Gobble Gobble Gobble Up That Vino....

During the Thanksgiving season, if putting together a remarkable spread is not a task in itself, then we all stumble upon the decision of pairing wines with our culinary creations.  Five tips I can pass on to you are…


1. Start with bubbly. Sparkling wine is a great aperitif to sip while you wait for the turkey to finish cooking. It adds a celebratory note to the meal and goes well with starters like soup and salad.

 My suggestion is an affordable NV Roederer Estate Brut ~ you won’t be disappointed!

2. Consider the turkey. Unlike most poultry and game birds, turkey meat is very dry in texture. So you need a mouth-watering wine to complement it. Good options are crisp whites like riesling and pinot grigio. And yes, you can drink red wine with white meat: pinot noir, beaujolais and zinfandel all have juicy, berry-ripe flavors that go well with turkey.
 A couple of my picks would be MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast, a Selbach Oster Auslese Reisling, and if money permits…try a bottle of 2007 Domaine du Vissoux Beaujolais ~ your palate will applaud you!

3. Look beyond the bird. The range of side dishes means that you don't have to match your wine just to the turkey. Since Thanksgiving dinner is often a banquet-style meal, with everyone choosing the trimmings, why not do the same with your wines? Offer both red and white, and possibly more than one depending on the size of your group.



4. Complement or contrast. A big, buttery chardonnay from California or Chile can complement the roasted, smoky flavours of squash, chestnuts and pecan stuffing. But if you would rather have a contrast to the richness of cream sauces and dressings, try a crisp New Zealand sauvignon blanc.

Some I would suggest are Peju Province Chardonnay or Babich Black Label Sauvignon Blanc

5. End on a sweet note. If anyone still has room left when it's time for pumpkin or pecan pie, offer a late harvest wine or icewine. If you're a chocolate fan, try serving a liqueur with complementary flavours such as raspberry or blackcurrant.  I recommend Bonny Doon Framboise for a different feel.  If you stomach has space still, I love the finishing touches that a great port can leave you with.  I suggest Taylor Fladgate 20 Year old Tawny ~ a staple in my liquor cabinet!!!

So happy turkey day to all, and hopefully these suggestions will take your meals to a new level of enjoyment!

~MWAH!