Thanksgiving will be soon upon us, and we have menus to plan in preparation of the big feast day. In your planning, don’t forget to shop around for some of the best wines to be paired with your favorite Thanksgiving trimmings. For a quick lesson on the wines that are sure to please most of your guests, ShoreBread called upon the expertise of Liquid Assets in Ocean City.
Sparkling wines serve as the perfect first drink of the day, and they also pair well with the eastern shore tradition of oysters.  The acidity of a sparkling wine such as a sparkling rose or Brut goes well with the briny nature of oysters. Serve it chilled, right from the refrigerator.  These wines also function as an aperitif–they stimulate your appetite. Some suggestions to please every budget:
  • Graham Beck – Sparkling Brut, South Africa – $16
  • Chandon – Sparkling Wine, California – $23
  • Veuve Cliquot – Traditional Champagne, France – $56
Typically, non-oaky white wines are the ideal choices when the menu features so many starchy foods.  Most of the wines recommended were familiar, but one white in particular was a standout new experience.  This was the Albarino, a Spanish white varietal, that is crisp with a mellower flavor than a Sauvignon Blanc. Dry Rieslings are not too sweet to overwhelm the palate, and are a good fit for Thanksgiving dinner. Typically dry Rieslings come from the Alsace region in France, but Washington state has also been putting out the newer-world style of dry Rieslings. The last of the white wines that pair well are Viogniers. Originally these were a French varietal and have a more elegant, floral aroma and low acidity. All three of these white wines are available in the $15 to $20 range.
  • Legado de Conde – Albarino Rias Baixas
  • Charles Smith, Riesling – Washington State
  • Domain Weibback, Riesling – Alsace France
  • Schloss Vollrads, Riesling – Germany
  • Simpson Vineyard, Miner, Viognier – California
For those who are not typically fans of sparkling or white wines, there are plenty of recommended red wines as well. Many think of Pinot Noir as a great option for Thanksgiving, but perhaps you’d like to change it up this year? Instead of a Pinot Noir, try a red Burgundy (Old world style of Pinot Noir), which tends to be more earthy in flavor, but with a light body. Cotes du Rhone [France] is an area that is well known for the Old World style of the classic French Burgundy, a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsualt, Mourvedre, just to name a few, that will complement your food very well. These tend to be robust reds with heavy tannins, and a long finish. The Pasa Robles, in Central Coast California, is the region where the American version of a Cotes du Rhone comes from. The wines are diverse in this very distinct region, but one stands out, the Petite Syrah. It has vibrantly ripened fruit with a dynamic flavor profile that translates beautifully to the glass, and might just be the perfect finish to your Thanksgiving meal.
  • J. Lohr Tower Road Petite Syrah – California – $21
  • Tablas Creek Vineyard, 2008 Esprit, Pasa Robles – $52
  • Chateau de Beaucastel from Chateauneuf de Pape – $109
This holiday season, we hope you look forward to trying some of the wines suggested here, and perhaps even introducing sparkling wines to the oyster course of your Thanksgiving feast.  ShoreBread wishes you luck in your holiday preparations, and hopes that you have good the good fortune to join with family and friends in celebrating and giving thanks for all that you have.