Fabbioli Cellars
Fabbioli Cellars has the best wines, whether you are taking some as a gift when visiting friends or you want to pour something special at your own feast. The Fabbioli Cellars’ dinner reds are some of the best in Virginia, with refined tannins and wonderful flavors, from our lighter, Chianti-styled Chambourcin and our peppery Cabernet Franc to our full-bodied Tres Sorrelle and our new Tannat. And you wouldn’t want to forget the dessert wines that everyone loves. Our Raspberry Merlot and the Black Raspberry Rosa Nera are both fabulous with just about any holiday dessert.
Loudoun Valley Vineyards
Pondering the right Thanksgiving dinner wine pairings? Thanksgiving dinner can be a wine connoisseur’s hardest wine-pairing day of the year because of the multiple variations of food! The range spans from mashed potatoes with fresh gravy to marshmallow-covered sweet potatoes to cranberry dressing to Jell-O with fruit and vegetables inside, and more.
Simply put, the purpose of pairing food with wine is to enhance your dining experience. The wine should enhance the food and the food should enhance the wine, creating a symbiotic relationship that improves both.
The key to successful Thanksgiving dinner wine pairings is versatility. With so many different foods we need a wine that will be able to “go with the flow,” so to speak. Try not to think in the extremes for either white or red wines.
Whites
White wines with lively fruit and acidity and little to no oak are also versatile. With aromas and flavors of citrus, apple and pear and zippy acidity plus herbal notes,
- Tramminette has a spicy character that sets it up for cranberry, fall fruit chutney and pumpkin or butternut-squash soup flavored with baking spices.
- Chardonnay — the less oak the better — has similar versatility, and its full body makes it appropriate for creamed dishes.
Reds
Rosés made from Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Syrah or Mourvedre grapes or blended proprietary rosés have acidity to balance the citrus, red and stone fruits and usually sport structure and a long finish but light tannins. Syrah and Mourvedre have the spice, dark fruit and berries to bring out the best in cranberry sauces as long as the wine has soft tannins and ripe, forward fruit and the sauce is balanced — moderately tart and not too sweet.
Dark meat will also benefit from these reds.
No matter what is on your Thanksgiving table — red, white, sparkling or sweet wine; turkey or roasted duck — everything will taste better in the company of family and friends.
Steve Brule
You can also get some tips about wine from our friend Dr. Steve Brule. For your wine!
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