Season's best red and white wine suited to make Thanksgiving Day memorable

By: Mark C. Johnson | For The New Mexican
Published online: Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Ahh, late fall in Northern New Mexico is truly a reminder of why we should give thanks. The last few sacks of this season's Hatch green chile is being roasted on Cerrillos Road, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains are showing a mix of lingering leaves set against a background of early snow and open parking spaces are starting to pop up around the Plaza. It is a magical time for New Mexico residents!

Families and friends all across our great state are preparing for one of our favorite meals of the year, Thanksgiving Day dinner. When we look at the flavors that come out in this grand meal, we see loads of savory and aromatic flavors:

In the starch category, there's sweet potato casserole, hopefully topped off with marshmallows and walnuts or mashed potatoes with dark-brown gravy. Veggie dishes run the gamut from roasted butternut squash, green beans and bacon to pearl onions in a cream sauce. Of course there's stuffing ... lots of stuffing. There may even be a salty ham on the table, but there has to be that all-American, slow-roasted turkey cooked to a succulent perfection. Finally, any Thanksgiving meal should end with a grand finale of pumpkin pie generously mounded with freshly whipped cream.

Now, what bottles would you want to open up for this perfect day?

Regardless if it's an early sipping wine you quaff while the Detroit Lions try to win their first Turkey Day triumph in eight years, or the glass you enjoy with dinner while the Dallas Cowboys attempt to trump the Minnesota Vikings, or the final glass to ponder on as the 49ers pull off the upset over the dreaded Baltimore Ravens, here are a number of bottles that will make this Thanksgiving memorable.

Thanksgiving wines

Pine Ridge ‘Forefront’ Pinot Noir

Region: California central coast
Year: 2009

Pine Ridge has blended pinot grapes from three great regions to make one final blend. The result is a wine with a deeper color that has aromas of ripe strawberries, black raspberries and RC Cola. One sip reveals a smooth, relaxed wine with a fruity presence that slowly fades away.

Château Thivin ‘Côte de Brouilly’

Region: Beaujolais, France
Year: 2010

Here is a light bright ruby- colored wine with scents of fresh strawberries, boy- senberries and bubble gum. Once tasted, the wine is superbright with tart red fruits, light tannins and a sassy aggressive finish.

Protocolo; Vino de La Tierra De Castilla

Region: Spain
Year: 2009

This wine has a serious garnet color. The nose displays sour black cherries, stewed strawber- ries and sweet tobacco. It has a medium mouthfeel that shows off those berries quite well. At less than $10 a bottle, this wine is the best buy of the season!

Conde de Valdemar Gran Reserva

Region: Rioja, Spain
Year: 2001

This bottle is a celebration in itself and brings alive everything on the table. The nose is an intricate combination of black currant, gingerbread, plum pudding and caraway. It’s soft in the mouth with sweet tannins, dried black fruits and coffee notes. It lingers for quite a while on the tongue with an impressive complexity.

White wines

Calera Vin Gris of Pinot Noir

Region: California central coast
Year: 2010

Our Thanksgiving Day starts out with a lighter rosé with a color of crayon pink. On the nose, this wine displays cranberry and Lemonhead candy. It’s light and dry on the palate with citrus and berries. With a quick and simple finish, this wine is a wonderful aperitif for the following meal.

Dr. Hermann ‘Erdener Treppchen’ Riesling Kabinett

Region: Mosel, Germany
Year: 2009

Do not ask me why many German white wines really pair well with this all-American meal — they just do. This wine has a clear color and smells of Meyer lemons and green plums. While light on the tongue, it’s heavy on flavors of citrus and stone fruits. It’s everything I love about dry Riesling.

Markus Molitor ‘Haus Klosterberg’ Spätlese Riesling

Region: Mosel, Germany
Year: 2008

This wine has a golden color. You pick up green pear and ripe white peaches along with a bit of petrol on the nose. The wine has a hint of sweetness but balances this out with crisp acidity. The stone fruits linger nicely on the palate and would pair well with crudités (veggies and ranch dressing).

Valckenberg Gewürztraminer

Region: Pfalz, Germany
Year: 2010

Gewürz could possible be the best white Thanksgiving grape out there. With a lemony yellow color, this wine explodes with ripe apricot, litchi and orchids. It’s medium bodied in the mouth with the fruity and floral flavors shining right through. There’s a simple finish that’s great with a butternut squash soup.

Bethel Heights Pinot Gris

Region: Oregon
Year: 2010

Why is almost any Oregon Pinot Gris better than any Italian Pinot Grigio? Because it’s American! This light, lemon yellow wine has aromas of green apples, key limes and peanut shells. It’s light and refreshing in the mouth with citrus notes and a zesty finish.

Red wine

Beringer ‘Nightingale’
70 percent semillon and
30 percent sauvignon blanc

Region: Napa Valley, Calif.
Year: 2006

This wine could be dessert, but who would want to skimp on pie! The Nightingale has a deep golden color with a slight tawny hue. On the nose, it displays poached pears, sultanas and baklava. It is full and rich in the mouth with honeyed fruits and flavors of spicy pastries.