4 FRIENDSGIVING WINES TO DRINK IN 2021
Planning a low-key potluck with the homies? What about a full fledged turkey-fest extravaganza?
Thurstqueen has you covered with four different kinds of wine that will bring some sophistication to your Turkey Day - without breaking the bank of course.
FRIENDSGIVING WINE 1 -GEWÜRTZTRAMINER
Husch Anderson Valley Gewürtztraminer $11.99 @ Total Wine & More
If there’s a time to ever try Gewürtztraminer - Thanksgiving would definitely be it. This blowsy, billowy, floral, yet spicy wine is perfect for all those who love pumpkin spice everything. This zany white wine has loads of aromas of ginger, cinnamon and allspice, making it not only go well with turkey and gravy, but apple pie as well.
It seems like we just spoke about Gewürtztraminer a couple of weeks ago, and I can’t sing the praises of this grape enough. For those of you who check out this wine and see the mixed reviews on this puppy, I can happily tell you that the negative reviews I’ve seen were complaining about how this wine isn’t sweet.
Newsflash: good Gewürtz isn’t supposed to be sweet! It’s BONE FREAKING DRY. I’ll admit, before I tried the Husch Gewürtz, I was nervous about how this wine would taste. I find California Gewürtz to be really hit or miss, but I gotta tell you - Husch hit this one out of the park! This steely wine has loads of spices and minerality. It’s aromatic as all get out, and you’ll get loads of stunning white florals the minute you pour this beauty of a wine in the glass.
At $11.99 this wine is more than a good value - a perfect wine to kick off your Turkey-day celebrations!
FRIENDSGIVING WINE 2 - CÔTES DU RHÔNE ROSÉ
Domaine de La Mordorée La Dame Rousse - $22.97 @ Wine Château
Rosé - like beer - goes with just about anything. It’s a super casual wine that you can enjoy by the pool but you can also dress it up with more sophisticated meals like blistered Shishito peppers.
Most rosés we see at the store are typically Provençal-styled rosé. These dry rosés are a lighter-hued ballerina pink. This is not the case for Domaine de la Mordorée “La Dame Rousse” Côtes du Rhône Rosé. This wine is just as dry as a Provençal rosé, but it is way more serious and complicated. A shocking shade electric ruby in the glass, the Mordorée Côtes du Rhône rosé is the perfect type of wine to bring to your Friendsgiving bash.
Another type of rosé to consider from the Côtes du Rhône is Tavel. Tavel is Syrah-based - which is why the color is significantly darker. The heavy percentages of Syrah make Tavel strong enough to stand up to heartier meat-based dishes. There’s a common misconception - due to White Zinfandel - that darker rosés are sweet. Make no mistake, Tavel and most Côtes du Rhône Rosés are bone dry and like other Provençal rosés, have plenty of versatility.
With Tavel and some Côtes du Rhône rosés like Domaine de La Mordorée “La Dame Rousse”expect aromas of sun-ripened raspberries, fresh and crisp linen, and bright juicy watermelon. This regal rosé is casual enough to drink while implementing the finishing touches on your feast in the kitchen, yet perfectly serious to enjoy with turkey as well.
Wanna learn more about Tavel? Be sure to check out this article and find a killer Tavel under $10.00!
FRIENDSGIVING WINE 3 - GAMAY
Karim Vionnet Beaujolais-Village $21.00 @ Stanley’s Wet Goods
Lighter-bodied, versatile, and gluggable AF, Gamay is an LBD wine that goes with pretty much anything. If you’re interested in French Gamay, pick up a bottle of Beaujolais. Beaujolais is not too far from Burgundy, and both places produce killer lighter-bodied red grapes.
There are plenty of stunning communes that produce awesome Beauj, including Juliénas, Moulin-à-Vent, Chénas and Morgon. A Beaujolais from Morgon is probably going to cost you a bit more dough, so you may want to stick to Juliénas and Chénas.
With Beauj, you’re likely to get aromas of cherry jello, potting soil, banana, violets, and maybe even bubblegum. But don’t let that weird you out, really solid Beauj has loads of thirst-quenching acidity, making it the perfect wine to pair with turkey. Because it’s not too heavy, it won’t overwhelm poultry-based dishes either. Some Beaujolais are earthier and have an almost Burgundy-like mushroomy quality to them. This makes them a great bet for any Fall dishes with roasted veggies.
If you want to pick up some non-French expressions of Gamay - just look for bottles of Gamay Noir or bottles that read, “Gamay.” Tons of producers make Gamay Noir in places like Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez. If you think about it - those places are also great Pinot Noir producers like Burgundy, of course. Since this cerebrally-minded varietal grows in Burgundy and is neighbored by places none other than Beaujolais, it would make sense the Santa Ynez also produces killer Gamay as well because, well - similar climates.
I picked the Karim Vionnet Beaujolais-Village because it’s a great value expression of Beauj at under $30.00. With just the slightest chill, this wine is delicious and a true head-turner!
FRIENDSGIVING WINE 4 - MERLOT
L’Ecole No 41 Columbia Valley Merlot $21.95 @ K&L
Before you flip the table and leave at my mention of the word, “Merlot,” - hear me out. Merlot is having a moment and it seems like all that Sideways Hate is finally ebbing away. FINALLY.
Merlot is like a black dress - timeless, sophisticated, and it never tries too hard. This elegant, soft, restrained wine is versatile and way more of a team player than Cabernet Sauvignon. You also can find a lot of quality Merlots on the market for relatively cheap.
One of my favorite places that I routinely hit up if I want a good bottle of Merlot is Washington. Washington crafts elegant and restrained Merlot, with a lot of depth of flavor and intensity. L’Ecole is one of the older wineries in Washington, and is a property that has been around since 1983. All their vines are hand-grown and their wines are produced on the property. I used to sell L’Ecole, and this Washington producer definitely has a lot of respect among folks in the wine biz.
At under $30, this wine is a screaming value and is elegant enough to stand up to any Turkey dinner.