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Wines To Pair With Thanksgiving Dinner

Filed under: Wine

Pairing wines with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner is a controversial affair. Seriously.

That is because there is a wide range of opinions about what pairs best with turkey, a bird that supplies two distinct meat experiences--white breast meat, and dark meat with fattier taste and texture. And then there are the side-dishes--potatoes, turnips, cranberries, stuffing, pearl onions, sweet potatoes, etc. It's a complicated melange of flavors, textures, starches, proteins and vegetables.

Scout the Internet for suggestions, and you will literally find everything from Cabernet Sauvignon to white sparkling wines. There is more agreement in Congress than on what wine, or wines, to serve on Turkey Day.

Individual experts, though, don't have such a wide band of recommendations. Consider what wine writer Thomas Pellechia says about the varietals to consider for turkey and the sides: "Zinfandel is the best red to go with turkey, because its bramble-berry characters stand well against turkey. I don't recommend Pinto Noir, as many do, because the nature of that variety, without a dark blended grape, is delicate and gets run over by turkey."

Among the whites, Pellechia recommends Riesling and Gewurztraminer--Gewurztraminer because its spiciness offsets the turkey's boldness, and Riesling because its acidity and fruit are a terrific foil to turkey's intensity.

Pellechia writes a wine blog, Vinofictions, and wrote " The Complete Idiot's Guide To Starting and Running a Winery, and "Wine, The 8,000 Year-Old Story of the Wine Trade. "I don't like Chardonnay for a traditional turkey dinner because it's generally either too flabby or too oaky...Pinot Grigio is usually too light, but its French counterpart from Alsace, Pinot Gris, is often as bold as Gewurztraminer and will work," says Pellechia.

Beaujolais Nouveau is also a good choice for a red wine, and a bargain. A light, fruity red wine, from the Gamay grape, that goes quite well with turkey and all of the fixings, this wine is released from France on the third Thursday of November, just in time to highlight your Thanksgiving feast!

Knowing the differences of opinion, it is a good idea to perhaps stock a few different wines to allow guests to choose, rather than picking one wine that you expect everyone to be happy with. Of course, if your Thanksgiving is going to be an intimate affair of three to five people, then maybe one or two wines are in order. A table of more than ten, and I'd be tempted to have at least three from which to choose, mixing reds and whites.

Tags: Beaujolais Nouveau, Elyse winery, food-pedia, gewurztraminer, Herman J. Wiemer, Heron Hill Winery, Hogue Cellars, main-pedia, riesling, Thanksgiving wine, wine with turkey, wine-pedia

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Gourmet Latino Vino: Sampling Offbeat Wines from (Way) South of the Border

by Amy Cortese (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Wine, Events

If your idea of Latin American cuisine is tacos and a frosty Corona, you're missing out, amigo. From Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, Latin America offers up a stunning array of flavors and culinary traditions -- and all were on display recently at the Gourmet Latino Festival, a five-day series of events and tastings in New York City. There was Argentine barbecue, Mexican mole, and cocktails made with Peruvian Pisco, Mexican tequila and Brazilian Cachaca.

Being a wine lover, I was intrigued by an event that promised to pair Latin America specialties with wines from surprising regions like Brazil, Uruguay and Mexico. it was held at at Palo Santo, a Latino restaurant in Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood, where chef-owner Jacques Gautier serves up unusual but authentic pan-Latin cuisine, often using ingredients from his rooftop garden.

"I like to showcase dishes I've come across in my travels but that are less well known," explained Gautier. The same could be said for the wine served that evening.

Tags: chardonnay, chenin blanc, latin american cuisine, Maria Luz Marin, Palo Santo, patagonia, pinot noir, red wine, riesling, sauvignon blanc, south american wine, uruguay, white wine, wine

Continue reading “Gourmet Latino Vino: Sampling Offbeat Wines from (Way) South of the Border”

That Wine Tastes Great, Could It Be The Lighting?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Can lighting affect wine taste? One German study found that drinkers who were served a bottle of Riesling in differently lit environments had different taste experiences. Researchers found that subjects rated the wine as better and more expensive tasting when exposed to the red or blue background lighting versus rooms with green or white background lighting. According to an article in the Telegraph, the wine was described as being sweeter and fruitier in red light than in white or green light. When drinking in the red or blue lit room the subjects though the wine was worth as much as one euro more for the same bottle.

