Wine Picks For Thanksgiving

In the wine industry we call this time of year the O.N.D. which means October, November, and December.  These are the big months for holiday meals, seasonal parties, family gatherings, gifts, and general holiday cheer.  Just like there are Easter and Christmas church goers there are O.N.D. wine shoppers.  So for those of you that are venturing into a wine shop for your yearly visit and for those of you that know a little about what you like, here are my picks for this thanksgiving:

1. Beaujolias Nouveau.  This wine is a standard Thanksgiving wine pick and that’s because it really is great with the traditional fare.   Beaujolias Neauveu also has the added bonus of being a crowd-pleasing red wine.  It is low in alcohol, barely shows tannins, and is fruity but not sweet.
A good bottle should run you $10-$15. The only downside to buying Beaujolais Nouveau is that you will be buying a highly marketed wine inevitably made by a giant corporation. If avoiding large corporations isn’t one of your causes, then go ahead and enjoy. Trust me, I understand the desire for something in the holiday season to be straightforward, cheap, and easy to find.  But if you want to dodge the gigantic wineries  there are other ways to get your Beaujolais fix.

2. Beaujolais, Beaujolais Village. Beaujolais Nouveau is a specific wine from a much larger and more diverse wine making region called Beaujolais (which in turn is part of Burgundy).  Though Beaujolais Nouveau is the brand-new just-pressed wine from Beaujolais, the region has plenty of other wines from celebrated villages that are older and therefore more refined than Beaujolais Nouveau.  Beaujolais wines from places like Morgon, Moulin-a-Vent, and Fleurie are generally made by small producers and are generally aged a bit before being bottled.  For my money, I’ll be buying some Morgon, it is my favorite.

3. Sparkles.  I’ve been known to say “celebratory sparkles are where its at,” and I won’t back down from that a bit.  There is nothing like a bottle of sparkling wine to get the party atmosphere going.  Proseccos, Cavas, Champagnes, Cremants, and other sparklers are good morning, noon, and night, with or without food.  Out of that sparkling line up, I’d recommend trying a Cremant.  It’s a great way to get a well-made French sparkling wine without paying the price for Champagne.

4. Pinot Gris. If you are in need of a white wine, I really love an American Pinot Gris with traditional Thanksgiving dishes.  American Pinot Gris tend to be a bit weighty and have a lot of fruit presence so that can stand up to a flavorful meal.  Expect tropical fruit and melon flavors, but without any sweetness.  I especially love this pairing with stuffing and/or dressing.
For those of you who need to know exactly what to look for, here are some of my favorites:

Marcel Lapierre Morgon Cuvee, 2008 – France, Gamay grape
Coudert Clos de la Roilette Fleurie, 2009 – France, Gamay grape
Lucien Albrecht Cremant, NV – France, Pinot Blanc grape
Quattro Mani Franciacorta Brut , NV – Italy, Chardonnay blend
Billecart-Salmon Champagne, NV – France, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier
Adelsheim Pinot Gris – Oregon, Pinot Gris