The Glass Half Full: Wine for Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving table is often laden with everything from turkey and cranberry sauce to wild rice and pumpkin pie, which makes choosing the proper wine pairing a tricky feat.  Wine is rarely one-size-fits all, but there are some guidelines you can follow when planning the beverage side of your Thanksgiving menu.

With the Turkey taking center stage, looking for fruit-forward wines laced with juicy acidity.  This mouthwatering acidity will counterbalance the turkey´s inherent and mimic the role of a sweet, tart cranberry sauce – adding a second, juicy, fruity dimension to every bite.  You´ll also want to avoid monster tannic, dry red wines as they will leave you parched and speechless – and not in a good way.  Keep in mind that the turkey, and shear caloric intake, will be tugging at the eyelids of your dinner guests, so steer clear of wines that contribute to the drowsiness.

Which brings me to my first recommendation: Sparkling wines for Thanksgiving.

Sparkling wines add a festive and elegant touch, but (logistically speaking) they also offer great versatility when it comes to food pairings.  If you´re looking for one wine to rule them all, sparkling wines can take you from appetizers to dessert.  Choose dry or off-dry sparklers, which will refresh the palate and complement  your menu the whole way through.

I recommend Cruzat Brut Rosé.  Composed of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, this sparkling wine is made in the Champenoise method and exhibits beautiful salmon tones and surprisingly intense aromas of red fruit, with a refreshing finish.

And if you´re not in the mood for bubbly, you can´t go wrong with a Mendoza Pinot Noir.

Probably the most traditional accompaniment to turkey, Argentine Pinot Noir has a profile all its own.  The best expression of this variety tends to come from cooler climes, including the Uco Valley and Patagonia regions.  Unlike the earthy, minerality of Old World Pinots, Argentine Pinot Noir offers fruity elegance with highlights of black cherry aromas and slight spice undertones.

I recommend the Cepas Elegidas 2009 Pinot Noir.  Ruby red in color with focused notes of cranberry, Bing cherry and sweet plum, all accompanied by soft notes of vanilla and earth.  It´s very light upon its entrance and is lifted up by the mid-palate red fruits, yet backed by sharp acidity and sweet tannins.

Another exceptional Pinot is made by Manos Negras and grown in the Patagonia region of Argentina.  This is a dark violet wine with floral aromas, ripe red fruit flavors and soft supple mouthfeel.  A slightly more full-bodied red, but nevertheless a complementary pairing.

If you tend to feel more thankful for white wines than reds, Sauvignon Blanc also makes an exceptional pairing for turkey on Thanksgiving.  You´ll find tame, yet crisp acidity as well as citric aromas laced with herbaceous notes that beautifully complement roasted turkey and herbed veggies.  As for delicious wines at a comfortable price point, I recommend the La Flor Sauvignon Blanc Pulenta Estate, a unique blend of grapes harvested at different maturations with notes of citrus, green apple and freshly cut grass.

Finally, if you´re looking to serve a lesser-known varietal and certainly a conversation piece, uncork a Torrontes. This little-known grape has made waves in Argentina and is quickly becoming the country´s second emblematic variety.  It is known for intense aromatic character full of grapefruit, citric notes and white flowers that lead into a refreshing, crisp mouthfeel then follows through with surprising complexity and length.  I recommend both the Torrontes from Caelum Winery as well as Recuerdo Torrontes from The Vines of Mendoza.

So whether your white meat or dark, white wine or red, you´ll find that with a few nudges in the right direction, and a little bit of adventure your glass can be half full this Thanksgiving.

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