Modesto columnist suggests simple ways to select your Thanksgiving wine
I found an old copy of a Good Housekeeping magazine with a story titled “For Thanksgiving Wine Pairing Success, Stick To The Four L’s”. The four L’s approach will help you remember what wines to avoid and what wines will work with the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. I have added a few comments, but it all comes down to alcohol, acidity, tannins and oak.
1. Light: Low alcohol wines pair better with food. They won’t clobber the more delicate nuances of the meal and will slow down Auntie Les from getting sloshed
2. Lively: The most food-friendly Thanksgiving wines have enough acidity to cut through the richness of turkey gravy, buttery stuffing and mashed potatoes, and even the tartness of cranberry sauce.
3. Low to no tannins: Those mouth drying compounds that give you furry teeth and work really well with a juicy steak, just won’t cut it with the traditional Thanksgiving fare. Avoid the big reds and go with sparkling wines, dry roses, crisp whites and low tannic reds like Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, Sangiovese, Chianti, light style Zinfandel, Cotes du Rhone, Malbec or Cabernet Franc.
4. Little to no oak: Oak is the enemy of the milder flavors in Thanksgiving dinner, like turkey breast, mashed potatoes and stuffing. Oak also contributes tannins so try to avoid oak bombs like Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Rioja, Syrah and most California Chardonnays.
“A Rising Tide” video series
The Lodi Winegrape Commission recently unveiled a new grower-focused video series named “A Rising Tide.” Two years in the making, the eight-part video captures Lodi’s strong sense of community and the emphasis placed on the shared values of unity, sustainability, heritage, innovation and leadership. Organized in eight episodes, each video highlights an individual farmer or farming family in Lodi, offering viewers a glimpse into the historical region and the agricultural community. I watched the first episode called “My Father, the Mother of Invention.” I was hooked and watched the remaining seven. They’re excellent and emphasize that a “win” for one person is a “win” for the entire community. Yes, “A rising tide lifts all boats” and is true among the Lodi Winegrowers. Pour a glass of wine, go to lodiwine.com and enjoy eight beautifully produced episodes.
What’s on our table
The J. Lohr 2021 South Ridge Syrah from Paso Robles has been my go-to red for several years and for $15 it’s really a steal. Most all supermarkets should have it for a few dollars less. It was selected the number one Best Buy with 93 points from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The 2020 Nero d’ Avola (55%) and Syrah (45%) blend from Sicily by Feudo Zirtari is a Grocery Outlet bargain at $5.99. It’s perfect with grilled meats and aged cheeses. The 2020 Bogle Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel would be an excellent wine for Thanksgiving dinner and a real deal, sale priced at $8.99. Cheers!
Questions? Comments? Find me on Facebook or at rgwinton@yahoo.com.
