It’s almost time to sit down with the family, invite the in-laws over and have that enormous meal shared between friends and family. That’s right; I am talking about “turkey time”. This time honored tradition has been celebrated for nearly 400 years. The turkey, the stuffing, the yams…oh my, but what about the wine? Many of us get frustrated trying to find the right wine to pair with this wonderful meal. With all the different foods and flavors, decided which wine will compliment the meal has stumped everyone. One of the biggest mistakes we make during the holiday is last minute shopping. One of the first steps to avoiding this dilemma is to pre-plan your meal and wine. Usually the week before Thanksgiving is the best time to buy your wine.
Many people try to find one wine that will carry them through the whole meal but to find a wine that will compliment foods like potatoes, yams, stuffing, cranberries, and pumpkin and pecan pies is hard. One of the best wines that can pull it off is sparkling wines. Increasingly popular, sparkling wines bring versatility and elegance to any meal. From appetizers to dessert, Sparkling wines can achieve a near perfect pairing.
If you are into red wines and want to mix it up, you should choose a red wine that isn’t too dry. A red wine with moderate tannins, that won’t overpower the food. Wines like Pinot Noirs, Zinfandels can pair nicely. For white wine lovers, try a nice Viogner, Sauvignon Blancs, etc. The key to finding a great white wine is well balanced acidity. This will support the flavors and not overpower and will enhance the meal. Pinot Grigios, Albarino, Vinho Verde are good choices. By mixing it up, you will be able to give your company a chance to explore different wines, with different foods.
For desserts you might want to pair a nice fortified wine like a tawny port with pumpkin and pecan pies. Cream sherry is another great choice as well as ice wines and Rieslings to pair with that apple pie.
In the end, all that matters is what you prefer and enjoy. It is a time of sharing and being thankful so take your time and don’t get frustrated. Just go with what you know and enjoy your fabulous holiday. As always enjoy!!!
