Wine for Thanksgiving

Turkey day is almost here and that means finding the perfect wines to pair with your feast. As your guests arrive it is always nice to have a palate cleanser such as a Champange or Prosecco to get them in the festive mood! Then as you move onto the main meal pick wines that will pair well with the sweet and savory flavors of the season.  Look for food-friendly wines that are easy drinking and have a nice backbone of fruit. Try some of these selections below for perfect additions to your next party.

Beaujolais

Beaujolais Nouveau est Arrivé! Beaujolais Nouveau is not allowed to be released, per French law, until midnight on the third Thursday of November, which makes it a perfect choice for Thanksgiving and the holiday party season. Made with the Gamay grape Beaujolais has a palate full of cranberries, raspberries and cherries and pairs beautifully with sweet and savory Turkey dinner with all of the trimmings. A great option is the George Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau, 2011 that is also affordable enough to by a couple cases for your next holiday party as well.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir has always been a classic pairing with the Thanksgiving feast. For something really special try the La Follette Van der Kamp Pinot Noir, 2008. Aged in French oak, this robust Pinot is a perfect pairing for a rich Thanksgiving meal with a nice backbone of tannin and a fruity finish of blackberry and sweet spices. La Follette wines brilliantly show their terrior and for those who are used to mass-marked Pinot, these small-lot stunners will wow your wine-loving guests. I would drink this with everything from Turkey to Pecan Pie!

Torrontes

Torrontes is the most popular white wine of Argentina and has grown in popularity over the last few years for good reason! This wine has aromatics of flowers and fruit that leap from the glass and its bright acidity pairings perfectly with sweeter side dishes such as sweet potato casserole or cornbread. Try the Santa Julia Torrontes, 2011 which is a lovely expression of Torrontes from Familia Zuccardi. Also try their Santa Julia Tardio, 2009, which is, a dessert wine made with the Torrontes grape that would be a great accompaniment to Pumpkin Ice Cream and Nutella.