Monday, Nov 24, 2008
Much has been written about which wine to pair with Thanksgiving dinner. Frankly, too much has been written. Why won't wine writers let this topic alone? Because 40% of the wine sold this year will be purchased between now and the first of the year, that's why.
That's a lot of wine. And any wine writer worth a bottle of Two Buck Chuck feels compelled to be there to help when help is needed most.
I subscribe to a number of automated news feeds on wine. I've done so for years, and have enjoyed watching the level of writing, and analysis, improve. With some notable exceptions. Such as the food and wine writers at an unnamed newspaper who convened a panel to compare various wines with a Thanksgiving meal, and then decided that ZINFANDEL was the wine of choice.
Give me a break! I realize the traditional meal offers a panoply of flavors, many of which are rather mild (to be kind), and that big, alcoholic fruit bombs at least bring some flavor to the party. And that's what most of today's Zinfandel has become - a caricature of it's former self. A Hirschfeld drawing on the wall at Sardis. Big. Exaggerated. Without subtlety of any sort.
I just don't see where such wines fit in a day known for celebration of food, friends and family. Who wants to be tanked after the first glass or two of wine, long before the meal has even started?
For more sound advice, I encourage you to click on one of the best articles I've seen in the last few weeks of perusing wine articles. It appeared in last Friday's San Francisco Chronicle - the "Can't Fail Guide to Thanksgiving Wines"
Frankly, I couldn't agree more. Virtually everything author Jon Bonne says rings true for me! And the fact that my site offers a whole array of his most recommended wine pinot noir (view our pinot portfolio here) is not coincidental - pinot is simply one of the most food-friendly wines you can find today, and a beautiful compliment to the Thanksgiving meal. A dry Sparkling wine gives pinot a run for its money, but I like the fruitiness a Pinot brings to the table.
And though I'd love to supply the wines for table on Thursday, the vagaries of shipping tell us we'd both be wise to send you off to the wine shop before the day is out. Copy the article from the Chron, and see what your local merchant can provide.
Now that you're well set for a fine food and wine experience on Thursday, take a wee break and test your hand at Thanksgiving trivia on this fun site from the folks at Aristotle Turkey.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dave the Wine Merchant
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Today’s Quote:
"What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?"
~ The Immortal Erma Bombeck (1927 - 1966), from "No One Diets on Thanksgiving," 26 November 1981
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