Dr Daniel Oberfeld-Twistel, of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz said in the Telegraph article that more tests are needed to determine why the color makes a difference. One theory is that some colors put people in a more positive mood but it may be more complex than that. The study certainly makes a case for mood lighting in wine shops and tasting rooms as well as in bars or restaurants.

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Tags: riesling, white wine, WhiteWine, wien tasting, WienTasting, wine

Smith-Madrone Re-Released Riesling

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Most wine is released the year it is ready but Smith-Madrone Winery has an interesting approach, it re-releases its older Rieslings. This year the winery is re-releasing its 2002 Riesling. Why re-release? The winery's founder and General Partner Stuart Smith says they do this because "we love how Rieslings age and develop and we want to give people the opportunity to taste what a moderately aged Riesling is like." He says that Rieslings age just as well as Cabernet Sauvignons and can age for 10, 15 or even 20 years adding depth and tonality to the flavor. The 2002 is available for $60 a bottle with a three bottle limit. If you posses a bit more patience, you can pick up the 2008 for $27 and cellar it yourself for a few years.

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Tags: riesling, smith-madrone, white wine, WhiteWine, wine

Eroica Single Berry Select Late Harvest Riesling

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

At the start of the year, I tasted the wonderful Eroica, a Riesling that is a collaboration between Washington's Chateau Ste. Michelle winery and Germany's Dr. Ernst Loosen. Now that I have found out that there is an ultra version, I simply must have it. The Eroica Single Berry Select Late Harvest Riesling is described as being like liquid gold, with scents of apricot, pear and spices and a rich flavor of honey, apricot, baked apple and tropical fruit. At around $200 for a half bottle it demands a very special occasion.

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Tags: chateau ste michelle, ChateauSteMichelle, eroica, loosen, riesling, white wine

Long Shadow Vintners Wins Winery of the Year

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

A unique winery in Washington, Long Shadows Vintners has been named Winery of the Year by Food & Wine magazine. The winery is actually more of a collaboration in which famous winemakers from around make wines from Washington grapes. Allen Shoup, the former CEO of Stimpson Lane (owner of Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest) is behind the project which creates luxury wines at the winery facility in Walla Walla. The wines include Pedestal, a Merlot-blend from Michel Rolland, Poet's Leap, a Riesling from German winemaker Armin Diel and Saggi, a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet, Syrah and Barbera from Italian producers Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari. Basically it's like getting wine experience from all around the world made from Washington grapes. Prices for the wines vary but start at $20 for the Poet's Leap. There is a membership club for those who want to be the first to get their hands on the latest releases since these popular wines quickly sell out. A situation that will undoubtedly only get worse with this award.

[via Seattle Post-Intelligencer]

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Tags: food and wine magazine, long shadow vintners, LongShadowVintners, merlot, red wine, riesling, washington wine, white wine, wine

Fat Bastard Maker Refines Their Palate

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

I'm no fan of the Fat Bastard wine but I am curious about Click Wine Group's higher-end line called the Global Wine Collection. The wines are aimed meant to appeal to the "Millennials," people 21 to 30 years old. The portfolio continues the group's tradition of innovative naming. The wines include Flying Fish (from the Pacific Northwest), 2up (from Australia) and Mad Dogs & Englishmen (from Spain). Their Clean Slate, a German Riesling from the Mosel-Saar- Ruwer district won a Double Gold medal at the 2006 San Francisco International Wine Competition. The Clean Slate sells for around $10.

