Planning for the holidays can be a huge annoyance.You have to shop, clean, cook, entertain guests, clean again; all of which can be a major stress. One of the easiest ways to avoid dealing with that is to mooch off the dinner lovingly prepared by some foolhardy friend or loved one. Of course, they'll still be going through a lot of stress, so you owe it to them to bring a decent bottle of wine to dinner.
It is, literally, the least you can do.
To help with your T-day food and wine pairing quest, we asked Wine Watch's Andrew Lampasone for some recommendations.
See Also: Ten Holiday Wines for Under $25; Choose the Right One for Your Meal
Because turkey is the main dish served at most Thanksgiving Dinners, Lampasone suggests offering some lighter wines.
All wines listed are available at Wine Watch.
Moscato
"The kids love Moscato which is one of the fastest growing white wine categories and there are a lot of cheap Moscato that are not fit to use as mouthwash," said Lampasone. "The authentic Moscato comes from the Piedmont region of Italy and there are plenty that are available for $20 or less. These wines are ideal for Turkey and are low in alcohol, slightly sweet, and slightly frizzante."
Suggested bottles:
Vietti "Cascinetta" Moscato d'Asti Piedmont, 2012 - List Price $16.75
Braida Moscato D Asti Vigna Senze Nome, 2012 - List Price $19
Michele Chiarlo Nivole Moscato D'Asti 375ml, 2011 - List Price $14.75
La Spinetta Moscato Bianco Spino, 2012 - List Price $21
Pinot Noir
"Burgundy and Pinot Noir is another no brainer for Turkey day," said Lampasone. "Pinot Noir is the grape varietal and Burgundy is the region where it is from in France. They make Pinot Noir around the world today and because of its thin skin there have much less tannins making it a great choice for foods like turkey and its bright acidity make it a nice accompaniment to ham."
Suggested bottles:
Pali Riviera Pinot Noir Sonoma, 2010 - List Price $21
Figge Pelio Pinot Noir Monterey, 2009 - List Price $44.25
Migration Pinot Noir Russian River, 2011 - List Price $33
Lincourt Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills, 2010 - List Price $20
Beaujolais
"Beaujolais is another great Turkey day wine with again a lighter structure and bright freshness it is great with a little chill also," said Lampasone.
Suggested bottles:
Villa Ponciago Fleurie la Reserve Beaujolais, 2009 - List Price $21.75
Wine Watch is located at 901 Progresso Drive in Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-523-9463, or visit winewatch.com.
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