WINE with turkey, cranberries, sweet potatoes, gravy... are you kidding?

It seems that every year the question is begged "WHAT WINE IS BEST WITH THANKSGIVING?"

This is a quandary for many because of the myriad of flavors typically included in this feast.

So lets see... for starters, the turkey...

But, that goes without saying... what about all the side-dishes? For instance, a real palate shaker...

Fresh Cranberry Salad

What to do with bright, tangy, flavorful cranberries? Or how about...

Corn Pudding

Corn Pudding is sweet, savory, and cheesy/creamy, quite the opposite of cranberries, that's for sure. And if that's not enough.... there's almost without a doubt...

Stuffing

... the requisite stuffing.

NOTE: I never stuff my turkey, I don't want anything sucking all the moisture out of my bird!

OK - TIME TO JUMP... LOTS MORE TO DISCUSS AND THEN THERE'S THE WINE...

But stuffing, is the least of our worries. I like to make a little first course treat for my feast...

Pumpkin Soup

... yes, I'm a soup guy, and this particular soup also has green apples... hmmm, the flavors just keep growing... AND just for comfort's sake, you can't do a T-Day dinner without...

Fresh Dinner Rolls

... PLUS dinner rolls are the BEST for leftover turkey-cranberry sandwiches, but that's another post.

So - WHAT ABOUT THE WINE? Well, based on the plethora of flavors, the wine options need to be pretty non-competing. Common tried and true wine pairing wisdom suggests these folowing wines (with variations on the theme)...

First Choice...

Pinot Noir

A Pinot Noir - especially the more fruit-forward New World styles from Oregon and California are probably the most classic. They can dance with foods that are more savory, but they can also jig a little with the fruit expressions like cranberries. They also have enough tannins that they don't flab out with all the butters and creams and cheeses.

Variations on the theme for Pinots: Grenache, Gamay Beaujolais, and Beaujolais Nouveau. These all fall in the same mid-weight category as a Pinot Noir, and generally have nice bright fruit expression. The Nouveau wines are particularly fun; they are only released once a year (third weekend in November) and have no oak so they are very fruity and light. They have come to be known in the U.S as "the" Thanksgiving wine. They come from France and have a storied history as being the first red wine release of that year's harvest and a bellweather for the vintage quality. World Market always offers big displays of this wine right before T-Day. 

The most recommended white choice is without a doubt...

Tank Fermented Chardonnay

... an un-oaked Chardonnay. Again, it's the fruit in this wine that creates a nice harmonic counter-balance to the savory, rich flavors on the table, and yet still swings with the more fruit driven and lighter side dishes. One strong rule, STAY AWAY FROM BIG OAKED CALIFORNIA STYLES.... that is unless your meal only consists of smoked turkey, savory stuffing and yeasty rolls slathered in butter; if that's the case, GO FOR IT!

Variations on the theme: Viognier, or a white Rhone blend (usually Viognier, Rousanne and Marsanne blends), and Chenin Blanc. Like an un-oaked Chard, these wines have nice fruit expression and create the counter balance to the savory components and can keep do-wopping with the side dishes.

For bigger heartier T-Day recipes I suggest...

Cabernet Sauvignon

Talk about traditional, and OH SO WONDERFUL. A classic Cabernet. But again, I'd make sure the one I picked offers nice fruit on the front palate. Some of the older French Bordeaux's should be avoided, they are much to leathery, and dark from age, plus they've let go of most of the fruit that is needed in a T-Day wine for counter balance.

Variations on the theme: Cabernet/Shiraz blends, Merlot, and Australian Shiraz also work due to the fruit they possess, and they aren't too extreme in their flavor profiles thus avoiding any competition with the meal. 

And finally if you just want something pizzazzy and uncomplicated that does an energetic T-Day disco dance... I'd suggest...

Moscato - Off Dry Bubbly

... a fun off-dry sparkling wine like a Moscato. The bubbles, and the brightness, and the aromatics, and the juicy fruit won't fight with a single dish on your T-Day table... as a matter of fact, I challenge you to conjure something that this fun wine rejects, well maybe brussels sprout, but hey, NOTHING works well with brussels sprout! Think about it, I drink this wine with potato chips and onion rings -- that should prove my point!

Variations on the theme: Prosecco, Demi-Sec Champagne, or any sparkler that's not Brut. Cranberries KILL dry/brut sparklers... much like strawberries plopped in a glass of bubbles, despite the movie glamorization of this freakish thing often done to a great Champagne! 

So, I hope this helps... and as always, if your palate disagrees with mine... by all means, follow yours, just don't expect everyone else to agree :-)

HAPPY T-DAY WINE SHOPPING!