This past week I had the opportunity to join the KXAS/NBC DFW News team at 11 am to give them a few tips on what to pour with their Thanksgiving holiday meal. If you are still looking for a few great options, or simply need to know what kind of wine to pair this Thursday, below are a few tips and suggestions that will please anyone around your table. A few of the wines were sent for me to include in the segment, but all are favorites and quite, quite delicious. A link to the segment is here, notes on the wines and tips featured are below.

We also included these options, and a few more, in this week’s “Wine and Film, A Perfect Pairing” Podcast on reVoler Podcasts. Gary breaks down a few of the best films so far this year as well, including “Fantastic Beasts, and Where to Find Them,” the new J.K. Rowling’s film drawing us into yet another magical, whimsical, charming tale. (I loved it.) Listen to the show here, just click “Episode 22.” 

With Thanksgiving, you don’t want heavy wines with the meal, since the meal is already rather weighty and rich. Here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting your wines.

• Always start with a great sparkling wine or Champagne to toast the season, family and friends
• Look for light to medium bodied wines
• Look for wine with high acidity, to cut through the richness of the meal
• Wines with little or no oak, again to keep them fresh and juicy
• Wines with low alcohol
• And, always, include a few different selections when entertaining to please every palate

And, as Johnny asks in our segment, “do you have to follow these rules?”
Of course, not, at the end of the day, always just drink what you like….it is your holiday!

Sparkling – Domaine Carneros Ultra Brut ($40), very light, clean and refreshing from Napa and or if you are a Rose fan, Moet & Chandon Brut Rose Imperial Champagne ($55) with lots of berry and brioche notes.

Chardonnay – One of the best from Willamette Valley, OR, is the very crisp, lively and orchard fruit filled, Stoller Reserve Chardonnay ($35) OR from Russian River, slightly richer, creamier, while maintaining freshness, Jordan Chardonnay ($30)

The perfect pair for Thanksgiving, with just about everything on your table, is Pinot Noir
Adelsheim “Breaking Ground” Pinot Noir ($45) from Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley, OR is a very soft and subtle, with earthy forest floor, wild berry, and spice. Or from California, Texas Natives Adam and Diana Lee with their Siduri Pinot Noir from Santa Lucia Highlands, CA ($35), more fruit forward than Willamette offerings, with bright cherry, cola and black tea.

Rose – any time of year is perfect for Rose, but with Thanksgiving, in particular, a great wine to start the meal with – Rose, especially a Rose of Pinot Noir – MacRostie Rose of Pinot Noir – $25 with watermelon, tangerine, and cherry notes.

Non-traditional white – Domaines Schlumberger Grand Cru dry Reisling ($35) from Alsace and Signorello “Seta” Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc ($45) from Napa – slightly richer, more textured than single variety Sauvignon Blanc with balance and complexity.

Non-traditional red – If you are frying your turkey, or you have a sweet and smokey baked ham, go for a smokey Rhone or Rhone-style blend – McPherson Cellars “Les Copains” Rhone blend ($20) from Texas High Plains with spice, smoke, black fruit. Or, a high acid, easy drinking, low alcohol Barbera – Boroli Barbera d’Alba Quattro Fratelli ($20) from Piedmont, Italy