WINES FOR THANKSGIVING

Family dining rooms across America are locked and loaded for the arrival of Thanksgiving. Relatives and friends nationwide get together in good cheer and hearty appetites. No one holiday matches Thanksgiving for beautifully crafted food with special wines and champagnes.

Roast turkey is the staple entrée at most homes. If you are a so-so turkey aficionado at any other time of the year, if you’re like me, Thanksgiving transforms turkey into the most desirable dish on the planet. Somehow it just tastes great at this holiday gathering.

We have determined the classic entrée choice for Thanksgiving, a no-brainer really, in roasted turkey.

Not so easy are the wine choices to pair up with this special meal. I like to start off with a sparkling drink for a reception and special-occasion toasting. Let me recommend two sensational choices: Jeriko Estate Brut and a nearby Temecula favorite, Wilson Creek Almond Champagne. Both are gold medal winners and widely available in the area. Jeriko is run by the legendary Fetzers out of Mendocino and is the first sparkling wine made from organically grown Chardonnay grapes on 30-year-old vines. Wilson Creek Almond Champagne is naturally fermented with the right touch of Almond for flavor. To me, this is the top value sparkling wine on the market, with wide distribution and brisk sales.

For the feast itself, a carefully selected red wine will bring out the flavors of the many flavors on the menu. On my short list would be Zinfandel and Pinot Noir. Either a 2004 or 2005 will do, nothing too tannic but with a lovely flavor to match up with not only the turkey but those tasty trimmings as well. Favorites that meet these challenges are the Seghesio and Pedroncelli Zinfandels from Sonoma. They are perfect matches for the sometimes gamey taste of turkey.

Rodney Strong from Sonoma and Argyle from Oregon’s Willamette Valley provide mellow Pinot Noir, supple in texture with hints of fruit in a mediun bodied wine that deserves a place on the Thanksgiving table.

If you must have a great white wine with your special meal, try a New Zealand Marlborough like a 2005 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. It’s lime and grapefruit scents come through especially with a lighter meal like a fish entrée. Yes, it is somewhat acidic, but there is no better quality for matching a rich sauce or a fish dinner. No need for a dash of lemon if you have a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc for drinking or adding to the entrée. Your Thanksgiving will be that much happier with a wise choice of wines to pair up with your homemade creations. And to top it off, when dessert is served, add an old-world port to your list of perfect drinks for the holiday. Bon appetit!

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Thanksgiving dinner in a winery might be a special touch for you and your family or friends. The nice part of this idea is that several beautifully done entrées and wine choices are available. Thornton Winery in Temecula has crafted cuisine ranging from roasted tom turkey to broiled salmon on Thanksgiving day at the special time of 12noon to 5pm. RSVP information at 951/699-0099.

The Local Sip
A premier in San Diego comes to the stately Westgate Hotel, downtown, as it showcases a food and wine tasting from far-away mysterious Tunisia, Thursday November 30th at 6pm. Experience the royal dish of Tunisia, couscous. Learn about this African country as the hotel will show a travel slide show on this fabled land. Meet Mohamed Malouche from Tunisian Travel. Don’t miss these unique wines. Call for an RSVP at 619/238-1818.

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WineSellar and Brasserie present Super Tuscans vs. Chianti at their weekly Saturday lunch on November 25th from 11:30 to 1:30pm. Super Tuscans are the rebel wines of Tuscany, blends that go against the grain of tradition in an area know for its 100% Sangiovese Chiantis. The wine shop/restaurant is in the Sorrento Valley area of San Diego. Call for more info at 858/450-9557.

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Learn all about port paired with chocolate desserts this Tuesday at 5:30pm as Sonoma Valley Market in Carlsbad showcases 7 delectable brands and a quick seminar, to get you up to speed on port selection. Call for reservations to this limited size class at 760/720-7700.

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New pinot noirs are in at Wine Street in Carlsbad and they range from the Santa Rita Hills near Santa Barbara to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The 2004 by Paul Hobbs is one I would recommend. It’s big and sweet and will really please fans of this grape. Call 760/431-8455 to confirm inventory.

10631 Vinedale Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352 - Phone (818) 767-3413 - Fax: (818) 767-1410