Fun With Carbs

Did you know that Thanksgiving is the biggest wine holiday of the entire year? Stores sell more wine for Turkey Day than any other day on the calendar. If you’re looking for the perfect vino to sip along with your turkey, stuffing, potatoes and desserts, we’ve got your expert answers here.

(Many thanks to wine gurus Michael Quinlan of Table & Vine in West Springfield, Mass. and Michael Votto of Votto Vines in Cheshire, Conn. for sharing their expertise.)

The biggest challenge of Thanksgiving dinner food/wine pairing is that there’s so much to consider, says Quinlan, the wine sales manager at Table & Vine. “It’s not just finding wine to go with the turkey, it’s also all the side dishes. You’ve got spicy, sweet, things with different textures. It’s tricky to match everything with one wine. So it’s best to serve both red and white at the table,” he said.

Quinlan says it’s best to avoid white wines with too much oak and red wines with prominent tannins. Some general recommendations: Rieslings and ‘ less oaky’ Chardonnays for white selections; pinot noir, red zinfandel, burgundy and Rioja for reds.

Among T&V’s highly suggested Thanksgiving wines:

Buena Vista Chardonnay ($14.99): “Estate grown in Carneros, this is ripe and well-balanced, and an excellent value,” states Table & Vine’s November sales flyer.

2008 Leitz Riesling Kabinett ($14.99): Described by T&V as ‘terrific, relatively dry with gorgeous fruit and a balanced finish.’ Table & Vine actually has the United States exclusive on this limited production. It’s one of the store’s two featured November Wines of the Month.

Ottimino Zinfinity ($14.99): ‘Brambly, ripe, yet balanced red zinfandel from a Sonoma County artisan.’

2007 Domaine Thevenot Haut Côtes de Beaune ($14.99): A Burgundy, Table & Vine’s other November Wine of the Month. In Massachusetts, exclusively found at T&V.

Cortijo Rioja ($8.99): “Tempranillo pairs really well with turkey,” says Quinlan, who is a particular fan of Cortijo, of which he recommends the 2008.

For champagne/sparkling wines, Quinlan likes the Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut ($29.98) “It has a wonderful acidity, it’s really luxurious and elegant” and the truly affordable Segura Viudas Brut Reserva ($8.99 for 1.5 liter)

Here’s a link to all of Table & Vine’s suggested Thanksgiving wines if you can’t decide…

Not Just For Red Sauce Anymore

If you’re looking for something different for your holiday table, you might be surprised to hear that Italian wines actually pair very well with Thanksgiving fare, according to Michael Votto of Votto Vines, an Italian wine import company in southern Connecticut.

Among Votto’s suggestions: Déjà Vu, a white made from the little-known Passerina varietal that he says pairs very well with turkey. “It’s been a huge hit,” he said. Another recommended white is the Castello di Porcia Pinot Grigio, a ‘rare, full-bodied’ pinot grigio from Friuli, a northern region of Italy. Votto says this pairs well with mashed potatoes, turkey, salad and soups. These wines retail from $13-15 per bottle.

For reds, Votto likes Monte Fiore, from the La Marche region. It’s made up of 100% Sangiovese grapes. “It has character, it’s full-bodied and it’s perfect with turkey,” says Votto. This retails for about $15/bottle.

Votto also recommends Elcione and Terra di Confine, from producer Tenuta Vitalonga. He describes the Elcione as ‘so well-made” and the Terra as a ‘great holiday wine.’ Tasting notes for the Elcione mention that it ‘opens with a floral bouquet that leads to red raspberries, cherries and spices.” The Elcione retails for $15-16, and the Terra, about $25.

Other good holiday wines for food pairing: Casalvento Chianti Classico (80% Sangiovese/20% cabernet sauvignon with jammy flavors that pair with cranberry sauce) and Votto family celebration favorites Gavi (a white for fish dishes) and Montefalco Rosso (good with all red sauces.)

To find these wines at a store or restaurant near you, visit this site for a list of retailers.