Enjoy Great LOCAL Wines: Recommendations for Thanksgiving Dinner!

The holidays are quickly-approaching, which can be exciting and fun, but at the same time overwhelming for many. Not only is there all of the shopping, cleaning, decorating, and cooking involved, there’s ONE daunting question: What wine should I serve with Thanksgiving dinner? In this issue, I’d like to recommend some excellent local wines—next month, I’ll be making my Christmas dinner recommendations!

Thanksgiving dinner at our house consists of roasted turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, bean casserole, homemade cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. With so many different side dishes, herbs and flavors, it’s challenging to know what wines to serve.

When asked what red and white wines they would recommend to serve at Thanksgiving dinner, South Stage Cellars chose their 2009 Harmony, a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Cabernet Franc resulting in a slightly-spicy wine with hints of herbs, cherry and plum flavors, and their 2012 Albarino. The Albarino has scents of peaches and a little citrus that pair well with this special turkey dinner.

Eden Vale Winery recommends their 2006 Tempranillo and 2009 Reserve Chardonnay. The Tempranillo has blackberry fruit flavors along with an earthy leather component and finishes with hints of cocoa. Tannins in this wine help give it structure and stand out with all the harvest flavors. Contrasting their red choice, the Chardonnay has warm buttery, oak-y notes with a crisp apple finish to round out this wine.

Pinot Noir, a classic choice that helps lighten-up heavy Thanksgiving flavors and Chardonnay will compliment the several herbs and seasonings. This traditional choice was selected by Schmidt Family Vineyards, their 2011 Pinot Noir. Raspberry fruits and earthiness help describe this wine. The white wine, their 2012 Chardonnay, a Gold Medal Winner in the 2014 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition aged 20% in New French oak and 80% Stainless Steel. This well-balanced wine has apple, pear and a touch of nuttiness notes.

In keeping with the classic choice of Pinot Noir, DANCIN Vineyards recommends their 2012 Trata Pinot Noir, named after a traditional commemorative dance performed in ancient Greece, aged for fifteen months in 100% French oak barrels. Their 2013 Chaustinelle Reserve Chardonnay consists of a blend of five clones and aged in both 100% French oak and stainless steel barrels.

Troon Vineyard decided to think outside the box—though not as in “boxed win,” and offered their 2011 Old Vine Meritage, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. With lots of great flavors of blackberry, anise, chocolate and leather, it pairs well and holds its own with dinner. The real surprise is the white, their 2013 Semi-Sparkling White; a blend of Riesling, Early Muscat, Gewurztraminer and a touch of Orange Muscat. The scents and flavors of ripe oranges, cantaloupe and apple all infused with the bubbles makes this a very festive wine on your table that can easily carry you through dessert.

Blueberry, cherry and notes of pepper describe Slagle Creek Vineyards 2011 Syrah and you can be assured of its quality as it took a Silver Medal at the World of Wine Competition. Their 2013 Chardonnay has light floral aromas with hints of citrus and apricot with a crisp finish an elegant drinkable wine.

Red Lily chose their 2011 Tempranillo, a rich berry, spice and almost jammy wine. While not a white, but a great choice nevertheless, 2012 Lily Girl Rose’ that won Double Gold in Savor NW Wine Competition, offers a dryer Rose’ that’s well-suited for Thanksgiving dinner.

Click on the wine bottles below for vineyard websites!

Wine bottle photos: © David Gibb Photography www.dgibbphoto.com