FEATURE: Thanksgiving Day wine

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 visiting 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

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

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 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

Interested in out-of-state wines? Check out these other regions:

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

for balance and excitement. Slight tannins accentuate and compliment the mouthfeel, making it one of those wines that draws you in for the next sip. SRP $29

Balletto Vineyards Teresa’s

Unoaked Chardonnay | No oak bomb here! This one continues to define California’s Unoaked Chardonnay category. Crisp and vibrant, yet amazingly luscious. It showcases how Chardonnay does not need flashy oak to be distinct and delicious. It’s mouthwatering with refreshing acidity that contrasts its surprisingly robust and weighted mid-palate. SRP $20

Balletto Russian River Valley

Estate Pinot Noir | The Balletto’s are a family of vegetable farmers turned wine grape growers who make site-specific wines from their estate vineyards. This Russian River Valley Estate Pinot Noir combines full and captivating aromatics with a delicate texture that defines the Balletto style of Pinot Noir. SRP $29

Moshin Vineyards | moshinvineyards.com | Nestled in the Russian River Valley, this winery is perfect for a bottle of Pinot Noir.

2018 Pinot Noir Lot 4 Russian

River Valley | Perfect pairing with mas of black plum, cherry and baking spices. The palate is filled with flavors of cranberry, ripe pie fruits with subtle ones of cola and brown spices. SRP $62

2017 Le Jour Magique White

Pinot Noir | Flavors include lemon curd, Rainier cherry, melon, vanilla bean with hints of baking spices. It’s perfect for those who are intimidated by red wines.

OREGON

Fullerton Wines | fullertonwines. com | As a neighborhood location in Portland, this tasting room is the perfect weekend spot.

2017 Croft Vineyard Pinot Noir

| Fruity flavors include strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry tones. The palate provides darker fruits of black currant and blackberry with the undertones of aromatic wood spice and a streak of mineral. SRP $55

Battle Creek Cellars | battlecreekcellars.com | Battle Creek Cellars’ wines are crafted to showcase the simple approachability of wine. 2019 Reserve Chardonnay This wine delivers aromas of jasmine blossom, white peach with a pinch of chamomile tea and lemon. Light-bodied, it finishes with a taste of mineral and flint. SRP $42

Erath Winery | erath.com | This winery showcases its urban tasting room in the heart of Portland’s Historic Pearl District.

A Call for Diversity in the Wine Industry

The wine industry is playing catch-up in terms of its diversity. Obtaining the resources and knowledge to build a vineyard is not easily accessible. As such, it is a difficult industry to penetrate for people of color. However, the interest is there.

“I am always seeing more folks of diverse backgrounds discovering wine, and I hope to see that trend accelerate,” said Janes. “We learn together about new ways to enjoy wine with different foods, and we get new ideas and energy to make wine that is much more fun and delicious for everyone.”

Balletto Vineyard’s winemaker Beckman predicts change is coming. In fact, he left a career in journalism to pursue his personal interest of winemaking. He indicates many programs are available to increase diversity and equity within the wine industry.

Check out these organizations promoting diversity by recruiting and training people of color in the wine industry: • Association of African American Vintner aaavintners.org • Diversity in Wine & Spirits difb.org • Wine Unify wineunify.org • Wine Empowered wine-empowered.com • The Roots Fund therootsfund.org • Black Wine Professionals blackwineprofessionals.com • Hue Society thehuesociety.com