What is the best wine for Thanksgiving?

What wine should I serve with Thanksgiving dinner? This is probably one of the most common wine questions ever asked. The answers for this question may be as numerous as the amount of times it has been asked. The reason this holiday becomes such an obstacle to easy food-wine pairing involves the diversity of flavors found at the typical Thanksgiving table. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberries, sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, broccoli-rice and cheese casserole (my favorite), and more depending on where in the country you are from. This wide reaching menu lends itself to an equally wide ranging selection of wines.

The list of wine suggestions you may come across is long. The ones most common would probably include:

Whites:

• Sauvignon Blanc
• Gewurztraminer
• Pinot Grigio
• Riesling
• Gruner Veltliner (one of my favs)
• Albarino
• And Champagne

Reds:

• Pinot Noir
• Zinfandel
• Gamay
• Syrah
• Rose
• Cabernet Franc (one of my favs)

As I mentioned already, lots of choices! Most wine critics tend to mention the same wines. They also tend to mention not drinking certain wines as well. How about we try to make this a simple. Drink what you enjoy!

Wow, can it really be that simple? I know that wine-food pairings are all the rage and I am not saying there is no merit in this. Sometimes I do try to match the wine to the food I am making. For instance if I am making fish, then I will most likely be drinking white. What white will be decided based on the overall components of the meal. If I am having steak, then I am having red. Most likely something bold. So why not go through all of this with Thanksgiving? You can. For me, Thanksgiving is about family, fun, and food and wine. I want to drink something that I really enjoy. So if for whatever reason, the wine I am wanting to drink is not one that was previously listed…so what! I drink what I want to drink!

Do I want Merlot? Maybe a nice Mourvedre. Maybe…God forbid…I want to drink a Chardonnay! Most wine experts will tell you to remember the ABC, Anything But Chardonnay. Well, if I want Chardonnay guess what I will be drinking…Chardonnay!

So what wine do you drink this Thanksgiving? WHAT YOU WANT!