Thanksgiving is much more than a big meal with family and friends. It’s a time to reflect on, and be thankful for all of the good things we have. But let’s be honest, on a holiday like this, you may find it extremely difficult to find the perfect wine to serve with your dinner. Between the turkey, all the side dishes, and trying to please all of your guests wine preferences. It is understandable, if this seems like an overwhelming task. To make your life easier, rather than trying to pair the wine with one dish, opt for bottles that complement a wide variety of foods. Pinot noir is a classic Thanksgiving recommendation because it is remarkably food friendly. However, some other great options are, Sauvignon Blanc, and Champagne. I’d like to share some of the wines I’ll be serving at my dinner table.
Pinot Noir
The 2018 Ladera Pinot Noir reveals a vibrant ruby hue with brooding aromas of cherry and plum with exotic tones of black tea and baking spice. Beautifully layered, the palate seamlessly flows with a fresh core of ripe red fruits, fine-grained tannins and intriguing spice notes from the whole cluster and oak influence. This wine is available for $66.00.
The 2019 San Pablo Bay Block Cherry Pie is another great choice. With flavors of tart cranberries, red cherries and a delicate perfume of rose petals. The palate is layered with similar fruit notes, along with a depth of pomegranate, macerated strawberries and baking spices with a subtle hint of vanilla that leads to a smooth finish. You may find this wine for under $40.00
Sauvignon Blanc
The 2019 L’Après-Midi Estate Sauvignon Blanc is visually compelling with a translucent, silver color accented by a bright, pale golden hue. The bouquet expresses vine and orange blossom a long with a vibrant oyster shell and granitic minerality, fresh lime and lemon fruit, and gooseberry with a hint of pine needle and verbena. The flavors carry elegant white spring flowers – jasmine and white vine rose with a resounding array of fruit, Vosges lemon candy, gooseberry, grapefruit to mandarin petite grain, Muscat and guava. The finish is balanced, precise, mineral-driven, and elegant, revealing white currant, apricot, acacia honey, and quince paste. Sauvignon Blanc is known for its citrus-based flavors that can be surrounded by herb or mineral undertones, this crisp full bodied white wine is a prime pairing candidate for turkey and mashed potatoes.
Napastäk Bella Blanc is a stunning example of what blending whites can achieve, producing a rich, crisp wine. This beauty is a blend of Ribolla Gialla, characterized by their peach, citrus and apple notes with a faint floral aromatic profile; Grenache Blanc to boost acidity; Sauvignon Blanc for its green and herbaceous flavors; Greco di Tufo to lend the wine its perfume and mineral complexity and Semillon to round off the blend and add an extra dimension and “charm” with a few years of bottle age. You can find this bottle for under $35.00.
Champagne
No celebration is complete without Champagne, and what better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than by sipping on the iconic Dom Pérignon. Believe it or not, Champagne is a food friendly wine. I love it as a starter with Caviar, cheese or shellfish. You can find this bottle for under $200 and trust me when I say it’s worth every penny.
Rosa Chalekian 