Surviving Thanksgiving with a little help from Total Wine
By iHeartMedia
Not sure what to pair with Thanksgiving dinner? For red wine lovers, a vibrant and juicy Pinot Noir won’t overpower the light meat, but still stands up well for the dark meat lovers, and it’s versatile enough to go with every side dish on your table. Recommendations include: TULI Pinot Noir from Sonoma, D’Autrefois Reserve from France or Samuel Robert Vintner’s Reserve from the Willamette Valley.
If you prefer white, try a German Riesling- crisp and refreshing with flavors of peaches and green apples. It will make the turkey shine and works just as great with the pies for dessert. For something a little different, try a spicy Gewürztraminer to compliment the earthy flavors of sage, mushrooms, sweet potatoes and just about any stuffing recipe out there.
Famous grape from Spain that goes into blends like Rioja. It’s full-body with flavors like leather and cherries. It’s perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon or Chianti drinkers who want to try something a little different.
Every year on the 3rd Thursday in November at 12:01 am, Beaujolais Nouveau is released in Paris- just a few months after the grapes have been harvested, it’s the first wine release of the season! Try this light-bodied wine with tons of fruit flavors (strawberry, grape, fig), remember to serve it slightly chilled. It also makes for a killer Sangria if you’re entertaining a crowd!
Light bodied and packed with jammy raspberry and blackberry flavors and a bit of licorice and smoke. This is a great wine for your Thanksgiving celebration- it goes with Turkey, baking spices (think nutmeg, cinnamon) and especially cranberry sauce! We’ve got tons of great bottles to try, maybe start with our Oak Ridge from Lodi, CA or our new Paso Ranches Bourbon Barrel Zin- a Zin that’s been aged in bourbon barrels for three months!
Celebrating a Friendsgiving? With big crowds you might want to try offering a Sangria or maybe a crockpot full of mulled wine- perfect after coming in from a football game in the backyard! Use red wine (Zinfandel works great here), apple cider cinnamon sticks, orange peel and if you’re feeling particularly festive, a few splashes of brandy adds a nice kick.
Feeling overwhelmed by the idea of baking all those desserts for Thanksgiving? Why not mix up a batch of drinkable dessert cocktails instead? Check out our Cocktail Corner at TotalWine.com for recipes for things like a Winter Wonderland (Bourbon, eggnog and orange liqueur) or a Creamy Cinnamon Toast Crunch (cinnamon whisky, horchata cream liqueur and cinnamon sticks).
Don’t show up empty-handed! If you’re going to someone else’s for Thanksgiving dinner, remember to take a gift for the hosts! A simple bottle of wine in a nice gift bag is always appropriate (and welcome), or try a box of chocolates or your favorite liqueur- it doesn’t have to be anything big, just a simple gesture to thank them for having you over.