By Jaqua DeFries
The Right Wine for the Right Time
Choosing A Flavor To Properly Match Your
Holiday Celebrations
I
’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: you don’t
have to be from the south of France or Napa
Valley in order to be able to choose a good
wine, or learn enough about wine to know what
goes with what and when. I grew up in the backwoods of rural north Mississippi and the only
wine I saw was that made by neighbors the old
fashion way or the $3.00 bottles of Boone’s Farm
that my friends’ parents thought was Dom Perignom and flaunted on their “nice” Formica countertops. Learning to choose and pair wine, like
most things (except for aeronautical engineering)
ain’t rocket science.
Having said all of the above, fall is here and
with the holiday season approaching most of
us will change quite a few aspects of our day
to day routines in order to fit the changing
season, climate, and views. From the clothing
we adorn to the food we eat (chili anyone?)
these changes may not all be necessary, but
many of them are, if nothing else, traditions and
changes that we’ve upheld for many years as
being…well, just what we do when the scenery changes colors and the temperatures drop.
Why then should the wines we drink not be a
part of these interesting and inviting changes?
After all, whether you consider yourself a connoisseur of fine wines or simply one that likes to
enjoy a glass twice a year, you still want to choose
the right wine for the right time. Right?
By taking a few minutes to train yourself in the
types and tastes of the wines listed here you’ll
find that you too (even without being a rocket scientist) will be able to find something that fits you,
and your meal, just right.
48
White Wines for Thanksgiving
Pinot Gris: Pinot Gris does well at handling bold
flavors (think garlic or strong peppers) and any recipe
that has rich flavors. Pair with an herb seasoned stuffing and garlic mashed potatoes.This is also an ideal
pairing for a roasted turkey.
Riesling: Rieslings are either very dry or fairly sweet,
and they truly pair well with any dishes that are spicy
or sweet. Riesling is always a top pick white wine for
pairing with traditional Thanksgiving fixings as they
pair well with light and dark meat turkey, yams and
sweet potatoes, turkey meat and spicy or herbed seasoning.
Viognier: Viogniers are well known for their floral
aromas and fruit forward flavors; however, they are
usually considered dry and crisp once on the palate.
These characteristics allow this wine to pair nicely
with a variety of spicy foods. I always add spicy sausage and apples to my stuffing, and Viognier is the
perfect match.
Sparkling Wine: Serve sparkling wine from the
time you offer appetizers, throughout dinner and
beyond dessert…it pairs well with almost everything
offered during a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
Sauvignon Blanc: A Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp
and refreshing white known for its smooth citrus and
tropical fruit flavors along with mineral undertones.
This makes a perfect pairing candidate for mashed
potatoes and turkey.
Pinot Blanc: Pinot Blanc is a lighter flavored white
wine with hints of citrus, pear, and melon. Pinot’s go
good with rich cheeses, so serve this up with an appetizer assortment of Stilton, Gorgonzola, and Camembert.
November 2013
INSIGHT