Thanksgiving Roundtable

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. The holidays are always a special time to reflect, spend time with family and give thanks.

My favorite things about Thanksgiving are the oversized balloons in the Macy’s Day Parade, pumpkin pie and the quality time I get to spend with my family. It is not often we are able to get everyone into the same room, let alone at the same table for dinner. However, this Thanksgiving will be a little different. First, I have painstakingly adapted some of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes to be gluten-free. Second, my sister will be hundreds of miles away on some tropical island for her honeymoon. And though she will be missed, her absence this year means two things; left-over pie and more elbow room in the car on the way to my Aunt’s house.

Regardless how your family decides to celebrate Thanksgiving, it is important to remember to surround yourself with loved ones. Many people celebrate in non-traditional ways. I recently was engaged in conversation with someone who mentioned instead of cooking a bird, she fires up the grill to cook steaks. How glorious! This juxtaposition of breaking the stereotypical Thanksgiving dinner choice while keeping a tradition is fantastic. It adds flare to the holiday and certainly makes for it to be a memorable one.

It is commonly assumed white wines are the only ones that should be served alongside turkey. This assumption is terribly un-true! With a wide variety of dishes showing up on Thanksgiving tables people are selecting wines that break this stereotype.

Be adventurous, if you prefer red wines try pairing a Pinot Noir with your Thanksgiving meal. The velvety, light fruit flavors of Pinot Noir will bring out the best in your bird. Pinot Noir also tend to be low in tannins, so it will not overwhelm the delicate flavors of your meal. We are featuring an excellent Pinot Noir from Burgundy in our November Wine of the Month club. It is the 2009 Louis Max Bougogne Beaucharme Noir. Also featured in our November selection for the Wine of the Month is the 2009 Henry Fessy Moulin-A-Vent. This red is produced from the Gamay grape and showcases a lush flavor profile of ripe plum and cassis.

If you are looking for something heartier with a bit of spice, I would recommend picking up a bottle of Zinfandel. Two of my favorite Zins are the 2008 Saldo Zinfandel and the 2007 Seven Deadly Zins. Both received excellent reviews of 90+ points from The Wine Spectator and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

If white wines are more your style, make an effort to stray from your “go-to” grape. If you prefer Chardonnay, try Pinot Gris or Viognier. The 2008 Willm Pinot Gris is richly textured with flavors of peach and apple. If your palate favors a hint of sweetness, try a bottle of Chenin Blanc or Riesling. The 2009 Domaine Pichot Vouvray is 100% Chenin Blanc and offers up sweet citrus flavors with great acidity and texture. The 2009 Dragonstone Riesling has great minerality and is ripe and well developed.

Here’s to making this Thanksgiving a memorable one filled with friends, family and the discovery of a new favorite wine!

Music and Wine Pairing: TV On The Radio 'Return To Cookie Mountain' & 2006 Claraval Seleccion Especial

Wine and music are two of my favorite things, and just as one would select the perfect dish to serve along side a bottle of Cabernet care must be taken when pairing an album with a bottle. The right (or wrong) musical selection can make or break a wine.

Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when choosing an album to listen to while enjoying a special bottle:

Cabernet Sauvignon’s dense fruit flavors and full-body pair well with darker, abstract music. The medium-body, dark fruit characteristics commonly found in Merlot are intensified when paired with loud, moody music. Pinot Noir’s lighter, supple, fruit driven flavors are a perfect match for sensual, sexy music. The rich, round fruit flavors commonly found in Shiraz and Grenache pair well with bold, upbeat tunes. Take into consideration listening to a mellow mix of music while enjoying the sumptuous, smooth qualities of Chardonnay. And perhaps select music that is a bit more lively to complement the crisp, zippy nature of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio.

My recommendation for the week:

TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
2006 Claraval Seleccion Especial

This wine is a delicious blend of 50% Garnacha, 20% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah. The diverse grape profile makes it a perfect match for this album, which itself is a brilliant fusion of noise, melodic tunes and hypnotizing vocals.

When listening to this album, be prepared to fall into a trance-like state. The 2006 Claraval Seleccion Especial complements feelings of rapture and euphoria with an enticing bouquet of dark fruit and spice. Flavors of dark berries on the palate are intensified by repetitious, pulsating drum-driven beats. Claraval’s long, smooth finish is complemented by its silky tannic structure.

Turn the lights down and the volume up, pop the cork and enjoy!

(TV On The Radio, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY. August 2009)