Turkey Dinner in 4 Wine Lessons
Art Credit: Ella Meulen
It’s not the bird as much as what we eat with it (cranberries, fruit salad, sweet potatoes with heaven-forbid marshmallows on top) that causes the wine challenges with a turkey dinner. Many of these sweet & salty combos can make wines taste tart. Here’s your down & dirty guide to a wine that tastes great with a traditional turkey dinner:
Photo credit: Bodegas Langa Cava
#1 — BUBBLES
Well-made sparkling wine always has good acidity, and acidity is an asset when a food is salty (imagine an anchovy on top of an hors d’oeuvre), sweet (tastes great with chocolate or dessert or sweet dishes such as sweet potato soufflée), and rich foods (cuts through the fat of a cream puff or foie gras or pork rillettes). It can be rosé or white, and any style of sparkling will work with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner: Champagne, Crémant, Prosecco, Cava and more! We recommend:
Guy Larmandier NV Vertus 1er Cru
Champagne, France // Reg $65.99 | Mixed Case $52.79
Dopff & Irion NV Cremant D'Alsace Rosé
Alsace, Italy // Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
Serenello NV Prosecco DOCG Superiore
Veneto, Italy // Reg $16.99 | Mixed Case $13.59
Castell de La Comanda NV Cava
Penedès, Spain // Reg $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
Dopff & Irion - Alsace, France
#2 — ROUND WHITES
This style of white is fuller-bodied with nice fruit (not too dry), some acidity for balance but not highly acidic like a Sauvignon Blanc, and key — little to no oak! Round whites can can also be off-dry, meaning that they have a slight sweetness in the middle, off-set by good acidity. This type of wine pairs well with spicy foods (especially ethnic foods such as Thai or Mexican), foods with some sweetness (it’s Thanksgiving, so I’ll return to sweet potatoes!) and rich dishes (a fuller-body, fuller-flavored wine can balance a richer food). Examples of varietals that fit into this group are: Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Sémillon, Kerner, Viogner, Chardonnay (stainless steel aged or with less oak), and many more! We recommend:
Max Ferd. Richter 2020 Mülheimer Sonnenlay Zeppelin Riesling
Mosel, Germany // Reg $24.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
Pierre Sparr 2020 Gewurztraminer
Alsace, France — Reg $19.99 | Mixed Case $15.99
Dopff & Irion 2018 Pinot Blanc
Alsace, France // Reg $18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19
Cor Cellars 2021 Alba White (Riesling/Pinot Gris)
Columbia Valley, Washington // Reg $22.99 | Mixed Case $18.39
Domaine Haut de Mourier Viognier
Languedoc, France) // Reg $16.99 | Mixed Case $13.59
photo credit: LoireValleyWines
#3 — ROSÉ
Rosé has never meet a food it doesn’t like. FULL STOP. We recommend:
Domaine de Frégate 2020 Bandol Rosé
Provence, France // Reg $31.99 | Mixed Case $25.59
Peyrassol 2021 Mediterranee La Croix Rosé
Provence, France // Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
Bodegas Muga 2021 Rosé
Rioja, Spain // Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
Jacques Boyer 2020 La Croix Belle Rosé
Vins de Pays d’Oc, France // Reg $12.99 | Mixed Case $10.39
*Serving a crowd? This one won’t disappoint!
And although this wine is not technically a rosé (which is made from red grapes), it sure acts like one! Made from Pinot Grigio which has been left to ferment for a longer-period with its dark grey skins:
Santa Clerissa Pinot Grigio Ramato
Veneto, Italy // Reg $18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19
#4 — JUICY REDS
Reds are where this meal can be especially tricky because tannic wines go sour with a sweet food and reds that are too big overpower the bird. Juicy reds can be described as lighter or medium in style with good fruit, good acidity, but NOT too tannic! Varietals that fit the bill are: Pinot Noir, Gamay, Grenache, Schiava, Zweitgelt, Zinfandel & more. We recommend:
Soléna 2020 Pinot Noir Grande Cuvée
Willamette Valley, Oregon// $27.99 | Mixed Case $20.39
Wandering Wolf 2020 Grenache
Columbia Valley, Washington // Reg $37.99 | Mixed Case $30.39
Kurtatsch 2018 Alte Reben Vernatsch
Alto Adige, Italy // Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
Domaine des Grand Rocs 2018 Julienas (100% Gamay)
Beaujolais, France // Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
Weingut Prechtl 2018 Zweigelt
Weinviertel, Austria // Reg $23.99| Mixed Case $19.19
Rombauer 2018 Zinfandel
Napa Valley, California // Reg $44.99 | Mixed Case $35.99
Don’t want to think about it this much? Stop in & we’ll get you set up!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Julie + Jens
Owners, Portalis Wines