thanksgiving, Zinfandel is the way to go. There are two styles of Zinfandel and you could go either way for your turkey dinner. Choose either a jammy and luscious Zinfandel or a spicy and structured one depending on your taste.
If you prefer a jammy and luscious Zinfandel try the 2008 Grgich Hills Zinfandel, ClubBev price $29.99. If your palate leans towards an earthy, spicy and structured Zinfandel, try the 2010 Decoy by Duckhorn Zinfandel, ClubBev price $19.99.
I also recommend two fabulous Pinot Noir wines to try if you want to keep it “All American”. The 2011 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Meiomi, ClubBev price $19.99, is smooth and supple with ripe flavors of cranberry and dried red cherries with a long finish. Another food friendly Pinot Noir to try this turkey day is the 2010 Garnet Carneros Pinot Noir, ClubBev price $15.99. Not only is it super food friendly, it’s bright, balanced and a classic Carneros Pinot.
BevMo also carries good picks for the white wine lovers who want to keep it “All American”. Try the 2010 Cuvaison Chardonnay, ClubBev price $16.99. It’s elegant, yet balanced and rich with nice apple and apricot notes. Want a white wine blend from an all American family? Try the Wagner Family 2011 Conundrum White Table Wine, ClubBev price $18.99. This wine is an ultimate holiday entertaining wine, full of ripe fruit flavors, creamy texture and a lingering finish.
For more turkey day wine suggestions, check out BevMo’s Thanksgiving wine ideas. Do you have a favorite match? Share with us!
Note: prices listed are for California locations. Prices may vary in Arizona and Washington.
