Wine Savvy on November 5, 2013 0 Comments Believe it or not, more wine is traditionally sold in preparation of the Thanksgiving holiday than any other time of the year. Preparing a Thanksgiving party is stressful enough without the added task of pairing wines with your appetizers, entrees and desserts. Fortunately, if you choose your wines wisely it is easy to select a few options which go with nearly all of the dishes being served at your holiday party. Sparkling Wine as a Starter One of the easiest ways get your Thanksgiving party started off on the right foot is by offering some type of sparkling wine as guests enter your home. A great sparkling wine makes any event livelier. Having the right stemware for sparkling wine is important, so make sure you serve it in a flute glass. Additionally, if you plan on also serving sparkling wine with dinner then you should have two different sparkling wines available. When guests show up, they should receive a sweet sparkling wine. With dinner, you should serve a Brut (dry) sparkling wine. Choose a Simple White Wine Chardonnay is the most popular white wine in America all year long, but there is a clear divide on whether or not it should find its way into your Thanksgiving party. Some argue that the oaky element and intense flavor makes it perfect if you are serving orchard fruits or dishes with a nutty element. On the other hand, there is a strong contingent who believes Chardonnays are not ideal for Thanksgiving because they are not fresh or fruity enough. Fortunately, there are a handful of excellent white wines that everyone can agree are perfect for any Thanksgiving party. Riesling Rieslings can be either sweet or dry so take your time when choosing one. Overall, they will have a noticeable fruity flavor and floral fragrance. Typically, the strongest fruit flavors will be a combination of peaches, apricots, and/or apples. Riesling is a great choice for a Thanksgiving dinner party because it easily pairs with any dish that is sweet, salty or spicy. The underlying honey notes also make it a perfect match for sweet potatoes, turkey, and herb-filled stuffing. Sauvignon Blanc Similar to a Riesling, a Sauvignon Blanc is light and crisp. The noticeable difference is it is much more acidic and less sweet. Instead of being primarily fruity, the notes often have a grassy or herbaceous flavor. There are still some fruit flavors to be found in a Sauvignon Blanc. Typically, they are citrus-based. At your Thanksgiving party this wine is best for heavy starches and turkey. Other popular white wine options include Viognier (floral and fruity), Chenin Blanc (sweet, acidic, slightly spicy), and Gewurztraminer (dry or sweet). Choose the Right Red Wine The most popular red wine in the United States is the Cabernet Sauvignon. While it goes with a lot of different foods, it shouldn’t be your first choice on Thanksgiving Day. A Cabernet is typically too tart and high in tannins to match well with your turkey or heavy starches. Red wine has always been a classic Thanksgiving choice because it can offer either a rich berry lightness or deep berry succulence that pairs well with Thanksgiving dinner. Zinfandel A Zinfandel has a disproportionately large amount of jammy or plum flavors. It also typically features a spice or peppery note. It is a fuller bodied red wine but still offers an excellent balance with traditional Thanksgiving side dishes. It is also an excellent choice if you are serving dishes with a lot of spice or bitterness. Pinot Noir Unlike a Zinfandel, a Pinot Noir is a much lighter bodied red wine. It is a traditional favorite at Thanksgiving parties because it offers subtle earthy undertones. Some say the flavors surrounding the fruit are mushroom inspired which makes it an excellent pair to turkey and stuffing. If you choose a younger Pinot Noir, then expect the fruity notes to be clear and clean. If you choose an older Pinot Noir, expect to taste a hint of smokiness around the fruit. Do You Need a Dessert Wine? Some people like ending their Thanksgiving dinner with a relaxing post-dessert glass of wine instead of coffee. If you are not serving a full-fledged dessert course then a dessert wine is an excellent substitute. For a sweeter approach, look for a Muscat or Asti Spumante. They are both sweet and light. If you want to end the dinner on a thicker, heavier note then consider a Port. Port is a heavy, fortified wine. Younger Ports are fruitier while older Ports are nuttier, because they’re aged for a longer period of time in the wood barrel. Recommended Reading: Our 3 Favorite Fall Wine Pairings 4 Popular Types of Wine to Keep in Your Collection Wine Aerators: A Guide to Opening Up Your Wine Wine and Food Pairing Made Easy: The Complete Guide
