4 October 2007 by Sandy Hemphill
How to Select a Thanksgiving Wine
It’s almost that time again. Thanksgiving Day is perhaps the most important feast of the year. For many of us, it’s undoubtedly the biggest feast of the year, anyway.
The traditional Thanksgiving holiday is a time for food, fun and family. It’s also time for a typically familiar menu, too, with some dishes reserved for this event only and not served again the rest of the year.
Ever wonder what is the best Thanksgiving wine to serve at such an important event? There are actually a number of options to choose from.
If your traditional Thanksgiving feast involves a turkey laden with a hearty stuffing and topped with gravy, accompanied perhaps with buttery mashed potatoes, creamed vegetables, cheesy casseroles and puddings, consider something light, crisp and refreshing.
You’ll want something tart and tangy to cut through all that creamy goodness and refresh the palate. Try a well-chilled Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Frascati, or dry Riesling. Champagne and other sparkling wines do the job nicely, too.
A slightly more full-bodied Thanksgiving wine may be appreciated if your dinner fare is centered on a pork or ham dish. A lightly chilled rosé or Beaujolais are excellent choices, especially if a festive Nouveau Beaujolais is chosen. An elegant Pinot Noir would add a touch of sophistication to the menu, too.
For heavier, robust fare that includes beef, venison, or lamb as the main feature, try a Thanksgiving wine with as much presence as these big flavors. The noble wines – Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Nebbiolo — would stand up quite admirably to these bold flavors.
A menu based on seafood would be scrumptious when your choice of Thanksgiving wine is a Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Semillon, or Soave.
Vegetarian menus can run the gamut from light to hearty so use the suggestions above to match a light-, medium-, or full-bodied Thanksgiving wine to the menu you will serve to your family and friends.
With all the suggestions and good intentions on your side, there can still be confusion and intimidation when selecting the best Thanksgiving wine. In such a case, it is best to remember which is the very best Thanksgiving wine of all.
As always, it’s the one you personally like the best. This is the choice that will never fail you.