Wine for this year’s Thanksgiving Feast Article and Photos by: Mary Jeneverre Schultz In an Asian American family, the Thanksgiving feast includes much more than the turkey and all the trimmings. You will often find rice combinations, varieties of dumplings and even a huge platter of eggrolls. To add an alcoholic touch, red and white wines help wash down all the different seasonings from gravy sauces to sweet pies. Pairing wine can get a little tricky. “A traditional Thanksgiving meal is a challenge to pair with wine, since you usually have light and dark flavors, like cranberries and potatoes with gravy,” said Nancy Janes, owner of Whitewater Hill Vineyards in Grand Junction. “If I’m only going to have one wine, I love a Dry Rose with my meal. Roses are an ‘in between’ wine which pairs beautifully with all types of foods. The bright acidity of the rose style can really balance out the rich flavors of the meal.” Here are a few recommendations for your glass of wine (or two) this Thanksgiving. Let’s start with buying local. COLORADO Varaison Vineyards & Winery varaisonvineyards.com | When vis-
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November 2021 | Feature
iting this vineyard, the staff provides recommendations based on your palette. It’s an enchanted experience in their tasting room or sipping and biking in Palisade. Perle Blanche 2017 | Melon, Pear, and Kiwi dominate the fruit notes of this Chardonnay with a smooth structure from aging in French Oak. The perfect wine with cheese, fish, and roasted vegetables. SRP $24
getting last year’s reds ready to bottle,” Janes said. Whitewater Hill Riesling 2020 | The most traditional Thanksgiving wine is a semi-sweet Riesling. With apricot, citrus, and floral notes, they are a reliable delight. Colorado makes some amazing award-winning Rieslings. SRP $16
Carlson Vineyards Winery | carlsonvineyards.com | Located in the high desert of western Colorado, Carlson Vineyards is a small, family-owned winery. 365 Rose | Even though it’s fall, this bottle of wine is reminiscent of sandy beaches and summer fun. It’s perfectly paired with spicy Asian dishes. SRP $16
CALIFORNIA Balletto Vineyards | ballettovineyards.com | The vineyard is a picturesque setting for outdoor tastings in Sonoma County. Celebrating 20 years of winemaking, they maintain 100 percent control from vineyard to bottle, and only select the best vineyards and blocks. “When I hear people say, ‘Of course, it’s from Balletto,’ it gives me a sense of pride to be part of this vineyard,” said winemaker Anthony Beckman, who has been with the family operation for 15 years. Balletto Vineyards Russian River Valley Chardonnay | Both complex and elegant, this wine shows its cool-climate heritage with concentrated flavors and a texture with just enough bright citrus tones
Whitewater Hill Vineyards | whitewaterhill.com | The tasting room is still busy during the fall season. “We are just pressing off the last of our red wines off of the skins for the year, so ‘crush season’ is winding down. There are still a number of fermentations progressing in our tanks, and we are filling barrels with the new red wines and
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