Turkey Day Sips with Sommelier Andrew Stover, Chiefwino
www.chiefwino.com
OYA Restaurant & Lounge
www.oyadc.com
SEI Restaurant
www.seirestaurant.com
Gobble Gobble!
Choosing wine for Thanksgiving means trying to pair a wide variety of flavors. Salty, sweet, creamy, herby…it’s a real Smörgåsbord of flavors.
Its usually best to go with personal preference but know that this is not the time for buttery, creamy California Chardonnay or big and rich Cabernet Sauvignons.
Typically, sparkling wine is usually the best overall pairing to a wide variety of flavors and has been gaining popularity in recent years for holiday meals.
But if bubbly isn’t your gig, the following types of wines tend to pair best with the flavors found on the Thanksgiving table. Since Thanksgiving is an AMERICAN holiday, try to drink something from the good ‘ol U.S.A!
Whites:
Riesling with a hint of sweetness
Gewurztraminer
Albarino
Viognier
Reds:
Pinot Noir
Zinfandel
Syrah/Shiraz
Rose, drier and less fruitier styles
Featured Wines:
Avery Lane Riesling, Columbia Valley, Washington
Average Retail Price: 9.99
If you like your Riesling a little on the sweeter side, this one is for you—fresh and floral, notes of rose petal, lime zest, white peach and grapefruit, luscious texture with a semi-sweet finish. Riesling works well with sweet potatoes, ham, turkey and anything with a slightly sweet edge.
Winery at La Grange Viognier, Virginia
Average Retail Price: 16.99
An alternative to Chardonnay with notes of white flower, honeysuckle and tropical fruit, plus passion fruit and mango on the finish, smooth and luscious. The fruity notes in the wine pair well with fruitier flavors found in Thanksgiving dishes.
Sawtooth Syrah, Snake River Valley, Idaho
Average Retail Price: 15.99
Rich and brooding aromas of chocolate, cedar, dark plums, hint of earth. An explosion of black cherry and chocolate in the mouth, rich and velvety finish. The peppery notes in the wine pair well with herb stuffing and while not an overly heavy wine, Syrah will please any big Cabernet lover.
Tedeschi Vineyards ‘Hula O Maui’ Sparkling Pineapple, Maui, Hawaii
Average Retail Price: 24.99
An amazing dry, Champagne-like pineapple sparkling wine that works especially well with ham laced with pineapple as well as fruitier dishes on the Thanksgiving table.
