3 Wines for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away, people! Which means it’s time to start planning and shopping and thinking about what WINE to enjoy at your holiday feast!
Pairing wine with Thanksgiving fare can be surprisingly tricky. Turkey can be tough to pair, especially when loaded with delicious, gooey gravy, which can make some wines taste a bit fatty. Even our favorite fall veggies like green beans, collard greens, sprouts and kale can become extra bitter if paired to the wrong wine.
But worry not, friends! We’re here to make it as easy as possible to choose the perfect wine for your Thanksgiving feast! We’ve picked three wines that go with pretty much everything on your holiday table, so you can be confident that no matter how the bird turns out, or if your brother burns the heck out of the stuffing, or if all your aunt eats is canned cranberry sauce, the wine will pair just right!
2018 Johan Grüner Veltliner
Give thanks for 2018 Johan Grüner Veltliner…and rotundone! Thanks to the naturally occurring grape-derived compound, rotundone, peppery flavors and aromas explode from a glass of Grüner. Grüner is excellent with harder-to-pair Thanksgiving dishes, like green bean casserole, artichoke dip, and sweet potato pie, because the wine has enough white peppercorn spice (oh hey there, rotundone) to stand on its own, and enough acidity to brighten foods. Additionally, bright wine like Washington State Grüner is a good choice for dishes with cream or cheesy dishes because it refreshes the palate after each rich bite. (Fun fact: Rotundone is found in the grapes’ skins, and it’s the same compound that makes Syrah so peppery. In fact, Grüner Veltliner’s naturally high levels of rotundone are up to 17 times the average person’s sensory threshold.)
2018 Marc Kreydenweiss Andlau Riesling
Another cool-climate white wine, like 2018 Marc Kreydenweiss Andlau Riesling from Alsace, is the tops for Thanksgiving, especially when it comes to salty foods. Off-dry (slightly sweet) wines are a delicious foil for all those salty foods we love on Turkey Day because the sweetness is a pleasing counterpoint to the salt. While salt tends to accentuate alcohol in red wine, making it taste ‘hot,’ and emphasize tannins, this Riesling, with flavors of honey, white pears, and flowers, compliment spicy sausage stuffing, turkey drenched in gravy, or parsnip puree. So as you’re putting those finishing touches on your favorite dishes, grab a glass of this off-dry white. You will not be disappointed!
2019 Château Yvonne 'La Folie' Saumur-Champigny
’Tis the season for Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Franc, a wine from the Loire Valley the color of red plums, typically has less tannin than its more tannic and ever-popular relative, Cabernet Sauvignon. 2019 Château Yvonne 'La Folie' Saumur-Champigny has lively berry notes, a sprinkle of pepper spice, and a lighter body, making this wine tart enough to cut the heavier flavors, but still so smooth that it won't overpower your family's favorite dishes. Pair a glass of this vibrant red with your bird and ALL the veggie and bread-y sides. You’ll be so thankful you did! Happy Thanksgiving to all!
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