Suggestions for Thanksgiving wine, and please don't agonize over pairings and propriety and pinot noir. Thanksgiving is not about scoring points with the wine snobs, but about sharing what you have with friends and family. In other words, if Aunt Dorothy likes white zinfandel, who are you tell her she can't have any? More, after the jump:
• A light red wine: Yes, the name leaves a lot to be desired, but the Meditrina VI blend ($15, sample) from Oregon's Sokol Blosser is soft and fruity (berries and cherries) without being flabby. As such, it's ideal for a big dinner with lots of different food.
• An everyday white: The Hedges CMS White ($14, purchased), a blend of sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and marsanne, offers chardonnay's versatility with a little more interest.
• Sparkling wine: Graham Beck Brut Rose from South Africa ($16, sample) is fresh, crisp, and very lively, with lots of berries. It doesn't have much oak or or yeast, which is a good thing for Thanksgiving.
• Sweet wine: Sweet wine is not inherently evil. It's poorly made sweet wine that drives me crazy. Don't be overwhelmed by the name, because the Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett ($17, sample) is a fine example of what the country can do when the wine doesn't have to have a cute name or label.
More about Thanksgiving wine:
• Thanksgiving wine 2009
• Thanksgiving wine 2008
• Turkey sandwiches and rose
• Wine of the week: Maremma Toscana Rosato 2009
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