Thanksgiving Wine

[Scoop]

For the past several Thanksgiving dinners, Zinfandel has been my main choice -- to very good effect with the wide range of dishes (and flavors) assembled (like Deloach's 1994 Gambogi Ranch, Topolos'Rossi Ranch, St. Francis, Ridge Lytton Spring). You wouldn't want to go for one of those "California Ports", but there are plenty of approachable and reasonably priced Zins out there that would be a wonderful companion to the feast. Rabbit Ridge, Burgess, Rosenblum and Rancho Zabaco are some consistent producers of affordable, tasty Zins.

Hey, more than any other variety, Zinfandel, despite its murky Adriatic origins,is considered an American grape, something very appropriate for this quintessentially American holiday!

But if patriotism (or red wine )doesn't do it for you, go with the Gewurtztraminer (the Lucien Albrecht 1998, Alsace, is dry, classic, nicely balanced and about $11)!

Cheers,

CM