Giving Thanks

I know what you're thinking...here we go again with the same old "what to serve with the Thanksgiving feast" blog. Well, it occurred to me that there is an over abundance of musings that deal with this topic, and as I always prefer to be a little outside of the box, I want to go in a different direction this year.  Don't get me wrong, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year...it gives us a chance to reflect and gather with family and friends to share a great meal with great conversation!  As I look forward to the big event, I think about the traditional turkey (which we like to BBQ), and side dishes galore, everything from the stuffing to the mashed potatoes and gravy, perhaps candied yams, green beans or maybe Brussels sprouts, although I am sure some of you might encounter the green jello thing with sour cream and walnuts that some relative insists on bringing.  The point is that there are so many fantastic flavors it is hard to pair any one or two wines that will work with everything. Most Thanksgiving meals are a vast array of diverse taste sensations.  Add to this the fact that the feast is usually consumed in a short period of time  and  the wine is too!  So what should one do about the wine? First take into consideration how many people you will be serving and be prepared to offer a choice of whites and reds. I know that many of the 'experts' will recommend a full bodied Chardonnay or a flavorful Pinot Noir, but this year, perhaps you might want to make some alternative choices available.  Some might like to stay with a sparkling wine others might prefer a Cabernet.  You could choose to take the track that Thanksgiving comes but once a year and perhaps you will want to bring out some 'special' bottles of wine that you have been saving to share.  Whichever route you take, I think that people put too much pressure on themselves to choose the perfect  wines for Thanksgiving.  I say as you are planning the meal relax...and make the wines more of a fun experiment! Savor the meal, share wines that you enjoy, and be thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving All

Thanksgiving

There is no other holiday that I look forward to more than Thanksgiving.  First and foremost, I love getting together with family and friends to share this time, it marks a time in the year that is filled with anticipation of things to come, but it is also a time of reflection for me.  I am remembering the prior two years' growing seasons and the weather challenges... the cool summers, slow grape maturation, not enough sun and then all of a sudden too much sun!  I am grateful for this past year which brought back a more normal season that most everyone benefited from...a great harvest with great potential!  Now, let's get to the feast.  Kirsten and I have been discussing what side dishes to serve with our turkey and we most always come back around to the 'traditional' dishes so as not to veer off too far from what family is expecting and wanting; are mashed potatoes essential?  Will the kids eat brussels sprouts?  As the kitchen becomes a hive of activity, Kirsten and Samantha busy slicing, dicing and prepping I will step outside where no doubt there will be a crispness in the air and begin barbecuing the turkey on the grill.  As I peer through the window inside I know I will see the burners on the stove all occupied with savory dishes in progress.  Turkey on the barbecue was an experiment for us two years ago and it turned out so amazingly well that we will never go back to the oven.  Last year, as I recall, rain was threatening all day but that did not stop me from standing watch over the turkey while I sipped a glass of wine.  Our Thanksgiving has always been a kind of roll out where family members start arriving from Tuesday on and we have everything planned on a 'timetable' in order to accommodate and satisfy all.  So much thought goes into every detail, and as everyone arrives, it feels good to just let it all happen.  I do give a lot of thought to the wines we will serve throughout, and I love choosing them!  I will always make sure to have some light whites to serve throughout the week, then on Thanksgiving Day we usually have some 'bubbles' in the form of sparkling wine available to pour for simple hors d'oeuvres smoked salmon is a tradition! When it comes to the meal and the 'bird' there are a number of wines that might compliment the flavors, these can range from Riesling or Chardonnay to a Beaujolas Nouveau a Pinot Noir, or even a Zinfandel.  The great thing about these choices is that there is no wrong answer...it really depends on what appeals to your taste.  My personal choice for the feast is a flavorful Pinot Noir.  If you do choose to pair white wines with your bird, please remember not to serve them too cold or they will be too tight to enjoy...a slight chill is all that is needed in order to coax the flavors out.  When all is said and done and the last slice of pumpkin pie has been devoured, it is a great time to pause and be thankful.

Here are some of my favorite Thanksgiving wines:

Roederer Brut Estate, Anderson Valley ($21.00)
The Roederer Estate Brut is crisp and elegant with complex pear, spice and hazelnut flavors. It is fresh and lightly fruity with great finesse and depth of flavor.

Joel Gott Riesling, Columbia Valley, WA ($10.99)
The fruit is peach with citrus. Long finish with some unripe gooseberry, unripe apple, and maybe some lingon berry. Dry with a tinge of sweet honey on the finish.

Hanna Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Russian River ($15.00)
Vibrant straw with a tinge of green. A nose of grapefruit, tangelo, quince flower mint, basil and pear with a mineral note. On the palate: Kiwi, lime zest,  with an explosive mid palate of lemon, peach, honey and grass and a bright   clean finish.

 Flowers 2010 Sonoma coast Pinot Noir ($45.00)
This Sonoma Coast 2010 Pinot Noir is deep garnet color with ruby highlights. It has expressive aromas of dark berry fruit, black tea, and dried cranberry with earthy nuances of oregano, spice and sweet tobacco. Delivering flavors of ripe plum, fig, orange and licorice this wine is bold, yet graceful on the palate with supple tannins and a lingering coastal minerality on the finish.

Inman Family 2009 Olivet Grange Vineyard (OGV) Pinot Noir ($63.00)
You might call this the "Audrey Hepburn of Pinot" - elegant and balanced, with structure and complexity which will make this wine a timeless classic.

Cheers!