WIne for Thanksgiving?

Question

I am hosting Thanksgiving for the first time, and am not sure what wines are best to serve. Any suggestions? It will be a traditional holiday meal-- turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes,...you get the pic.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Most wine writers actually suggest certain fruity red wines such as pinot noirs and red Beaujolais but I have always thought that the traditional Thanksgiving meal, with all of its rich, heavy, creamy and sauce and gravy laden dishes, is one just perfect for crisp, flinity (NOT buttery) white chardonnays such as those from Chablis and Burgundy in France (Macon blanc and Beaujolais blanc, if you can find it, are perfect), northern Italy, British Columbia, Long Island and Hudson Valley, NY and even from SE Connecticut. I understand that chardonnays from vineyards located in NW Pennsylvania are of similar character but I have not tried any. There is also a secondary French burgundian white grape, usually sneered at by wine affictionados, that however happens to make a wine quite good for the Thanksgiving feast because of its bone dry flintiness, called Aligote.

Answer 2

Don't drink it! I'm not a drinker but I really wanted a glass of wine on my birthday last week, but I didn't drink. I'm 37 weeks. It will soon be over; however, I plan on breastfeeding, so I still won't be drinking wine. Alcohol & pregnancy don't mix. That's because no one knows exactly what harmful effects even the smallest amount of alcohol has on a developing baby. All public health officials in the United States recommend that mothers-to-be play it safe by steering clear of alcohol entirely. Drinking endangers your growing baby in a number of ways: It increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. As little as one drink a day can increase the odds for low birth weight and raise your child's risk for problems with learning, speech, attention span, language, and hyperactivity. And some research has shown that expectant moms who have as little as one drink per week are more likely than non-drinkers to have children who later exhibit aggressive and delinquent behavior.

Answer 3

Druid's Fluid is a slightly sweet red wine that goes with everythingt at Thanksgiving dinner! It's great, and everybody loves it! $20

You can order it online at www.troonvineyard.com.

Answer 4

It's always best to serve both a red and white wine, that way people can decide for themselves which to have. For whites, you can go with sweet Rieslings or Gewurtraminers, or buttery Chardonnays and dry Pinot Grigio's. For reds, Shiraz is a hands down winner, but Merlots are also excellent, as are Pinot Noirs. My personal favorites are Rosemount Traminer Riesling and Rosemount Shiraz - both are under $10 a bottle and excellent varieties.

Answer 5

I would have both at the Thanksgiving dinner. Let the guest choose their poison. I love wine but I'll always choose white over red.

Answer 6

It depends whether you prefer the white meat or the dark meat of the turkey! For family get togethers the usual cheap jug wines will be much too good for family so only offer kool-aid laced with your favorite additives!

Answer 7

I would have a few bottles of your favorite reds and whites. It's traditional to serve white with poultry but, it's not inappropriate to drink red with poultry. It's more of what tastes best with what you're serving. The woods, fruits, and spices determine what tastes best with it.

Answer 8

Don't be too hung up on white vs. red because of the meat. Pick a good wine that everyone would like (do your guests like red more than white? Pick a red, etc.)

Personally, I like Cabernet. But like I said, tailor your selection to what your guests like most.

Answer 9

Traditionally, white wines or blushes go well with Turkey with all the fixins. But, I heard a famous chef say, "Who cares? Whatever tastes good!" I would offer whites and blushes, but have some reds on standby.

Answer 10

Cabernet is good with red meats also. I usually go with the trusty old Chardonnay with white meats.