Thanksgiving:
As wine-lovers, it’s easy to over-think the way we pair foods and wines. Certainly, a great match -- such as a juicy steak and a bold Cabernet Sauvignon or zippy fresh goat cheese and a racy Sauvignon Blanc -- can bring exciting revelations in how wine makes food taste better, and vice versa.
But there are times when it’s just as important to match the wine to the occasion itself -- and to the guests who will partake in the fun. Weddings and New Year’s Eve celebrations, for example, demand a sparkling wine no matter what’s on the menu. Summer barbecues plead for lighter wines, even if you’re serving big red meats. And if your grandmother drinks only White Zinfandel, it doesn’t make sense to bring on a Cab with her steak -- pour her a glass of the pink if that’s what she wants.
Thanksgiving is one of those occasions where it might be more important to look at who’s coming rather than what’s on the table. After all, can you really find a wine that matches everything from Aunt Georgia’s creamed onions to Cousin Sharon’s oyster dressing to the morel mushroom quiche your sophisticated neighbor brings to the spread?
Of course, one strategy is to reach for Pinot Noir -- it’s one of the most versatile, food-friendly wines around, and it likely won’t clash with anything. With their juicy fruit, bright acidity and silky texture, Pinots from California, Oregon and New Zealand can be out-and-out crowd-pleasers -- perfect when you’re hosting a houseful.
Indeed, Pinot has been the shoo-in Thanksgiving wine for a few years running. But if you’re ready to veer off that path and want to match your wines more specifically to your guests, try these choices.
Sweeter Wines for the Less Experienced: Your great aunt Sally may have sipped a few highballs in her day, but she may not yet be a wine-lover. Newcomers to the wine world often prefer fruitier, sweeter wines, so for that crowd, stock up on sweeter styles of Riesling (check the label -- those with under 10% alcohol will be noticeably sweet) and off-dry styles of Chenin Blanc. For a little sparkle, offer Moscato d’Asti.
Beaujolais for Everybody: Few wines in the world can please serious wine connoisseurs and casual wine drinkers alike, yet Beaujolais -- a French wine made from the Gamay grape -- is a real charmer in both realms. Aficionados enjoy it for its complex minerality, while less-experienced drinkers love its vivacious cherry-berry notes and charismatic hints of flowers and spice. Everyone will appreciate the way this lighter-bodied wine doesn't weigh them down when paired with heavy holiday foods.
Invite Some Italians to the Party: It turns out that two classic Italian wines match Thanksgiving beautifully. Pinot Grigio, a white with mild peach and citrus notes, will provide an appealing pre-dinner drink. When it’s time to carve the turkey, Sangiovese can be counted on for a firm acidity that makes it especially food-friendly. Its tart cherry flavors will provide a refreshing counterpoint to the heavier foods on the table. If you prefer all-American wines to go with this quintessential American holiday, remember that California producers make some great versions of both of these wines.
Christmas/Chanukah
Wine makes a great present, but why stop there? Wine baskets are especially timely around the holidays, when everyone is entertaining. The options are limitless, so get creative!
For newbies. Many new couples are also wine novices, so consider a romance basket in holiday red. Start with a variety of rose wines. Add red-stemmed wine glasses, a pocket-size wine guide, a wine diary for recording notes, a nifty foil cutter and lever corkscrew, and some pretty glass wine stoppers.
For the gourmand on the go. Line a picnic basket with a wine-themed picnic blanket or oversize tea towel. Then fill with assorted fruits, cheeses, biscotti, a travel-size corkscrew, an insulated wine bag, freezer packs for chilled wine and, of course, a great bottle of wine.
For that VIP. Get personal and have something in the basket monogrammed, such as sleek marble coasters, a wine bucket or sturdy wine glasses. Even wine labels can be customized.
A wine bucket makes a great gift ”basket.“ Add an unusual or sought-after bottle of wine along with accessories such as a wine funnel, vacuum stoppers and wine charms for identifying your glass in a crowd. For those who relish bubbly, a Champagne bucket can be used the same way. Carefully arrange four Champagne stems (placed on bubble wrap and disguised with silvery tissue) and then add a super-seal Champagne stopper and a guidebook on choosing and serving Champagne.
For the connoisseur. Instead of a wicker basket, true cellar dwellers will enjoy a big rustic wine crate stuffed with a few rare Bordeaux or Cabernet Sauvignon vintages for cellaring. Tuck in a nifty gadget, like a digital hygrometer to monitor the cellar’s humidity or an electronic wine thermometer that displays the temperature of wine in the bottle. Make room for a wine dossier or album -- essential for saving wine labels and making tasting and cellar notes.
For party-hearty types. Jump-start a celebration by assembling a cheese-and-wine-pairing basket. Include a variety of cheeses, cheese markers to identify the varieties, a cheese spreader, a mini cheese board, water crackers, wine pourers to prevent drips, fun wine napkins, and a small selection of wines from California, France and Spain.
For Everyone. Membership in the Tasters Guild is a perfect gift for anyone on your list. From the novice to the conoisseur and all in between Tasters Guild Orlando is the gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. For more information on membership go to the Benefits & Memebership page.
New Year's Eve
Champagne is still the undisputed king of the sparkling set, but some serious rivals are popping up these days. Why not make a resolution to give them a try?
Legend has it that Dom Perignon, a blind Benedictine monk in the Champagne region of France, invented Champagne in the late 17th century. The truth is that effervescence is a natural phenomenon that occurs as a result of fermentation.
But Dom Perignon was the first to develop a method that would produce a consistently fine sparkling wine. This method (méthode champenoise) is quite labor intensive and includes a second fermentation in the bottle, years of aging and then a ”disgorging“ process that involves each bottle being twisted and shaken until a mass of sediment gathers at the neck, which is then frozen and popped out. The results are positively bewitching – exotic, complex, aromatic wines with those signature bubbles.
Most Champagne is ”non-vintage“, Which simply means there is no vintage date printed on the label and the wine inside the bottle is a blend of vintages. Chances are the wine is also a blend of grapes; primarily Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meinier. Pink, or Rosé, Champagnes include a splash of red wine (usually Pinot Noir) for color.
The name Champagne can be carried only by sparkling wines produced in the Champagne region of France. Strict rules govern the growing and harvesting of grapes in the region, helping to ensure premium quality and often premium prices.
But Champagne is not the only game in town when it comes to bubbly:
California makes the most sparkling wine in this country, and there is a wide range of prices, styles and qualities available. Generally speaking, California wineries use the traditional Champagne grapes and method. But because of California’s climate, the wines are often riper and more vivid than their French cousins.
Cava is Spain’s famous sparkling wine and just might be the best bubbly value around. It is made using the Champagne method and often uses Chardonnay in addition to a slew of local grapes like Macabeo and Parellada.
Italy’s Prosecco is named after the grape that is used to make the wine, helpfully enough. Although it is generally not made with the Champagne method, it is still a quaffable, refreshing sparkling wine. Like Cava it is usually value priced, making it an excellent everyday bubbly.
With these choices, sparkling wine need not be saved for special occasions. Dom Perignon may have said it best when he proclaimed, ”I am drinking stars!“ Doesn’t every day deserve a taste of the stars?
© 2007 Tasters Guild Orlando