Uncorked

The best wine picks for your Thanksgiving feast

Illustration by Kelly Brant
Illustration by Kelly Brant

Thanksgiving is a special time with family and friends to reflect on all we are thankful for, usually as we gather around a dining table laden with a vast amount of food ranging in textures and flavors. While your culinary creations will demand hours or days of preparation the wines needn't add to your holiday stress.

THE LARGE GATHERING

For an occasion where you have a large group with a varied range of wine preferences the ideal wines are those with versatility, that, most importantly, offer the best value. Large gatherings are not the place to bring out your splurge collector bottles. Stay with wines that are food friendly and generally familiar.

THE VALUES

2017 Lapis Luna Chardonnay, California (about $15 retail)

2018 Picpoul de Pinet, France (about $12 retail)

2018 Charles Smith Band of Roses Rosé, Washington (about $15 retail)

2018 14 Hands Merlot, California (about $14 retail)

2017 Parallele 45 Cotes du Rhone, France (about $15 retail)

2017 Sean Minor Pinot Noir, California (about $14 retail)

2018 Louis Jadot Beaujolais Village, France (about $14 retail)

THE NOON GATHERING

For Thanksgiving celebrations that start early in the day, I suggest lighter bodied styles of wines with lower alcohol content. Contrary to what you might expect, this recommendation does not limit your options. It actually offers the most ideal wine pairings for most Thanksgiving menus with refreshing white wines and light bodied reds. These wines are generally rosé, riesling, gewurztraminer, sauvignon blanc, picpoul, Spanish Cava, pinot grigio, pinot gris, Beaujolais, Spanish rioja and some pinot noirs.

THE VALUES

2018 Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewurztraminer, Washington (about $13 retail)

2018 Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (about $14 retail)

2016 Sables d'Azur Cotes De Provence Rosé, France (about $12 retail)

THE SPLURGES

2017 Terlan Alto Adige Gewurztraminer, France (about $26 retail)

2017 Gundlach Bundschu Gewurztraminer, France (about $21 retail)

2017 Trimbach Pinot Gris, France (about $30 retail)

THE DINNER GATHERING

For an intimate seated dinner celebration that provides the occasion to surround yourself with family, friends and amazing food and wine, this is the time to give your wines a special place at the table. The wines should still be straightforward -- refreshing whites and low tannin reds.

THE VALUES

2018 Chateau Bonnet Blanc, France (about $15 retail)

2018 Bell Red Blend, California (about $16 retail)

2018 A to Z Pinot Noir, Oregon (about $15 retail)

THE SPLURGES

2017 Presqu'ile Santa Barbara Pinot Noir, California (about $22 retail)

2017 Leon Beyer Riesling, France (about $26 retail)

Lorri Hambuchen is a member of London's Institute of Wines and Spirits. Contact her at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR 72203, or email:

[email protected]

Food on 11/20/2019

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