Stacyknows What To Drink on Thanksgiving

What to drink at Turkey time?

If you were just eating turkey then the answer would be quite simple but it is all those side dishes that you really need to keep in mind when choosing a wine for Thanksgiving.

I think the large percentage of people long to have a magazine like meal but in actuality have a pretty standard meal with dishes we have been eating for a long time and contributed by various guests. You can really over analyze this and be a wine snob or approach it simply-
I always like to start a gathering with bubbly, you can buy less expensive CA producers – Domaine Carneros(from the Taittinger family) or Roderer Brut. Even Less expensive but good is Korbel. The acidity works well with the hors d’oeuvres that tend to be on the fattier side (think puff pastry). Besides it is Thanksgiving and bubbles are equated with celebration.
Now for the trickier part – the main meal. If you enjoy white wines a few ABC (anything but Chardonnay) recommendations would be a Gewürztraminer- the spiciness of this white marries well with the bird and stuffing.

Another different White Wine would be a Pinot Blanc by Valley of the Moon. It is a crowd pleaser- Chardonnay drinkers like it as well as those Pinot Grigio drinkers.
For Reds try a Pinot Noir. I am partial to Sonoma County Pinots so my recommendation would be Kenwood Russian River Pinot Noir.

End with more bubbles- or a Moscato d’Asti- A favorite of mine is Chiarlo Nivole- it has a great package and it is so light you can have it with some fruit and call it an evening.

After all that is said and done- drink what you like when you like it- life is too short too short!