Wine for Thanksgiving Dinner

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, you may be wondering what to serve with the traditional Turkey dinner with all the fixings.

 It is doable to choose one wine to carry you through appetizers to desserts. That wine is the celebratory SPARKLING wine! Bubbles are elegant and have phenomenal food-pairing versatility to virtually any meal. With a Thanksgiving meal these wines, bubbles really shine. Karma Vineyards, Lake Chelan makes remarkable local bubbly. Karma has a Méthode Champenoise Estate Pink ($54.99 at the tasting room) may be even a better match than plain sparkling considering the proteins in the meal. Or go for a Rosé, which is another very food friendly wine. Try the Latah Creek Rosé of Malbec ($13 at the tasting room) and get why all the fuss is about when it comes to Washington Rosé.

 The art of Wine Pairing is largely a matter of personal preference; however, some safe bets for Thanksgiving dinner are Pinot Noir (Try King Estate), Syrah (Try Barrister, Robert Karl, or Overbluff) and Zinfandel (Try Maryhill) for RED lovers. Go for Sauvignon Blanc (Try Arbor Crest), Riesling (Try  Nodland's Bebop) Gewurztraminer and Viognier (Try Maryhill) for those who prefer WHITE.

 Then there's the pie. Sweeter wines to dessert wines pair nicely but I like RUM with my pumpkin pie.  Rum  is a reasonable spirits choice. Some specialty liquors (Voyant Chai, Tuaca, and Praline) offer sweetness without overpowering. Personally, we're going for a Quinta de la Rosa 20-Year Tawny Port this year.

 In summary - With white wines the pairing priority is finding a wine with well-balanced acidity with reds you are shooting for fairly tame tannins that will yield to and support the flavors of the food. For the happy medium between the two, a Rose becomes a pretty perfect match.

 Oh yes, you have options. This Thanksgiving you can be grateful for choices.

What did we miss? Do you have a pairing of a local wine that should be on this list? Leave a comment, we want to know.

Cheers to a Happy Thanksgiving, SIP XO
(Photo credit: Inside Socal)
Location: Spokane, WA, USA

Comments

the wine guy, Matt Dolan said…
Great suggestions, SIP!
For dessert, check out the locally made "Port" style wines of Knipprath...especially the vanilla or chocolate ports.
November 24, 2010 at 6:26 PM
Unknown said…
Good suggestion. I like the coffee port as well from Knipprath. What part of the meal do you suggest them with? I think pumpkin pie but I'd love to hear you're thoughts. Happy Thanksgiving!
November 25, 2010 at 7:46 AM
Janet said…
We are pouring Belle Glos Pinot Noir Blanc, from Caymus Vinyards with our bird. Its a white wine made with a red grape. Fresh and clean and I enjoyed it.
November 25, 2010 at 3:00 PM
the wine guy, Matt Dolan said…
Knipprath makes a coffee port?? Sounds like I've been missing out!
Yes definately with pumpkin pie, or even pecan pie...if there is any room for dessert, lol.
November 27, 2010 at 11:53 PM
Wine Gifts said…
We can follow our new and Caymus Belle Glos Pinot Noir from vineyards Is a white wine made from red grapes. Fresh and clean and I enjoyed
November 22, 2012 at 3:39 AM
Buy Wines Online said…
Proposed fine. Coffee pots, as well as from Knipprath I like it. I think pumpkin pie, but I'd like to hear your thoughts. Thanksgiving celebration!
November 29, 2012 at 4:36 AM
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