Expert Selects: The Best Wines to Serve at Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving isn't all about the turkey. Here are the best wines to pair with your holiday meal.
Thanksgiving is all about the food, right? Actually, yes and no. You need the right wines to accompany your meal, whether you are the host or bringing a gift of wine to the meal. We asked Kenny Andreozzi from Commonwealth Tap in Norton Commons to pick out the best wines for the meal and educate us on the reasons behind those selections.Β He provided us with a lineup, from cooking and appetizers straight through to the turkey and sides, and on to dessert.Β Kenny believes that with the variety of food on the table that the wine needs to be food friendly and fun to drink. Here is his lineup:
Il Follo Rosé Prosecco, $14.99
Bubbles are a great, fun, delicious way to start off the day. You can pop a bottle while you are cooking or when the guests arrive. Either way, it signals a start to the meal event. Prosecco is great served on its own or with food. This is a rosΓ© prosecco, which means it is pink and very pretty in a glass.
Fattori Runcaris Soave, $14.99
This wine, from the Soave region of Northern Italy, is a cool, crisp white wine. Reminiscent of a pinot grigio, it is more acidic, like a sauvignon blanc. This is an old-world wine; the grapes are grown where pinot grigio grapes are grown, and itβs good on its own or with food, meaning it can be served before the meal or during.
Bouchaine Chardonnay, $19.99
This California wine is a best seller at Commonwealth Tap for a reason: everybody will be familiar with the taste. AΒ rich-style chardonnay, it pairs well with turkey, potatoes and βanything with butter,β which just about covers everything on the table.
Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir, $23.99
Never let anyone tell you that you cannot drink red wine with turkey or with Thanksgiving dinner. This is a pinot noir from Santa Barbara County, CA. It is an incredibly food-friendly wine that pairs well with all varieties of dishes. It is elegant, smooth and worth every penny.
Savigny Les Beune by Capitain Gagnerot, $54.99
This is the most expensive wine on the list, and it positively made Kennyβs eyes light up talking about it. He says itβs a bargain at $54.99 for the taste that it has. Elegant with earth tones, it is an excellent French red burgundy that pairs with every food on the table. His opinion is that it is more of everything that you get with a California wine, period. (Weβre sold!)
Mas de Gourgonnier, $18.99
This red from Southern France is an all-around winner. Known by its unique bottle shape, it is a medium-body red wine that everyone at the table will enjoy. Fruity, floral and made from fantastic grapes, this optionβs value is incredible at less than $20 for an all-around crowd pleaser. (Editorβs note: I had this wine recently, and it was all this and more.)
Dolcetto dβAlba, $19.99
Translated as βlittle sweet oneβ in Italian, this wine from a family-owned winery in Piedmont, Italy, is a wonderful pick. The sweet grapes from that region in Italy translate into a great wine, but itβsΒ dry, not sweet, and very aromatic with a brilliant red color.
Domaine Boisson CΓ΄tes du RhΓ΄ne, $24.99
For those of you who like a full-bodied cabernet or merlot, you will enjoy this one. It has more earth tones than a basic cabernet and pairs well with any main course, as well asΒ with dressing and gravy. It is a great wine to drink with anything fatty or salty, hence pairing it with meat is ideal. For future reference, this is a perfect mate to your juicy steak or any meat on the grill.
Ryan Patrick Riesling, $9.99
Riesling gets a bad reputation for being too sweet, but there are so many great ones on the market that range from sweet to super dry, andΒ this oneΒ is a sweeter end to the meal. Ryan Patrick Riesling is from Washington State, and comes from beautiful grapes. The sweeter notes counter all of the salty food. If you can imagine, that is why people like ketchup with their french fries; it creates a perfect balance between sweet and salt. Same rule applies here.
ChΓ’teau Les Roques Loupiac, $18.99
This loupiac is a sweet dessert wine from France that is meant to pair with all desserts. It is a lovely finish to your slice of apple or pumpkin pie or just on its own as dessert.
Thank you Kenny from Commonwealth Tap, which is a wine bar and wine retail shop offering upscale wine, bourbon and beer in Norton Commons. If you want great advice for any wine or spirit, he is a wealth of information.
OK, now letβs eat!
Commonwealth Tap is Β locatedΒ 9411 Norton Commons Blvd. Call (502) 690-4264 to learn more, or check out their website at commonwealthtap.com
Commonwealth Tap is a new member in our SB Guide. Check out the SB GuideΒ here,Β or download the FREE SB App to find more local stores in Louisville.Β
