It's that time of year again, where we get together with family and friends to stuff ourselves to capacity. It has been said many times before, Thanksgiving is the most challenging meal with which to pair wines. With my annual post, I am here to ease the burden of picking out wines for your table.
For my selections this year, I stuck to white wine varietals. This is not because red wines don't make a good companion to the festive feast, they do! Red wine options like Pinot Noir, Zweigelt, Beaujolais (Gamay), and Châteauneuf-du-Pape are great selections. However, red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux blends, and other bold/high tannin varietals will overwhelm the flavors of the foods on the table.
White wine is a great choice for Thanksgiving...but not any white wine. The wine needs to be high in acidity and full bodied, with aromatic components that will withstand the flavors of the diverse tablescape.
From Riesling to Chenin Blanc, white wine options are truly ubiquitous. Check out the bottles recommended below for a jumping off point. You can secure these wines from Total Wine, the producer, or even your local grocer.
Biokult Naken Orange Wine ($18.49)
Comprised of 90% Pinot Gris and 10% Muskateller, this skin contact wine is bubbly with succulent mineral qualities. The unctuous lemon characteristic on the palate, is juxtaposed by acidic tangerine flavors - ideal for cutting through those heavy Thanksgiving side dishes.
This wine is made like a red wine. In lieu of removing the skins from the juice prior to fermentation (typical for white wine making) the juice is left in contact with the grape skins. Imparting tannin, robust flavor, and deep orange color in the wine.
Locus Modo White Wine ($15.00)
When I first tasted this wine, I knew I would be pairing it with Thanksgiving dinner. The 2020 Locus Modo White, is a blend of 50% Sémillon and 50% Sauv Blanc. It's a bold wine with aromas of honey crisp apples and mouthwatering acidity.
This local Washington wine can be picked up at the Pioneer Square, tasting room location. You also can get the wine shipped right to your door. I recommend calling the tasting room, to see how they can accommodate getting the wine to you, before Thanksgiving.
Gruber Roschitz Grüner Veltliner Hundspoint ($18.99)
If you have not yet tried Grüner Veltliner, you are missing out on a treasure trove of elegant wines with crisp, lemony, peppery, and stone fruit flavors. This wine has the acidity and the complexity, needed for pairing with heavily seasoned foods and creamy sauces.
I am in love with this Austrian varietal and Gruber Roschitz is one of my favorite producers. If you cannot find this exact wine, stick to Grüner Veltliner from Austria.
(I have had some examples of GV from WA and it was terrible!)
Chateau Ste Michelle Gewürztraminer ($7.49)
Gewürztraminer is an aromatic white grape, that grows exceptionally well in Washington. It is one of the initial varietals Chateau Ste Michelle, used in establishing its empire. This selection has aromas of pear and clove spices, with a delicate likeness to the cinnamon sprinkled sweet-potatoes found on everyone's table. The high acidity and light sweetness, balance this exuberant wine.
Chateau Ste Michelle makes several iterations of this varietal, all of which would be a viable pairing companion.
I hope these pairings help you with your Thanksgiving wine selections. If you have feedback, comments, or questions please feel free to comment below, post to The Wine Tails Facebook Page, or message me on Instagram.
Cheers and happy sipping!