Thanksgiving is the perfect time to showcase wines that people wouldn't normally serve at any other family gathering, says Mark Esterman, wine buyer and category manager for Meijer Inc. "There is a vast array of aromas, flavors, spices and textures associated with the feast," he said. "Think about it, spices in the stuffing, the sweetness of the cranberries, the fat and salt in the gravy, along with the different textures makes your mouth a playground for wine."
And, he adds, there is no right or wrong wine to serve. Those who enjoy a white wine should stick with white wine, same goes for red. But he says pick a wine with a good backbone of acid to cleanse the pallet during dinner.
"You want a wine that is going to marry well with the citrus in the cranberry and the spices in the stuffing," he said. "You want a wine that has a nice flavor of fruit. That's not to be confused with sweetness. It can be a dry wine.
"Find something that is structured and complex enough to stand up to all the food you're going to be eating, but not so strong as to overpower it," he adds. Whether you are a novice or pro at the wine game, Esterman offers a few suggestions for wines that can become part of the feast. For example a wine made from the malbec grape, such as Reza.
"It's from Argentina," he said. "It offers flavors and a medium body that goes great with all the typical Thanksgiving meals," he said. "People are getting into alternative reds. It's basically not a merlot. Everyone knows what they taste like. This is something different. Something they haven't had before. Something that's trendy."
Esterman suggests in the red variety, Blackstone or Pinot Noir. "It's medium bodied with a nice back bone of acid," he says of the Pinot Noir. "There is a ton of fruit to this wine. It smells like deep dark cherries, fresh raspberries and blackberries."For white try Riesling based white blends from Michigan.
Suggestions include Chateau Grand Traverse, Leelanau Cellars, St. Julian and Tabor Hill. "I'm going to have a wine from Good Harbor Winery," he said. "They make a Trillium, made from three different grapes."
With Michigan being the fourth largest producer of wine in the United States, Esterman says look for these homegown varieties when choosing wine for the gathering. For dessert, Esterman suggests Tomasello, a cranberry wine that's very popular this time of year, or perhaps Jackson Triggs.
"They have an ice wine," he said of Jackson Triggs. "It's absolutely decedent. It's harvested in January. The grapes are the size of a plum. It's an ice wine because the grapes are frozen when they are harvested."On the dry side, Esterman suggests Woodbridge brut, made in the methode champagnois method, which works with appetizers or as a meal finisher.
The good news is, you don't have to spend a fortune to serve a fine wine. All wines suggested here are under $20, and most are under $10. "Thanksgiving is a celebratory time of year," he said. "We're thanking God for all the gifts he's bestowed upon us. When guests come over give them something sparkling in their glass to toast before dinner."
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