Categories: Thanksgiving, turkey, wine, pairing wine, Thanksgiving Day, red wine, white wine

With Thanksgiving less than a month away, pairing courses to the appropriate wine makes for a satiated palette. But, selecting a delectable, wine goes well beyond what fares well with the feature attraction, the turkey. Use the following wine recommendations to complement an exquisite Thanksgiving dinner:

The ThanksgivingTurkey
Starting with the poultry du jour, either a hearty white or an unyielding, lightweight red make for the ultimate companions. Case and point, the passionate floral, spicy and citrus aromas of the Amador Foothill 2004 Fume Blanc of Shenandoah Valley (available at SamsWine.com) is the perfect finish for a succulent turkey. However, it’s not the only wine worthy of the eight-pound plus game.


Other white wine considerations include Burgundy, Chardonnay as well as blends of Rhone. As for red wine lovers, there are a few turkey-compatible reds: Beaujolais, Pinot Noir or Loire blends. (Note that Monticello Pinot Noir - 2004, Napa Valley, California - does the job for under $30 at My Wines Direct).

The Stuffing
Amid Thanksgiving gastronomy, stuffing is another staple. It’s a subjective issue amongst food epicureans. Some people prefer their stuffing prepared with cornbread and sausage; while, others like the distinctive flavor of an oyster-based stuffing. Nevertheless, both whites and reds can be coordinated, accordingly -- to intensify the ingredients of stuffing.

In the case of resilient couplings, an audacious red such as Bodegas Muga Blanco Rioja 2005 or even a Chinon can stand up to the full flavors of cornbread-sausage stuffing. Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre, a New World Chardonnay and a Chenin Blanc effortlessly offset the flavors of any oyster-based cornbread. (Chappellet 2003 Napa Valley Chenin Blanc, for example, is affordably priced and conjures a palate pleasing finish.

Desserts
If there’s room for dessert, cheeses, bittersweet chocolates and moderately sugared treats can be thoughtfully matched with a port. Senhora do Convento Vintage Port 1999 is not only a good port to serve for Thanksgiving, but age worthy. For a sumptuous spirit, sip and chase a cup of espresso down with Sambuca or savor hot cocoa spiked with peppermint schnapps. As for synchronizing wines with each Thanksgiving course, always start light and finish with a daring ending.
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The Consumer Journal's Favorite Place to Shop for Wine
When it comes to selecting a wine conducive for Thanksgiving dinner or dessert, The Consumer Journal gives Sam’s Wine of Chicago 5-stars and for their international collection of wine, cordials and ports and The Wine Messenger 4-stars for their online French Wines selection.

For more information regarding this post, please contact the contributing editor, Holly Bentz, - Copyright © 2006 fruitionMedia.net

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