This vacation season, why keep on with one kind of wine for a whole dinner when you may combine and match for all of the flavors on the desk? We requested sommeliers, wine administrators, and wine store house owners for his or her prime bottle recs (together with no-alcohol choices) to pair with seasonal fare, from Brussels sprouts to turkey to pumpkin pie.
Sides
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS
Dr. Hermann Mosel Riesling Trocken“Dr. Hermann Mosel Riesling Trocken makes a speciality of farming Riesling on the steep slopes of Germany’s Mosel Valley. Coming from 20- to 40-year-old vines, their Trocken Riesling is thrillingly fragrant and complicated, with notes of peach and tangerine. The wine is dry and comparatively low alcohol, making it a straightforward drinker each earlier than and through the meal. I’d pair it with inexperienced fall greens like Brussels sprouts for Thanksgiving. And after I say Brussels sprouts, I imply roasted to crisp perfection, with a pop of acidity, and a salty element. The Riesling has a super-expressive fruit character, which contrasts the funky veggie high quality of the sprouts, and the wine’s brilliant, linear acidity echoes the crunch of these singed outer leaves.”—Alex Ring, wine director, Michelin-starred Sepia and Proxi, Chicago | $18.99, wine.com
Beans and Rice
Espelt Garnacha Previous Vines“I all the time deliver a bottle of Spanish Garnacha to Thanksgiving dinner. I really like pairing Garnacha with rice and beans and different flavorful dishes filled with spices. Its ripe, lush, fruit-forward taste profile lends this grape to being food-friendly and intensely versatile, with notes of strawberry, plum, and raspberry, in addition to dried herbs. Garnacha’s tannins are typically mushy to reasonable, so pairing it with spicy or acidic dishes typically works rather well.”—Sarah Pierre, proprietor, 3 Parks Wine Store, Atlanta | $12.99, bevmo.com
Stuffing
2020 Julien Cecillon, Saint-Peray, Gemini“I significantly love Rhône Whites with stuffing, however don’t be shy to mess around with the opposite Thanksgiving classics on the desk. I really like Rhône Whites with Thanksgiving, as they’re tremendous versatile with loads of completely different meals on the desk, and the nice and cozy, savory, wealthy, and natural flavors we consider with Thanksgiving are current within the glass with Rhône Whites. Julien Cecillon is without doubt one of the new-guard winemakers within the Rhône and has been placing out some superior wines not too long ago—whites with texture and a brightness.”—Courtney Wieland, director of personal purchasers, Thatcher’s Wine, Hayward, California | $30, thatcherswine.com
Cranberry Sauce
Domaine Germain Pere Et Fils Pommard La Chaniere 2019“This wine is tart with a crunchy acid just like that of recent cranberry. There’s additionally slightly earthiness and minerality that lend loads of complexity to the wine. One among my favorites!”—Amy Racine, beverage director, JF Eating places, New York Metropolis | $53.99, costplusliquors.com
Turkey With Gravy
Broc Cellars Vine Starr Zinfandel“A couple of years in the past I began spatchcocking and smoking my turkey, and I’ll by no means return. The turkey cooks quick so the meat doesn’t dry out and the affect of smoke is mild however noticeable. A playful interpretation of a historically fuller-bodied purple all the time works effectively right here. Turkey isn’t a high-fat protein so that you don’t want a wine with loads of tannins. The smoke that you just’ll get from the couple hours it takes to prepare dinner your chook will want some daring flavors although. Varietals like Tempranillo deliver loads of taste however will be fairly heavy generally, particularly from U.S.-based producers. Searching for a producer that’s taking a lighter and brighter method offers you all the flavour you want, however nonetheless hold issues feeling refreshing.”—Matt Hensel, proprietor, forty fifth Parallel Wines, Portland, Oregon | $39.96, astorwines.com
Desserts
Henriot Blanc de Blancs“I really like to purchase Henriot Blanc de Blancs if I’m simply displaying as much as a vacation dinner or get together late. I all the time really feel like bubbles can do no hurt. It’s welcoming and an effective way to pop conversational bubbles. I really like this bottle because it isn’t a high-acid champagne, the bubbles are reserved and the chardonnay grape offers it a nutty notice that may pair with nearly any starter and in addition has sufficient physique to carry as much as pie and ice cream.”—Tia Barrett, wine director, Esme, Chicago | $64.99, binnys.com
Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco“I’m a stickler for the classics, and Cleto Chiarli is a producer that put the Lambrusco grape on the map for Emilia-Romagna. Lambrusco is a glowing wine that may be candy or dry and usually sees a bit extra pores and skin contact inflicting it to style like completely ripe purple and black fruits. I believe an off-dry Lambrusco is nice with desserts like pumpkin and apple pie, lending some acidity and effervescence and complementing with raspberry and strawberry flavors.”—Michael Branton, sommelier, Tercet, Portland, Oregon | $15.99, wine.com
“Gewürztraminer is a pure alternative with its flavors of ginger and baking spice. Navarro Vineyards in Mendocino makes a spectacular verjus from the primary choosing of their property Gewürz grapes. Candy sufficient to go together with dessert, it’s bought sufficient acid to stop it from ever changing into cloying. It’s obtainable now however sells out quick!”—Ian Blessing | $17, navarrowine.com
