No question: We at Parker Sanpei love Thanksgiving, not least because it’s all about FOOD. And while we doubt very much that the original Thanksgiving meal included wine, there is no better opportunity to play at pairing wine with classic dishes. Thankfully (pun intended!), the flavors of a traditional Thanksgiving meal are varied enough to warrant buying several bottles to share with family and good friends. Here’s a little tutorial on what to look for when purchasing wine for Thanksgiving, and suggestions on what to buy.
Pairing wine with food is very simple, really. To select a wine for each course, you will either MATCH the dish’s flavors and weight, or COMPLEMENT the dish’s flavors and weight.
Hazelnut, Sage and Mushroom Stuffing
Match the dish’s flavors and weight. Let’s say you’re serving a woodsy mushroom-infused stuffing alongside your turkey. A classic wine pairing for mushrooms is Pinot Noir, as it often exhibits the same autumnal earthiness. Overlapping or layering flavors in this way is one of the easiest ways to pair wine with food. A great wine to match your mushroom stuffing is Laetitia Vineyard & Winery’s 2011 Whole Cluster Pinot Noir ($40).
But also consider the weight of the cuisine. Mashed potatoes? Heavy. Perhaps a big, mouth-filling Chardonnay like J.Lohr’s 2011 Arroyo Vista Chardonnay ($25). Asparagus with sesame oil vinaigrette? Light. Think a grassy, crisp Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand like Astrolabe’s 2012 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (NZ$20.99).
Simple Roast Turkey with Rich Turkey Gravy
Complement the dish’s flavors and weight. Maybe you’re planning to whip up a simple roast turkey with rich gravy for the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving dinner. Think about that juicy, succulent meat and buttery gravy. It would be pretty tough to match the weight of gravy (!) but with a zingy, high-acidity white wine like Riesling or Pinot Grigio, you can cut through fatty and salty dishes to refresh the palate with each sip. We like the 2012 Pacific Rim Dry Riesling ($10), both for its deliciously crisp aromas and flavors…and for its price tag.
There you have it: a two-point how-to on holiday wine pairing. Whatever you choose to drink this season, we at Parker Sanpei wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving!
THE DISH by PSPR 