Thanksgiving is coming and the question most people ask me around this time of year is “What wine goes with turkey?”. I usually suggest that they try to think of the whole turkey dinner as a pairing and not just the turkey meat. Turkey meat is pretty bland but the turkey stuffing is an intense combination of breads, butter, herbs and spices. Then there’s the gravy which is rich and fatty and we can’t forget all the side dishes like potatoes, turnip, sweet potatoes, cranberries and possibly other dishes like that weird jello dish with vegetables floating inside (I’ll pass on that). The whole meal is a copious feast filled with rich flavours that can overpower a lot of wines. A wine that is soft like an oaked Chardonnay or Viognier will not stand out and will likely tastes flat. Higher acidity wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling help cut through the fat and compliment the meal. If you prefer red wine instead of white, I would suggest a more subtle red like Pinot Noir which has less tannic structure and also goes well with baked ham.
Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough New Zealand ($9.45 – LCBO 293043)
A pale straw coloured Sauvignon Blanc with typical New Zealand herbaceous and citrus aromas. Citrus flavours and a medium long crisp finish.
Available at Almonte LCBO or March Road LCBO in Kanata
Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir, Chile ($10.95 – LCBO 341602)
A dry light bodied Pinot Noir with strawberry fruit and a bit of spice on the nose. Good acidity and berry fruit in a medium finish
Available at Almonte LCBO or March Road LCBO in Kanata
Cheers!
Mark Cochrane
Email me at markuncorked@gmail.com
Visit my website at www.markuncorked.com
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