Thanksgiving Wine
Wine... it's what we are Thankful for!
It’s time to start planning the most important meal of the year, Thanksgiving dinner. Before you select your farm fresh turkey, mash your potatoes and bake your pumpkin pies, first think about which wine pairs best with such an array of dishes. Luckily I have you covered, and the folks at Sparkman Cellars in Woodinville will take care of you.
First up is the most versatile wine that Sparkman Cellars produces: their Birdie Riesling. Before you start to say, “I don’t like Sweet wines” let me tell you this is not your parents’ sweet Riesling. This wine is dry, meaning it’s not sweet, yet it has a fruity quality including apples and peaches alongside a pleasant minerality. A flavor that stands out to me is that of Bosc pears, which is perfect with your Thanksgiving Turkey, pear cranberry sauce, and even those pumpkin pies.
Birdie is a big deal and a big deal. Not only does this wine pair well with the variety of your Thanksgiving menu, but it’s also only $18 dollars. At this price point it will fit into your holiday budget! Birdie was named #7 on Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Wines of 2014, which might impress the family even before they try a glass!
Now that we have white wine covered for your holiday table, let’s focus on a red wine. The classic red wine pairing for Thanksgiving is Pinot Noir. Sparkman Cellars does not disappoint when it comes to their 2014 L’Autre Pinot Noir. This 100% Pinot Noir comes from Oregon’s Willamette Valley and only 133 cases were produced. L’Autre Pinot Noir has a funky forest floor quality that makes a great companion to my scalloped wild mushrooms. The L’Autre Pinot Noir is fragrant with raspberry, cranberry, and cinnamon. This Pinot truly emphasizes the flavors of a classic thanksgiving menu.
Sparkman Cellars has been in operation since 2004, owned by Kelly and Chris Sparkman. Their hands-on approach is apparent in Sparkman Cellars’ tag line, “Family. Good Livin’. Damn Fine Wine”. Sparkman Cellars is all about family and their high quality tasty wines. Visit at their tasting room in the Woodinville Commons or make a weekend trip to the winery in the warehouse district. And we can all give thanks for good wine!
33 Likes, 7 Comments - Shaun Myrick (@shaunmyrick) on Instagram: "Tough day at the office! Writing up my #thanksgiving #wine article and doing 'research'..."