[via The Daily Report]

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, clean slate, click wine group, ClickWineGroup, red wine, RedWine, riesling, white wine, WhiteWine

Kono Baru Wine, Upside Down Is Right Side Up

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Don Sebastiani & Sons, the folks behind Used Automobile Parts wine are at it again. This time with wine with upside-down labels. Kono Barú. The upside-down labels represent the fact that the wines are sourced from vineyards in the Southern hemisphere. The initial launch is of six varietals from three countries. A Sauvignon Blanc, unwwoded Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile; a Riesling and a Shiraz from Australia; and a Malbec from Argentina. The Chilean and Australian wines are around $12 and the Malbec is around $16. The line is meant to represent a step up from the bargain-priced wines from Chile and Australia with something a little bit more upscale. The initial launch is around 100,000 cases.

[via Wine Business News]

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Tags: australian wine, AustralianWine, cabernet sauvignon, chilean wine, kono baru, KonoBaru, malbec, red wine, RedWine, riesling, sebastiani, shiraz, white wine, WhiteWine, wine

Riesling Rendezvous

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Events

It seems to have taken United States wine drinkers a while to warm up to Riesling wine but more and more people are discovering the delightful food-friendly white wine. Now Riesling is getting its own event. Chateau Ste. Michelle and Dr. Loosen, the team behind the delicious Eroica Riesling, will host "Riesling Rendezvous" in June at the Chateau Ste. Michelle winery in Woodinville, Washington. The three-day event, June 24-26, 2007, will include tastings, food pairings and workshops. The Rendezvous offers the chance to taste wines from around the world including a gala tasting of on the evening of June 26th at the new Seattle Art Museum Olympic Sculpture Park. It looks like you can't buy tickets to certain events you have to sign up for the whole Riesling Rendezvous which costs $700 ($600 if you sign up before April 15).

[via Avenue Vine]

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Tags: chateau ste michelle, loosen, riesling, white wine, wine

Luxist Tastes: 2005 Eroica Riesling

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Some of my favorite wines are a collaboration between Old World technique and New World grapes. Case in point, the Eroica Riesling from Chateau Ste. Michelle. The wine is a collaboration between Washington's Chateau Ste. Michelle winery and Germany's Dr. Ernst Loosen. The wine is named after a Beethoven symphony. The grapes come from the Columbia Valley area of Washington. The 2005 includes grapes from two new slopeside vineyards.

The resulting wine is straw-colored with a citrus and white flower nose, crisp and richly aromatic. The wine is deeply satisying, it has a great mix of pear and mineral flavors and a lipsmacking finish. It's drier than some Rieslings but has just a smidge of honeyed sweetness that makes Riesling so appealing. The fact that it is a bit sharp makes it very food friendly (and for more thanThai food which is the recommendation of the winemaker). It earned 90 points from Wine Spectator and sells for around $20.

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Tags: chateau ste michelle, eroica, riesling, white wine, wine

Dry Riesling Chosen As New York's Best Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Last year it was an ice wine, this year a dry Riesling has won the prized Governor's Cup trophy at the New York Wine and Food Classic. The 2005 Dry Riesling from Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyards was chosen from 702 wines made by 102 wineries. Hermann Wiemer, a native of Germany's Mosel wine region says that the Finger Lakes are ideal for growing Riesling grapes. The prizewinning wine can be bought for a reasonable $19.50.

Other winners include Dr. Konstantin Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars which was designated winery of the year., Chateau Frank for sparkling wine, Swedish Hill for white wine, Jamesport Vineyards for red wine and Wolffer Estate Vineyards for dessert wine.

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Tags: new york, riesling, wiemer, wine

Tierce Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

We already know the Finger Lakes region in New York is home to really good ice wine, now a new Riesling has been created to tempt wine consumers to check out the region. Tierce is a dry Riesling developed by three wineries: Anthony Road Wine Co., Fox Run Vineyards and Red Newt Wine Cellars. The wine will be officially released at Red Newt on May 5 as part of the Riesling Month celebration. Each of the winery contributed a third of their grapes. There will be 100 cases of the first batch and each winery will sell the wine. Thus far the winemakers haven't chosen a price for the Tierce 2004.

[via Rochester Democrat and Chronicle]

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Tags: finger lakes, new york wine, riesling, tierce, white wine, wine

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