Ah, Thanksgiving… the Super Bowl of culinary holidays. You know what’s on the table — but do you know what’s in your glass?
Like any other great dining experience, your meal should be a progression: You don’t hand your aunt a giant turkey leg when she walks in the door, do you? And the same goes for your wine. Here are a few bottles to get you through any heated political discussions and the usual nagging questions, all while making you look oh-so-sophisticated.
Roca Altxerri Txakoli 2018
The perfect wine to get the party started. From the Basque Region, Txakoli has a subtle and natural effervescence that nicely pairs with any cheese plate (that hopefully includes Boursin). Made from the indigenous Hondurrabi Zuri grape and aged in stainless steel tanks, this Txakoli has a bright but balanced acidity, with citrus and melon notes. BYO-Porrón to really impress your relatives.
Buy Roca Altxerri Txakoli 2018 here.
Occhipinti SP68 Bianco 2017
As you move into heartier appetizers, this Sicilian white is more full-bodied with a super aromatic nose that leads to a mineral-driven and delicate finish, offering an ideal transition to your first course. It’s unfiltered, so don’t be surprised by the slightly cloudy and copper hue – it makes this wine that much more interesting and a perfect topic of conversation.
Buy Occhipinti SP68 Bianco 2017 here.
The Eyrie Vineyards Sisters Pinot Noir 2015
Bringing it back to America for the main course, this Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is light enough to not overpower any of your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes – hello, carrot soufflé – while being incredibly complex and easy to drink. It’s full of notes of red fruits and baking spices (seems perfect for the holidays, no?).
Buy The Eyrie Vineyards Sisters Pinot Noir 2015 here.
Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2015
An under-the-radar Tuscan red – and not to be confused by the more readily available Montepulciano d’Abruzzo – Vino Nobile is made from the Sangiovese grape and pairs nicely with the star of the show, the Thanksgiving turkey. This full-bodied wine has notes of tobacco and red fruits, with some serious tannins that balance it all out. To see its true potential, open it an hour or two before sitting down to dinner. It won’t disappoint.
Buy Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2015 here.
Bindella Dolce Sinfonia Occhio di Pernice
This Tuscan dessert wine is the stuff you pull out to really wow your family and friends. A little goes a long way, and this “Occhio di Pernice,” or “eye of the partridge,” is a hard-to-find Vin Santo made from Sangiovese. The grapes are laid out to dry before being pressed and aged for a minimum of six years – perfectly sweet but with a good amount of acidity. The ideal way to end the evening.
Buy Bindella Dolce Sinfonia Occhio di Pernice here.
Happy drinking (and happy Thanksgiving)!