I believe that a meal is not a meal if it is not accompanied by a good wine. And this year I wanted to make a little extra effort in selecting a few key wines that I’d showcase on my dinner table this Thanksgiving. To get a little help in the matter I went down to my neighborhood wine shop and bar, Ordinaire Wine, to get some professional help in choosing the perfect wines to complement my Thanksgiving dinner. Below is a list of the wines I chose based on my good man Ethan’s recommendations:

2011 Céline & Laurent Tripoz Fleur d’Aligoté

To get the party started I chose a little bubbly to accompany the appetizers. The reason is simple: Champagne and other sparkling wines—Cava, Prosecco, Moscato d’Asti, included—are not just great party wines, they’re also the most versatile wines for pairing with food. I went with the 2011 Céline & Laurent Tripoz Fleur d’Aligoté. Very dry, bright, and refined. A great wine to start a night with.

2006 Nikolaihof Riesling Federspiel Vom Stein

I love Rieslings. A lot of people hear Riesling and think “sweet” wines not ideal for food pairings. Well, I’m here to contradict this belief and advocate for Rieslings. Austrian Rieslings, such as the one I chose, are dry, structured wines with stony, pure, shimmering mineral flavors that dominate the palate, yet are never heavy or out of balance. The particular Riesling I chose, the 2006 Nikolaihof Riesling Federspiel Vom Stein, is rich and fleshy, juicy and complex, with a nutlike quality, perfect to compliment the main feast.

2012 Julien Altaber Sextant Maranges

For those who prefer a juicy, red wine with their meal, I went with a magnum bottle of the 2012 Julien Altaber Sextant Maranges. This beautiful Pinot Noir is from a plot of land that the producer recently bought in the newest of the Burgundy appellations - Maranges. This lies just outside Saint Aubin and exhibits very good terroir which is why the area has been elevated to AOC status.

I highly recommend you visit Ordinaire Wine to get Ethan, Bradford or any of the other knowledgeable and friendly staff to help you pick something perfect for your meal.

And since we’re talking about wine…don’t forget to join us 12/6 and 12/13 as we drink and eat our way through the Urban Wine Trail. A portion of the sales will go to the Alameda County Community Food Bank. Click here to buy your tickets.

 

Happy Thanksgiving friends!

About Raquel Navarro and See.Eat.Love

Raquel Navarro is the founder of See.Eat.Love. a food tour company that offers food lovers intimate culinary strolls through Oakland’s diverse neighborhoods. Raquel and her team of knowledgeable ambassadors – many with culinary training, cooking experience, or food writing backgrounds – take guests on gourmet adventures to get a look behind-the-scenes into the best of Oakland’s acclaimed food communities, where they will discover delicious edible treasures one bite or sip at a time.