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Wines to Accompany Thanksgiving
From Kiwilimón for you

Wines to Accompany Thanksgiving

By Shadia Asencio - 2020-11-05T11:37:23Z
Gratitude connects us uniquely to reality: it takes us 180° away from drama and invites us to be active observers of what happens right under our noses. With a ‘thank you,’ we materialize who we are, what we have, what is and what is not free. And if we have learned anything this year, it is that not everything is given. We must be thankful for occupying a place in space; to be, to still be.

The celebration of Thanksgiving is perhaps the most enviable aspect of North American culture. The third Thursday of every November marks the celebration of the first harvest of the English colonists in American lands. Gratitude becomes a feast, a symbol, a universal intention. For those who practice the Presbyterian faith, it is probably more important than Christmas. Those of us who profess anything else do so to raise vibrations, to befriend the universe, or even just to enjoy good food. (Enjoying good food is always a celebration.)

In addition to bringing out the inherited china from grandma, the finely embroidered tablecloths, and the cut glass goblets, one must plan the menu. Regardless of whether you are new to Thanksgiving or not, make sure your table has a delicately roasted turkey, a silky gravy made from the turkey drippings, seasonal ingredients like pumpkin from Castilla –in puree, pie, or whatever–, a good salad with beets and cranberries, and of course, wines to accompany it all.

Don't worry. Here's a general pairing guide for Thanksgiving. I assure you that if you follow it, you won't lack harmony between food and drink, nor harmony itself.

The basics:

- Don't bring the oldest bottle from the cellar or the most tannic one to Thanksgiving. I recommend chilling your wines from grape varieties with good acidity and medium structure.

- If you want to make a toast, it's best to take out your flute glasses and fill them with bubbles. The Chilean sparkling wine Montes Sparkling Angel is made using the champenoise method, so it will be ideal for clinking glasses and if you save a little, it will pair well with the pumpkin pie for dessert.

- For whites, say yes to grapes like oaked chardonnay or gewurztraminer from Alsace or Germany. If you prefer something Californian, go for a Wente Riva Ranch Chardonnay, whose vanilla notes pair well with sweet potato or potato puree.

- If you prefer red wines, I recommend one that has just been released from the cellar, like Beaujolais Nouveau –it makes its triumphant entry into the market just a few days before Thanksgiving–. The fruitiness and acidity of the gamay grape that gives rise to this French wine pair well with a buttery, juicy turkey.

- Another wine to uncork on Thanksgiving is a Californian pinot noir. My favorites for this celebration are from Anderson Valley, but if you can't find them easily, a Louis Jadot Bourgogne Tinto will be perfect for the evening. Enjoy it especially alongside the turkey stuffing.
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