Thanksgiving has a lot of elements that are a given. Most likely the holiday meal will include turkey (I am aware that there are a few mavericks out there that go another direction), family, and some form of alcohol. Another factor that comes into play (at least for me) is money. Most of us have some sort of budget that we use to determine how much we can spend on groceries and booze for that special day.
Wine is a huge part of Thanksgiving. It is one of the biggest weeks in the Fall for my wine department. As people peruse my selections of wine, and I ask them if they need help, I find that for many the cost of each bottle they buy is a factor, especially if they have a large crowd coming to their house. Let’s face it, a huge part of the population has to budget their money, or at least should. Even in my neck of the woods where there is a disproportionate amount of wealthy folks, even they want to spend their money wisely (they didn’t get rich by blowing their money foolishly).
With that in mind, I have just a couple of suggestions that will help guide you through your purchasing decisions.
If you go Pinot Noir, which is quite popular, remember that in this category it is harder to find good quality wines for under fifteen bucks. There are a few out there that I have discovered…
Montoya Pinot Noir (CA)… $14, McManis (CA) (if you want a little more fruit)…$12., Vina Ventisquero “Queulat” (Chile)… $15.
and last, but certainly not least is Montoya (CA) which is a very good quality Pinot for a mere $14.
You may decide to go with the traditional Beaujolais Nouveau which is released the week before Thanksgiving. I tasted both the Drouhin and the Duboeuf. For twelve dollars, I think Georges Duboeuf was the better of the two (as far as a pairing with the meal), delivering a light and fruity version.
Gewurztraminer and Riesling are also wines that match up nicely with the turkey meal and in this category you can find a huge amount of choices. As far as Gew goes, any Washington State version is a safe choice...Columbia Crest, Chateau Ste Michelle, Snoqualmie all role in at under $12. and they are good. Fetzer out of California is a nice version and very popular, at $12. it is not a budget buster.
With Riesling there is a plethora of choices in the budget range. From Germany…Clean Slate…$11. and Dr. “L”…$13. From Washington State Chateau Ste Michelle, Barnard Griffin, Washington Hills, Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl and Milbrandt all role in at under twelve bucks and they deliver excellent quality for the money.
Sparkling wine is a nice addition, and a good match with Thanksgiving. Again, there are a boat-load of choices under fifteen bucks and some right around ten that will do the trick and make you and your guests happy. Cava is an excellent choice because they are very good and the prices are ridiculously low. Take for instance Anna D Codorniu Brut…$10. It’s crisp and dry with excellent flavors. The package is really cool making it very festive. Chateau Ste Michelle produces an excellent Brut Rose` if you want to add a little pink to the table (not a bad idea), and it goes for a mere $14. which is a steal for a quality rose`.
Happy shopping and have a great Thanksgiving.
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
