Here are a few selections to make your Thanksgiving table and holiday season full of perfect pours – from “ooh-ahh-ohh” hostess gifts, to bottles you’ll want to share with friends time and time again. Cheers and Happy Holidays – can’t wait to clink glasses soon!
Rosé, Finger Lakes , NY ($23)
This first wine is from my own backyard beautiful finger lakes area in upstate NY . This rosé made from Cabernet . You might get a few odd looks from your grandparents when you arrive at the family gathering carrying a pink wine but if they don’t already know it, the time of terrible, sweet, White Zin is past and we have thankfully moved on to the refreshing, dry, highly drinkable rosé wines as they are supposed to be. There is not a food on this planet that cannot pair with a chilled Rosé and it’s also great just as a cocktail wine. You’ll probably need at least 2 bottles once everyone gets a taste and comes back for seconds of this one made at Domaine Leseurre Winery.Their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are also worth searching out if you can’t get your hands on this limited Rosé of Pinot Noir from them.
Viognier is a wonderful grape for the exotic and heady spices of the holiday. Until just recently, you would be hard pressed to find an American Viognier on a shelf in your local wine store. Even though that is changing because people are finding out about this grape and how incredible it is, Pride Mountain Vineyards has long been a proponent of this grape. Their version is richly textured with notes of lychee, honeysuckle and lemon zest. Despite all of these sweet aromatics and rich palette, the wine is dry (not sweet) and is sure to be a surprise favorite at the holiday table as your family washes down that turkey and stuffing!
Somehow Syrah is still not the most popular grape in America. That’s amazing considering the unbelievable quality and elegance of Syrahs like those made in the Sonoma Coast by Peay winery. This Titan Vineyard Syrah is a sommelier’s silver bullet when it comes to food and wine pairing – it goes with a huge variety of foods from salmon to hen to beef and game. It’s floral, peppery, and it attains just enough ripeness in the long growing season to be fully pleasing and interesting without ever crossing the line to being flabby. I’d have this with anything – it’s just that good – but it would be fully at home on the Thanksgiving or Christmas table.
Ice Wine ($60)
Vibrant and rich, the Sheldrake Point Ice Wine comes out of the Finger Lakes region in New York. A winner of 13 awards since 2012, this elegant and rich wine brings delicate and complex flavors of peach, lemon and orange peel for a pure and smooth finish. You can skip desserts and enjoy glass of Iced Wine
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