Author: Dirk Chan
Wow, time flies…Thanksgiving is fast upon us already, so here are our picks to accompany the classic turkey and ham dinner with all its fixings. Start your evening off with a sparkling wine, followed by whites, reds and finally ending with a dessert wine and/or port.
Sparkling wines are a great way to start any function whether its a greeting aperitif and equally fabulous to pair with assorted appetizers (you know the saying if you don’t know what to pair with something, go with bubbles). There are so many choices but here are three very different recommendations: The Canella Prosecco di Conegliano from Italy is both well priced and delicious with lively citrus notes and delicate bubbles and is a deVine Bestseller. The unusual Cabernet Franc based sparkling red from Chateau Langlois Carmin Dry from the Loire Valley can work with meat based appetizers or for the adventurous used in conjunction with the roasted turkey as well – the foamy red notes go great with the cranberry sauce – this is a variation on the Aussie sparkling shiraz theme. For those who want the best, a couple of recommendations in French Champagne – the NV Le Brun Servenay Brut is rich and generous with that toasty bread notes while the vintage dated 1998 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame is world renowned and certain to impress with both contents and the amazing packaging.
Whites with a touch of sweetness is preferred because of the sweetness of some of the fixings – candied yams, cranberry sauce, and honey for the glazed ham. A completely dry white will seem more austere and void of fruit due to the sweetness of the food so I recommend Rieslings, Gewurztraminers or other Germanic or Alsace varietals. The Francois Lichtle Riesling from the Alsace has just the right amount of sweetness, along with the apples, pears and peach notes. The bargain priced Cono Sur Gewurztraminer is very good with its gardenia notes, lychee and rose accents will be pleasing.
Finally, the Huet Le Mont Demi-Sec Vouvray is made of Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley, with its honeycombe and beeswax notes and a glycerin oily texture.
For reds, try to avoid the big oaky tannic monsters. Oak and tannins are the enemies when pairing with slightly sweet food, try for a red with lots of upfront fruit, little oak and a soft structure like a Beaujolais or Pinot Noir. A very fruity Zinfandel or an unoaked Portguese red will work well as well. For Gamay, I would recommend the newly arrived Domaine les Cotes de la Roche Chenas with its lovely flowery notes and silky juicy palate. For something very different, the liquid velvet smoothness of the Best’s Great Western Pinot Meunier is an eye opener – rarely will you find a 100% bottling of this Champagne grape. For Pinot Noir, the Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve from Oregon is a fan favourite for its full-bodiedness and big cherry fruit while for Burgundy lovers, i would try the Nicolas Potel Vosne-Romanee Aux Malconsort Premier Cru – class and finesse and great minerality.
Finally for dessert, i would recommend the Okanagan Spirits Raspberry to pair with anything chocolate. For fruit based desserts, splurge and treat yourself with the fantastic 2001 Ch. Lafaurie-Peyraguey Sauternes, an amazing wine from a legendary vintage, you will not look at dessert wines the same after this. For the finishing touch, how about the young and exquisite 2007 Quinta do Portal Vintage Port, gushing blueberries and a finish that goes on and on.
Finally, if you are pressed for time, try out our October Mixed Case – $206.11 which has been designed around Thanksgiving dinner.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
- NV Canella Prosecco (Veneto, Italy) – $20.99
- NV Chateau Langlois Carmin Dry (Loire, France) – $27.99
- NV Le Brun Servenay Brut Selection (Champagne, France) – $55.99
- 1998 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin La Grande Dame Brut (Champagne, France) – $254.99
- 2007 Francois Lichtle Riesling (Alsace, France) – $20.99
- 2008 Cono Sur Gewurztraminer (Bio Bio Valley, Chile) – $11.99
- 2005 Huet Le Mont Demi-Sec Vouvray (Loire, France) – $44.99
- 2009 Domaine les Cotes de la Roche Cenas (Beaujolais, France) – $19.99
- 2004 Best’s Great Western Pinot Meunier (Victoria, Australia) – $41.99
- 2006 Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon) – $72.99
- 2006 Nicolas Potel Vosne-Romanee Aux Malconsorts 1er Cru (Burgundy, France) – $81.99
- Okanagan Spirits Raspberry – 375mL (Okanagan, B.C) – $25.99
- 2001 Ch. Lafaurie-Peyraguey – 375mL (Sauterne, France) – $94.99
- 2007 Quinta do Portal Vintage Port – 375mL (Douro, Portugal) – $31.99
- 2007 Quinta do Portal Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $61.99
- October Mixed Case – $206.11