My boyfriend and I are spending Thanksgiving with my parents’ friends (we live across the country from our own families) and I was wondering what type of wine would go best with the traditional dinner. It can be either a dinner or dessert wine, although I think something that could be sipped before and during dinner would be best. I suspect this is going to be a traditional dinner but they’re Indian there’s a chance that it might be an Indian potluck as well (also, before I get lectured, I’m Indian so I’m not making “assumptions” about Indian people) as opposed to a Turkey dinner.
I was thinking a Beaujolais Nouveau would be just the ticket except that the old rule says “whites with white meat” or something along those lines.
Beaujolais Nouveau works very well with the rich flavors of a traditional Thanksgiving feast. It’s fruity & quite light in flavor, and goes really nicely with cranberry sauce.
If you want a white, a dry Riesling also works with Thanksgiving dinner (heck - Riesling works with just about anything). If you want something sweeter, try a semi-dry Riesling. And Rieslings are **really good[b/] with spicy food - I love them with Indian food. I mean India-Indian, rather than Native-American-Indian, though given Riesling’s versatility, it’s probably great with Native-American-Indian food too.
Personally I would stay away from the Beaujolais Nouveau but I would highly recommend the Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages 2003 or the 2003 Durdilly Beaujolais AOC. Both are outstanding wines from a great vintage and would go very well with the aforementioned Thanksgiving feast.
I have read several articles highly recommending the 2004 Beaujolais Village and named village (for example, the excellent Moulin-A-Vent and Fleury) wines but I have yet to see any of them actually on the shelves here. Maybe they are available at some of the bigger retailers.
I’ve had a couple of the Nouveau Beaujolais this year. What you expect. . .fresh & fruity.
Anyway, red zin’s are usually good with Thanksgiving. Ridge makes a nice one, and you can find that a lot of places.
I picked up a barbaresco to bring to the in-laws, but that can be a little pricey. But Mom in law likes nice reds.
For white, I got a Gewurztraminer. It’s a dryer white.
My wine store just a big display set-up for Thanksgiving wine and I tend to trust their judgement. If you go into a wine store and tell them your price and that you want a T-Day wine, they’ll be helpful. Although they might be very busy today.
I was at TJ’s yesterday and ended up with the Beaujolais Nouveau. I’ve been to Indian-heavy parties before and they tend to like stuff that’s fruity and sweet and light. And, I couldn’t find any Rieslings. Thanks for recommending me to the other thread, John Mace-very illuminating for the next holiday coming up.
There were only two bottles of Beaujolais left and it’s a smaller store. Also, I was in a hurry. I found a couple of bottle of Gewurtz and then rows of Chards (which I absolutely detest) but no Riesling. I guess I could have subbed with a Zinfandel but once I take to a notion, it’s difficult to switch to something else. Anyway, I saw the bottle of Beaujolais and just grabbed it and left. Both Whole Foods and TJ’s were madhouses last night.
I got a bottle of Vixen, a sparkling shiraz from Fox Creek, a McClaren Vale vineyard. It’s 75% shiraz, 13% cab sauvignon and 12% cab franc. I’ll have to report back on this one. I also grabbed a bottle of Hogue’s late harvest riesling, mostly for my mom and people who enjoy sweeter wines. It’s tasty stuff, but for me this is not something I’d drink with Turkey. She normally drinks white zins, so for her it’s a step up.
My father usually has about five cases or so laid out, and my BIL usually brings a bottle, so we should be okay quantity wise. I spent $70 at the wine store on my last visit (those two plus three others), which is a little over my budget for a trip, but I figure it’s for the holidays.
