Looking for the perfect bottle of wine for your Thanksgiving meal?
The holidays can be really complicated to “pair” with because there are so many different dishes in the lineup that end up coming together in a giant miss-match on your plate.
How does a local sommelier approach the task? Nouvelle’s John Grisanti suggests choosing wines that can fit in many different situations without overpowering anything. “You want to offer a sublime match for the kaleidoscope of flavor profiles that appear through out the day,” he says. “Look for sharp mineral driven wines with high acidity and lighter, softer textures as those wines can not only cut through fatty items but will stay drinkable for the long haul of the day ahead.”
Below are some of his expert picks which you can pick up at Nouvelle.
Red Wine
Look for options with a ighter body grapes with sharp acidity, tart fruit red (cherry, cranberry) aromas and backbone of secondary dried savory herb aromas that slap.
OPTION ONE:
PRODUCER: Girolamo Russo
CUVEE: Etna Rosso (we have several different cuvees)
WHERE: Mt. Etna (Sicily, IT)
WHAT: Nerello Mascaelse (don’t be scared it is a lovely grape)
PRICE: $40-80 (depending on cuvee, expression)
OPTION TWO:
PRODUCER: Comando G
CUVEE: La Bruja
WHERE: Madrid, ES
WHAT: Garnacha
PRICE: $50-70 (depends on vintage)
White Wine
With white wine, take on a little bit more body and texture as it will need room to keep up with all the different textures of the food. Acidity is key here with a deep sense of minerality and sharp citrus or orchard fruit that is fresh or tart.
OPTION ONE:
PRODUCER: Pattes Loups (Thomas Pico)
CUVEE: Chablis … 1er CRU (we have several cuvees and different producers in from this region)
WHERE: Burgundy, FR
WHAT: Chardonnay (Do not be scared or pigeon hole this grape, in this region the wines are unoaked and do not present that “buttery” aroma that many do like. This grape is easily one of the most flexible grapes in the world and is made in many styles so I implore you to explore it)
PRICE: $40-80 (depending on cuvee, expression)
OPTION TWO:
PRODUCER: Wittmann
CUVEE: GG Riesling (we have several cuvees and different producers in from this region)
WHERE: Germany (Various Regions)
WHAT: Riesling (The most misunderstood grape in the world. IT IS NOT SWEET. It can however, and often is, be made sweet. When you know what to look for, we are really good at helping with this, you can find stunning DRY versions that will blow your mind. These are some the greatest wines in the world and offer a stunning value for top quality productions.
PRICE: $50-70 (depending on cuvee, expression)
This article appears in Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2024.
