Are you looking for something for a wine dinner in Satasota? What is the perfect wine to accompany my Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner?
That is the single most asked question at every wine store this month. When I operated my own wine store there would literally be a line of customers standing in front of me on the fourth Wednesday of November asking that very question. My answer was always a definitive – “it depends.”
Roast turkey is the traditional Thanksgiving fare for most Americans. At its best turkey meat offers subtle flavors and white meat that tends be – well a bit dry.
I once suggested that to an elderly woman in my store and she immediately struck an angry pose assuring me that, “My turkey is NOT dry young man!” I assured her that I was speaking in general terms and not insulting her specifically. I’m not sure she accepted my apology. But nevertheless we must be somewhat more delicate in our approach to selecting the correct turkey wine.
Now, before we go further you really should be aware of an annual event in the Burgundy Region of France called Beaujolais Nouveau Day. It occurs on the third Thursday of November, associated with the first release of brand new Beaujolais wine.
In years past the release of the Beaujolais Nouveau occurred with great fanfare, with suppliers racing to provide the wine exactly at 12 midnight of the celebratory day. That is because Beaujolais goes beautifully with roast turkey. Those crafty Frenchmen know how to market to the biggest American meal day of the year.
Beaujolais Nouveau is a cranberry colored wine made from the Gamey grape that is light and elegant in flavor. The wine is released very young, merely weeks from its fermentation. Unlike more hardy reds it is meant to be consumed right away and is typically considered past its prime by the following May. For this reason, if you decide to serve Beaujolais Nouveau make sure that it is from the current vintage – 2016. Some unscrupulous supermarkets tend to put last year’s leftovers out before stacking up the new stuff. Another reason to shop at your neighborhood wine store.
There are, of course, other red wines that go well with the bird. Pinot Noir comes to mind, particularly the lighter bodied, low tannin, light cherry flavored Pinot Noir from Oregon. California Pinot Noir tends to be a bit heavier and richer, which is not the direction you want to go with turkey.
When it comes to whites stay clear of Chardonnay, especially a buttery, oaky Chardonnay that will overpower the turkey and clash with trimmings like gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and the like.
The wiser choice is a white wine with higher levels of residual sugar, but a decent amount of acidity to cleanse and refresh the palate. My first and primary recommendation is a Grüner Veltliner.
Don’t let the name scare you. If you have not yet discovered this marvelous wine from Austria then this is the perfect time to experiment. GV is a very food friendly wine that is also intended to be consumed young. It has a beautiful core of fruit flavors including pear, peach and white grapes with hints of spice and notes of white pepper. And the best part is that you can find good Grüner Veltliner in your favorite wine store in the $10 – $15 range.
Beyond that your best choices include Riesling Spätlese or Kabinett, depending on how sweet you like your wine. Gewurztraminer adds a hint of spice, Viognier a lush palate of peach and you absolutely cannot go wrong with a bottle of classic Champagne – ice cold and bubbly. Yum!
Thanksgiving dinner is very special. An annual gathering of family and friends to reunite and thank God for all of our blessings. Take time to visit your favorite store, even if it means a drive on Highway 75. Ask your wine guy for his recommendations. Tell him the Parrish Wineguy sent ya.
Have a happy, safe and tasty Thanksgiving.