Thanksgiving is the food lovers’ holiday. Those who like to cook have the opportunity to use all the gadgets and high tech equipment in the kitchen while those who like to eat have that opportunity in abundance.
Traditionally, the most frequently paired wine with Thanksgiving is Riesling. But does a Riesling cut through the cloying sweetness of sweet potato marshmallow casserole? This year, take your family, friends and taste buds to a different level. Here are a few suggestions from the wine shops around town:
At The Wine Shop, Tate Farmer recommends the 2002 Los Rocas, a Grenache made from 75-year-old vines. “I can’t say enough about this wine,” Farmer enthused. “[Wine connoisseur Robert] Parker gave it a 91 and said, “This may be the greatest wine value I have ever tasted.’ This wine retails for $8.99 and has a deep ruby color with a nose of kirsch liquor intermixed with licorice and white flowers.” If you’re not a fan of Grenache, Farmer suggests a Bodegas Martin Cdax Burgáns Albario ($12.99). This wine has a “soft mouth feel and is not bone dry.” Another choice is the Crios de Susana Balbo ($14.99), a rose of malbec from Argentina. “This is a great accompaniment to the Thanksgiving table. It’s a medium to full bodied rose with fruit flavors and a hint of spice.”
The Wine Shop in the Foxcroft East Village, 7824 Fairview Road. 704-365-6550; and Park Square Shopping Center, 2442 Park Road. 704-377-5373.
Scott Killette, the Wine Manager at Reid’s Fine Foods, suggested a Dr. Loosen Riesling ($13.99) to match the sugary sweet potatoes with marshmallows. “This is an entry level Riesling which is dry with peachy aromas, but acidic enough to cut through the sugar.” For turkey pairings, Killette suggests matching the wine to the stuffing. “For a turkey without stuffing, choose a Hugel Gentil, an Alsatian blend of different wines ($11.99). For sage dressing, you can go with a red or a white. For red, I would try the Kimball Pinot Noir from California ($12.99). This wine has notes of cherry and berries.” For the white, Killette recommends Rene Mure Pinot Blanc from Alsace ($12.99). For sausage stuffing, he advocates going with a “heavier” wine such as Paringa Shiraz, which is “bright and clean and still juicy” ($10.99). On Wednesday, November 17, Killette is hosting a turkey and dressing in-store wine pairing from 5:30pm until 7:30pm. Cost is $10.
Reid’s Fine Foods, 225 East 6th St. 704-377-1312.
Robert Balsley of Arthur’s Wine Shop is recommending the 2002 Moondance Reserve Pinto Noir from Carneros for $15 or the Super Tuscan 2002 Brancaia “Tre” ($20), which has notes of chocolate and blackberry — rich enough for the Thanksgiving table. Balsley also advises choosing “a wine that is easy to drink. Chardonnay and Cabs don’t cut it. Thanksgiving has heavy, heavy foods, so lighter wines work well. Pinots and zins that are spicier work well, too.”
Arthur’s Wine Shop, Belk SouthPark Mall, 704-366-8610. www.arthurs-wine.com.
At Total Wine, Dusty Rhodes, the Wine Manager of the Birkdale store, made the following suggestions: For a white, try an Adler Fels 2002 Russian River Gewürztraminer ($14.99). “This wine will go well with turkey and sweet potatoes. It’s a sweeter white with a bit of spice, pineapple and tropical fruit flavors.” For a red, Rhodes recommends the 2002 River Road Pinot Noir from Russian River ($14.99). “River Road has cherry and truffle and a little bit of plum and soft tannins. If you have a sausage stuffing, go with the pinot.” Another pinot he recommends is the 2000 Martin Ray Pinot Noir from Sonoma ($13.99).
Total Wine, 1600 E. Woodlawn Road. 704-295-9290; Birkdale Village, Huntersville. 704-895-6115; and 10052 Independence Blvd. 704-849-2022.
This article appears in Nov 17-23, 2004.
