Originally published on November 24, 2010.
Since Suggestion #6 involved a wine I couldn’t even sell, these next suggestions center on wines exclusively available at Frankly Wines. OK, the wines aren’t exclusive to my store, but I dare you to find all these ones at any one place…other than Frankly Wines!
All horn tooting aside, last year, it became very clear that many customers really don’t want to think too much about what they’re serving for Thanksgiving. Sure, there are plenty of customers that do want to discuss the intricacies of their various side dishes or the specific ingredients in their stuffing, but they’ve generally not doing their shopping the day before Thanksgiving. For those last minute shoppers, I’ve put together three different 3-Packs. Each includes a red, white, and rose, all boxed up and ready to grab and go.
Here they are:
THANKSGIVING WINE 101
All three of these wines were Frankly Wines best sellers. They’re all tasty, easy-drinking crowd pleasers that won’t offend your turkey (or your crazy aunt.)
Sebastiani Chardonnay 2007 (Sonoma, California): Creamy Chardonnay goodness balanced by a crisp citrus edge. This is even a hit with those who “don’t like Chardonnay”
Mark West Pinot Noir 2008 (California): Bright, pure fruit with a hint of spice. Not too heavy, not too light – it’s the ideal accompaniment to a table full of Thanksgiving treats.
Crios Rosé of Malbec 2009 (Mendoza, Argentina): Made from the Malbec grape, this is a rose with a kick. Big fruit, big spice – it’s a red wine that just happens to be pink.
PRICING:$36.99 (regular price $40.97)
TURKEY DAY UPGRADE
Show your bird a little love and upgrade the liquid portion of your dinner These grape varieties are just one or two steps removed from the usual suspects – without being weird or wine geeky.
Markus Fries Bernkasteler Schlossberg Kabinett 2007 (Mosel, Germany): Almost-dry Riesling from a tiny producer. Despite fears to the contrary, that tiny bit of sweetness is what makes this a perfect paring for nearly anything.
Noëlla Morantin Mon Cher Gamay 2008 (Loire Valley, France): Think of Gamay as Pinot Noir’s vibrant country cousin. This one is made by a young winemaker from fruit sourced from the culty Clos Roche Blanche vineyards.
Nigl Zweigelt Rose 2008 (Kremstal, Austria): Nigl is a tip top producer in Austria. Zweigelt is a red grape rarely (ever?) seen outside of Austria. And this rosé is a smashing blend of fresh berry fruit and a white pepper kick.
PRICING:$49.99 (regular price $57.97)
THANKSGIVING ADVENTURE PACK
Face it – turkey day food can be a little boring. But you can bring an a little adventure to your table with this 3-Pack. Yes, these wines are at the bleeding edge of wine geek coolness, but they also happen to be pretty tasty. Don’t be scared….
Bornard Arbois Pupillin Melon Le Rouge Queue 2006 (Arbois, Jura, France): In the Jura region, Chardonnay is called “Melon.” But the taste is totally different. Pure, clean fruit with a slightly sherry-like tang. Weird but good.
Cos Cerasuolo Vittoria Classico 2007 (Sicily, Italy): A blend of Nero d’Avola and Frappato from Sicily. You can taste the Sicilian sunshine, but not in a cooked way. It’s all bright cherries, fresh earth and a whiff of spice.
Lopez de Heredia Todonia Rosado 1998 (Rioja, Spain): From one of the last 100% old school producers in Rioja, this is not your typical rosé. A perfect balance of sherry-like tang, exotic spices and ghosts of fruit.
PRICING:$74.99 (regular price $97.97)