Thanksgiving Roundtable

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. The holidays are always a special time to reflect, spend time with family and give thanks.

My favorite things about Thanksgiving are the oversized balloons in the Macy’s Day Parade, pumpkin pie and the quality time I get to spend with my family. It is not often we are able to get everyone into the same room, let alone at the same table for dinner. However, this Thanksgiving will be a little different. First, I have painstakingly adapted some of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes to be gluten-free. Second, my sister will be hundreds of miles away on some tropical island for her honeymoon. And though she will be missed, her absence this year means two things; left-over pie and more elbow room in the car on the way to my Aunt’s house.

Regardless how your family decides to celebrate Thanksgiving, it is important to remember to surround yourself with loved ones. Many people celebrate in non-traditional ways. I recently was engaged in conversation with someone who mentioned instead of cooking a bird, she fires up the grill to cook steaks. How glorious! This juxtaposition of breaking the stereotypical Thanksgiving dinner choice while keeping a tradition is fantastic. It adds flare to the holiday and certainly makes for it to be a memorable one.

It is commonly assumed white wines are the only ones that should be served alongside turkey. This assumption is terribly un-true! With a wide variety of dishes showing up on Thanksgiving tables people are selecting wines that break this stereotype.

Be adventurous, if you prefer red wines try pairing a Pinot Noir with your Thanksgiving meal. The velvety, light fruit flavors of Pinot Noir will bring out the best in your bird. Pinot Noir also tend to be low in tannins, so it will not overwhelm the delicate flavors of your meal. We are featuring an excellent Pinot Noir from Burgundy in our November Wine of the Month club. It is the 2009 Louis Max Bougogne Beaucharme Noir. Also featured in our November selection for the Wine of the Month is the 2009 Henry Fessy Moulin-A-Vent. This red is produced from the Gamay grape and showcases a lush flavor profile of ripe plum and cassis.

If you are looking for something heartier with a bit of spice, I would recommend picking up a bottle of Zinfandel. Two of my favorite Zins are the 2008 Saldo Zinfandel and the 2007 Seven Deadly Zins. Both received excellent reviews of 90+ points from The Wine Spectator and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

If white wines are more your style, make an effort to stray from your “go-to” grape. If you prefer Chardonnay, try Pinot Gris or Viognier. The 2008 Willm Pinot Gris is richly textured with flavors of peach and apple. If your palate favors a hint of sweetness, try a bottle of Chenin Blanc or Riesling. The 2009 Domaine Pichot Vouvray is 100% Chenin Blanc and offers up sweet citrus flavors with great acidity and texture. The 2009 Dragonstone Riesling has great minerality and is ripe and well developed.

Here’s to making this Thanksgiving a memorable one filled with friends, family and the discovery of a new favorite wine!