Wines for Thanksgiving----

by Kit Menkin

Actually the best wine to go with turkey and stuffing is a cold beer. If your food is more on the sweet side with cranberry's and sweet potatoes, then a sweet type beer such as Gordon Biersch Marazen or one of my favorites, a French beer ( don't remember the name, but it had a female on the label—wonderful with pate.) Any good, cold beer, and the larger the glass, the better ( not bottles or cans—sorry, it inhibits the “fizz” and the bouquet of the beverage.)

The next best is Champagne, cold. Again, it is extra dry ( sweeter if that is the flavor of the table—never Brut with fowl. )

•  brut: bone dry to almost dry; less than 1.5 percent sugar
• extra sec or extra dry: slightly sweeter; 1.2 to 2 percent sugar
• sec: medium sweet; 1.7 to 3.5 percent sugar (dessert wine)
• demi-sec: extra sweet; 3.3 to 5 percent sugar (dessert wine)
• doux: very sweet; over 5 percent sugar (dessert wine)

I would not recommend the others, especially brut. You can
also find Champagne Rose extra dry ( don't think this is a cheap
version, as some of the best Champagne Rose are also often
more expensive than the Chardonnay based ones.)
If you don't like any of the above, then go to German white
wine. Ask the wine man at your store about which ones
he thinks are best. I personally think German wines are
much underrated here in the United States. We are used
to the cheap ones, but get a good one, and you'll start
to explore others. German wines are very under estimated
here.

Zinfindel, Pinor Noir, Merlot and even Cabernet Sauvignon
are wasted on a Thanksgiving dinner. Never Chardonnay, even
a cheap one that is well over oaked. You might have one before as a cocktail, but never-never with the main meal. They have conflicting flavors for such a meal.

Now that I have given you my advice, since we are having Thanksgiving with Sue's parents and other relatives at her brother's house in Laguna Beach, California, he requested to bring his favorite wine ( our house white wine ) 2003 Rombauer Chardonnay Carneros ( very “oaky” and very flavorful, a real California type vintage,) 2002 Louis Jadot Macon Villages ( Sue's favorite Chardonnay) very dry, and 2001 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. This is mostly for the appetizers before, but I am sure some will bring to the table. (And yes, if the ladies want ice cubes in their white wine, there is nothing wrong with this for a wine consumed as a “cocktail” before dinner.)

While I do recommend a good beer with turkey, it is a good idea to have different wines available for guests as everyone has different tastes. Just because I don't recommend a Cabernet Sauvignon does not mean someone else
will enjoy it with their bird. Remember, there is no right or wrong with wine: If you like it, that is what counts .

Don't forget non-alcoholic beverages, too.

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