Don’t you just love this time of year? Everything that the fall brings in is just a treat for all the senses. The leaves changing colors, the clean and crisp air, the pumpkin flavored…..well, everything, football in all its glory, and of course, Thanksgiving. I always find Thanksgiving to be the purest of holidays. There’s no stress about buying presents, dealing with the angry mobs at the mall and no having to remember to keep that whole Santa thing a secret around the little ones (especially after a couple of Egg Nogs!!).

Thanksgiving is all about being thankful for everything that you have, giving something back to those less fortunate, spending time with family and friends, eating hedonistic amounts of turkey, potatoes, stuffing and whatever funky soufflé comes out of the family cookbook, and of course, enjoying the wines that are being served for the day.

            Because of all the different foods, flavors, spices and textures that are typically part of the Thanksgiving meal, there are so many pairing options that will work based on the types of wine you prefer. The one thing to try and avoid is overpowering the meal with the wine. So you may want to shy away from those huge California Cabs as they can be a bit much. But if you want to go with a fun red wine, the one that my family and I love to drink at Thanksgiving is Zinfandel.

Similar to Cabernet, there will be lots of fruit right up front. But the nice part about Zin is that it is typically not as oaked, which can give wines that buttery, woody, vanilla flavor. What you get with the Zins is usually lots of spice, pepper, and hints of the oak characteristics. Match that up with turkey and stuffing and you have a winning combo. It is also arguably one of the oldest grapes grown in the US, so you’re doing your job as a Patriot as well.

Some of my favorites on the value side will be anything from Ravenswood, Rosenblum or Rancho Zabaco. Barefoot Cellars and Pepperwood Grove have Zinfandels for under $7 that are really tasty, especially for the price. If you are willing to spend a little more St. Francis and Seghesio put out some of the best Zins around, and the Turley Zins are truly the Gold Standard. In general, if you can find a Zinfandel that comes from Lodi, Amador, Dry Creek or Napa (all areas in Cali) you will be in great shape.

In the Rhone Valley of France, there are lots of Cotes du Rhones wines that are made up of Syrah, Grenache and sometimes Mourvedre (can be called GSM blends in Australia and California). Like the Zinfandel, these wines should have a nice spice and pepper component. But wines from this area of France tend to be a bit earthier and more subtle. There should still be lots of berry and fruit flavors, which will go really well with everything (especially the cranberry sauce!!).

Some very reasonable ones come from E. Guigal, Perrin & Fils, Louis Bernard and Delas. Chateau de Beaucastel puts out a Cotes du Rhones that will run about $25-30 but it is well worth the price from a value perspective….drinks close to their Chateauneuf du Pape (we’ll get into that in another post but for those who don’t know that is some kick ass French wine!)

There are those that will argue that white wines are the way to go with Thanksgiving dinner. While I tend to enjoy the reds more with this meal, I can’t say I fully disagree with the theory. When Chardonnays have that nice acidity to it (which makes them really clean and crisp) combined with the apple, pear and hint of vanilla flavors, it certainly makes sense to match that up with the turkey and all the trimmings. I would probably avoid the huge oaky, buttery ones though. The same way the big Cali Cabs can overpower the meal, the same goes for the big Chards.

 However, if you can grab a Chardonnay from Castle Rock, Columbia Crest, Echelon, or Acacia you will find those desirable characteristics at a great price. For about $20 you can move up to the Cambria Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay from the Santa Maria Valley. This one drinks like a Chard twice its price. It has this wonderful smoky flavor, without being overpowering, that would work really well for Turkey day.

Lastly, there is a large contingency in the wine world that feels Riesling is hands down the best pairing for Thanksgiving dinner. I certainly would not argue against it, but if I am going to serve a sweet style wine with a meal I would go with the Gewurztraminer any day of the week (especially that Thursday!). Gewurz will be sweet like Riesling, but also possesses nice floral, peach and tropical fruit flavors that are very food friendly. The great part is that it is grown in many places of the world that can provide a bit of a cooler climate where it can flourish, which leads to some great deals.

Chateau St. Michelle (Washington) is one of my favorite values, as well as Trimbach and Wilim Vineyards from Alsace, France. Also, if you find anything with a Dr. in front of it from Germany (i.e. Dr. Loosen), you’ve got yourself a winner. The Dr. Konstantin Frank Gewurztraminer from the Finger Lakes in NY is a very well made wine and a great way to keep it local, well sort of…..

Once again, the main thing is to serve something that you know you will enjoy, and hopefully your guests will too. So if you have a huge Italian family who feels any wine not made in Italy is pure crap, ignore everything I said above, go grab some Chianti and Gavi (which would also totally work with this meal) and enjoy! Here’s wishing everyone a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving, from my family to yours….Salute!

