By Ray Spaziani
Wine Talk
Ray Spaziani
Every year around this time I get an email asking which wine goes well with a Thanksgiving dinner. I like to keep the wines light and bright. I would suggest nothing too bold at Thanksgiving. Let’s say an average Thanksgiving dinner consists of turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie for dessert. White, red, sparkling? Yes, they all work for me.
One of my favorite reds for Thanksgiving is Beaujolais. This French classic is low in tannins so as not to overpower anything. It has nice, fruity flavors and it portrays a quality of freshness that goes great with turkey and makes it easy drinking. The Beaujolais Nouveau comes out around Thanksgiving and is relatively inexpensive. However, my favorite is Beaujolais Village, which has a little more body.
My next favorite red is Pinot Noir. This nice fruity wine will not overpower. It is a great match with white meat and stuffing. Some Pinot Noirs have a little bit of earthiness, and I like that.
If you’re a big fan of dark meat, you may enjoy Zinfandel with your meal. It has berries and nice fruit. Personally, I think Zin is a little too full-bodied and maybe a little too big a wine. Many winemakers have taken to heavily oaking their Zinfandel. I would save the Zinfandel for barbecue night. It is popular, however, with turkey.
White wines work well also. Everyone’s favorite go-to white seems to be Sauvignon Blanc. If you like Sauvignon Blanc, you should love white Bordeaux. It is generally about 50 percent Sauvignon Blanc; the French blend it with Semillon and small amounts of Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Merlot Blanc. It still has a bit of citrus, but it does not hit you over the head with it. It is a crisp, refreshing wine that will go well with classic Thanksgiving fare.
Riesling pairs well with everything also. It is made in several styles. I like a dry and fruity style, which goes great with turkey and stuffing. I love to pull some out for dessert or as a second or third wine.
A nice dry (or brut) Champagne is great with everything. I like to have some for a toast, but it goes well with turkey.
Finally, my favorite dessert wine is Prosecco. This is Italian sparkling wine made from the glera grape. It is fruity, lively and wonderful. It goes well with any dessert.
So have a happy Thanksgiving. Be sure to give thanks for your family, good friends, good wines and all the good things God has given to us.
Ray Spaziani is the chapter director of the New Haven chapter of the American Wine Society. He is on the tasting panels of Winemaker Magazine and Amate del Vino and is a certified wine educator and award-winning home winemaker. Email Ray with your wine questions or activities at realestatepro1000@gmail.com.