The Perfect Wine and Food Pairings
November 16, 2010, By Tim Lemke 0 comments
I remember when I was younger, and just developing an interest in wines, I felt overwhelmed when I walked into a wine shop. There were so many options that I didn't know where to start. And then on special occasions, like Thanksgiving, the pressure was really on to pick the right wine. Lot's of people had opinions about what to pick, but as I've learned over the years there's no need to panic. Think less about pairing and more about sharing.
The first thing that you need to know is that there is no "perfect" wine for Thanksgiving. Turkey is fairly neutral in flavor and will go well with a wide assortment of wines. And don't forget that turkey isn't the only food on the table. You'll have a wide assortment of different foods that will all pair with wines differently — but don't worry about it!
Now that you know there's no perfect wine—and there will be a wide assortment of flavors on the table—you may still find yourself lost in a sea of options. The good news is you don’t have to pick just one. My recommendation is to offer a variety of wines at the Thanksgiving table. After all, not only do you have an assortment of different foods, but you also have an assortment of different guests, each with their own preferences. Offering a selection of wines gives them options.
And by assortment, I don’t mean three different brands of chardonnay. Offer at least one red wine and one white wine, if not a couple of each—depending on how many people attend your Thanksgiving dinner. Having options is also good in case one is a dud.
I realize that telling you to pick anything might be a little too open-ended to make you feel confident about your choices, so here are a few thought starters to help you pick some wines that stand out.
Bubbly for the Bounty
Thanksgiving is meant to be a celebration and there’s nothing better for celebrations than sparkling wine. Not only is bubbly associated with celebrations, but it also goes great with food.
Technically it should only be called Champagne if it comes from the Champagne region in France. While you can spend a pretty penny on French Champagne, if you’re on a budget, look for sparkling wine from California, Prosecco from Italy or Cava from Spain.
Bring Something To Talk About
An important part of any Thanksgiving meal is the conversation around the table. And wine is something that many people love to discuss. Choose wines that have a story behind them, particularly if you can add a personal note to that story.
If you live near a wine region, find a local vineyard and visit them to buy the wine. Find out their story of how they got started in winemaking and share that with your family while you enjoy the wine. This doesn’t just apply to those living in California. There are winemakers across the country. You might be surprised to find a vineyard near you.
Another way to add a personal connection to your Thanksgiving wine is to explore your family roots. If you have family heritage that connects you to a wine region, it might be fun to explore some wines from that area. Do a little research on the wines and the region that you can share around the table.
Yet another conversation-inspiring approach is to find wines that might be unfamiliar to your guests. Go beyond the merlot, chardonnay and pinot noir to find something unique. There are literally hundreds of different varieties of wine out there.
Here are some suggestions that are relatively unique, but still not too difficult to find:
- Gewurztraminer
- Grüner Veltliner
- Soave
- Sylvaner
- Viognier
- Tempranillo
- Carmenère
- Garnacha / Grenache
- Nero d’Avola
Start a Tradition
If you’re really into wine, it might be fun to start a Thanksgiving wine collection that you revisit each year. The idea here is when you buy your Thanksgiving wine, purchase a few extra bottles to put in the cellar for future years. Then next year, you can share one of the bottles you aged to show how it has developed. This can get really interesting after 5-10 years.
You’ll need to do a little homework to find wines that are suitable for aging, or talk with someone at your local wine shop to help you. It can also get pricey to buy wines that will age well. If you’re interested in this, I would recommend looking at German, Austrian or Alsatian Riesling for white wines, or for reds look into the finer appellations of the Rhone Valley, like Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
A Few Watch-outs
If you are feeling adventurous now and you’re ready to try something new this Thanksgiving, I do have a few more tips to help you make good picks.
- Check the alcohol level. By law, it’s listed on every wine label. The types of food you’re typically serving at Thanksgiving will go best with wines that are no more than 14 percent alcohol. There are some wines that may be an exception, but as a general rule this will work. And if it’s below 11 percent, there’s a good chance you’re looking at a sweeter wine — although that’s not the sole indication of sweetness. I would look for wines between 12 and 14 percent alcohol.
- Think twice before grabbing the Beaujolais Nouveau. You’ve probably heard the saying that wine improves with age. Well, Beaujolais Nouveau is the antithesis of perfectly aged wine. It’s the first wine of the season from the Beajolais region in France and it comes out every year at this time. It’s a very young wine and many people find it absolutely insipid. There’s a good chance you’ll find big displays marketing this wine at the store. You may be tempted to try it, but unless this is something that your family typically enjoys, I’d recommend trying something else.
- Serve your wines at the proper temperature. Most of the time, people serve white wine too cold and red wine too warm. The ideal temperature for most white wines is 45° and for red wines is 60°. But our refrigerators are closer to 35° and room temperature is closer to 70°. Take your white wines out of the refrigerator and put your red wines in it about half an hour before serving in order to get each to the approximate optimal temperature.
- Finally, relax and have fun. The holidays are meant to enjoy. So don’t stress out over the perfect wine.
