Author: Dirk Chan
Wow…Thanksgiving week is fast upon us, where did September go? So here is our annual picks to accompany the classic turkey and/or ham dinner with all its fixings. Start your evening off with a sparkling wine, followed by whites, reds, a dessert wine and perhaps a port to end.
Note we are closed on Thanksgiving Monday.
Sparkling Wines
Sparkling wines are a great way to start any function whether its a greeting aperitif or to pair with appetizers. Lively and clean, these will get everyone ready for what’s to come next.
NV Melea Premium Sparkling Brut (Penedès, Spain) – $18.99
2023 Paltrinieri Lambrusco di Sorbara Piria (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) – $24.99
NV Luis Pato Vinho Espumante Bruto (Bairrada, Portugal) – $25.99
NV Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco Brut (Veneto, Italy) – $35.99
2020 Quinta de Soalheiro Nature Pur Terroir Alvarinho Bruto (Vinho Verde, Portugal) – $48.99
Champagne
Now if you serve Champagne, your audience will immediately know you’re here to do some serious partaking and celebrating.
NV Champagne Monmarthe Secret de Famille Brut (Champagne, France) – $67.99
NV Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart Extra Brut Rosé (Champagne, France) – $102.99
2014 Henri Billiot et Fils Ambonnay Grand Cru Brut Millesime (Champagne, France) – $124.99
NV Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blancs Brut Grand Cru (Champagne, France) – $149.99
2018 Champagne Agrapart Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Mineral (Champagne, France) – $234.99
2012 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne (Champagne, France) – $399.99
Whites & Pinks
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 (dry or off-dry, both work), sweet Chenin Blancs or other Germanic or Alsace varietals. Having said that, some will always go with a dry creamy Chardonnay irregardless and that’s perfectly fine. Also, don’t forget that rosés work really well too!
2024 Huteau-Boulanger la Muse Sauvignon (Loire Valley, France) – $20.99
2024 Bodegas Canopy Ganadero Blanco (Toledo, Spain) – $24.49
2024 Rust en Vrede Afrikaans Vol. VII White (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $33.99
2023 Alvaro Castro Encruzado Reserva (Dao, Portugal) – $44.99
2022 Vasse Felix Chardonnay (Margaret River, Australia) – $53.99
2022 William Fevre Chablis Domaine (Chablis, France) – $72.99
2021 Willi Schaefer Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese (Mosel, Germany) – $99.99
2012 Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Premier Cru Cote de Lechet (Chablis, France) – $121.99
2022 Domaine Francois Villard Condrieu DePoncins (Rhone Valley, France) – $142.99
2023 Francois Mikulski Meursault (Meursault, France) – $184.99
2024 Agricola Gorgo Bardolino Chiaretto (Veneto, Italy) – $23.99
2024 Domaine de la Perriere Premiere Pressée Chinon Rosé (Loire Valley, France) – $31.99
Reds
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 up-front fruit, little oak and a soft tannins like a Beaujolais (served slightly chilled) or a Pinot Noir.
2018 Quinta do Vale Dona Maria Rufo Douro (Douro, Portugal) – $19.99
2024 Bruno Lafon Lucy in the Sky Pinot Noir (Vin de France, France) – $22.49
2024 Earl Paul Durdilly et Fils Beaujolais Les Grandes Coasses (Beaujolais, France) – $24.49
2023 Henry of Pelham Baco Noir Old Vines (Ontario – Niagara, Canada) – $28.99
2024 Elena Walch Schiava (Alto Adige, Italy) – $34.99
2021 Graceland Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $47.99
2022 Domaine Seguin-Manuel Mercurey Vieilles Vignes (Burgundy – Cote Chalonnaise, France) – $52.99
2023 Domaine Deliance Givry Premier Cru Monopole Les Combes (Burgundy – Cote Chalonnaise, France) – $67.99
2019 Elvio Cogno Barbera d’Alba Pre-Phylloxera (Piedmont, Italy) – $94.99
2013 Sordo Giovanni Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) – $104.99
2016 Terre Nere Brunello di Montalcino Capriolo Riserva (Tuscany, Italy) – $224.99
2009 Château Belair-Monange Premier Grand Cru Classé B (Bordeaux – St. Emilion, France) – $319.99
2007 Petrolo Galatrona (Tuscany, Italy) – $399.99
1998 Château Leoville Las-Cases (Bordeaux – St. Julien, France) – $549.99
Dessert
Sweet dessert wines and Port are always good for the final touches of a meal:
2016 Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos Aszu (Hungary) – 250mL – $36.49
2021 Brigaldara Recioto della Valpolicella (Veneto, Italy) – 375mL – $39.99
Quevedo 10 Year Old Tawny Port (Douro, Portugal) – $42.99
2013 Quinta do Portal Quinta dos Muros Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – 375mL – $45.99
2021 Château Sigalas Rabaud Premier Cru Classé (Bordeaux – Sauternes, France) – 375mL – $69.99
1982 Thunevin-Calvet Maury Vin Doux Naturel (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $89.99
2015 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $92.99
Messias 30 Year Old Tawny Port (Douro, Portugal) – $159.99
JM Fonseca Trilogia Moscatel de Setubal (Portugal) – 500mL – $199.99
1965 Messias Colheita (Douro, Portugal) – $289.99
1965 Krohn Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $309.99
Note our regular store hours are in affect this long weekend, except holiday monday when we will be CLOSED.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!