     As I was sitting down to post the latest installment of WWG, my thought was to focus on some interesting white wines I have recently tasted that are truly made for the changing of the season. But just as I got started, my friend emailed me with a request to write a blog that would help him choose an appropriate wine to bring to someone’s house when invited over for dinner. I thought this was a great idea and needed to be addressed ASAP, as I know it is a common dilemma. So the blog on Fall and Winter Whites will just have to wait….

First off, you DO NOT need to spend a lot of money to get a really nice bottle. There are those in the wine world that believe the more expensive the bottle, the better the wine. Nonsense! That is not to say that very expensive wines are not good, most of them are delicious. But a lot of times you are paying for the name brand, or the rarity of the wine.

Many wine shops will carry some of their own labels that you can’t really find anywhere else. They are typically wines that are made at some of the better known wineries in California, but instead of bottling it, the wineries sell it to a secondary label. By grabbing some of these lesser known brands, you are getting good quality fruit without having to pay the price for the name.  Each store has their own gems so ask your local merchant if they have any wines they carry exclusively. I know the Bottle King chain throughout NJ has a few (Dickson Mills Cab and Chard being my favorites), and Zachy’s in Scarsdale has the Bookster label which has solid wines across the board.

So I guess my first point is not to buy something just because it is expensive. If you know that your hosts are fans of a particular wine, and they are of the belief that more expensive is better, than by all means grab a bottle of Silver Oak, Cakebread or Caymus Cabernet. You won’t go wrong. But if you would rather reach for something on the value side, try bringing the Artesa Cabernet or the Justin Winery Cabernet from Paso Robles. If you look at the wine magazine ratings, a lot of these less expensive wines are rated higher than the big dogs anyway!

Another good tip is to bring a wine that you know your hosts enjoy or can connect with. If your friend is a fan of the Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, which is one of the most popular around (and a great go to wine), try bringing something similar she may have not tried before, like the Chateau St. Jean Sonoma Chardonnay. Or maybe your host and hostess just got back from a vacation in Italy. So a Chianti Classico or a Super Tuscan (a red blend usually consisting of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot grapes) may help remind them of their trip, and it shows that you’ve actually been listening to their stories.

I also like to try and bring wines that come from the hosts family’s country of origin.  It works out wonderfully for those whose families come from Spain, France, Italy, Argentina or Hungary. My wife’s parents both came over from Hungary, so I tried to bring over Tokaji, some of the best white desert wine made in the world, as much as possible! Since it tends to carry a bit of a hefty price tag however,  it’s now more for special occasions.  Beware….if you are visiting friends of Irish or English descent, you may want to avoid this strategy unless you’re bringing over beer (which could also work out well!!).

Lastly, try and bring something that you know YOU would enjoy drinking. Many hosts will open up the wines that people bring as gifts. It’s not a rule, but unless they have some sort of a collection or have fully stocked up for the evening, chances are that your wine will be served. So go with something at least from an area that you are familiar with so you can be confident it will be enjoyable and won’t disappoint.

It is difficult to put together a list of what to bring as there are so many different variables involved. But below I have tried to put together some options based on different varietals (the grape used for producing the wine i.e. Cabernet, Chardonnay, Merlot, etc) , prices and wines that are readily available at most wine shops. I also want to add that if you ever are looking for a specific recommendation, idea, or just have a general question about wine, feel free to post a comment. I check this blog often and will be able to respond pretty quickly most of the time. Salute!

WINERIES THAT HAVE GREAT VALUE WINES ACROSS THE BOARD:

Columbia Crest, Beringer, Artesa, Kendall Jackson, King Estate, Geyser Peak, Castle Rock, Barton and Guestier (B & G), Banfi, Veramonte, Wolf Blass and Peter Lehman.

SPARKLING WINE/CHAMPAGNE

Under $15

Gruet Brut and Brut Rose (New Mexico….Really it is from New Mexico and delicious!!)

Korbel Brut Rose (California)

Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut (Spain)

La Marca Prosecco (Italy)

$16-$30

Mumm Cuvee Napa Brut ( California….don’t let the Meet the Parents stigma fool you)

J Brut Rose and Cuvee 20 Brut (California)

Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut and Rose (California….the Rose got 93 Pts from Spectator)

$31 and up

Basically any Champagne you pick out above this price will be delicious, a few of my favorites are Piper-Heidsieck, Veuve Clicquot, Henriot Brut Souverain, Nicolas Feuillatte and the Moet and Chandon family of Champagnes.

WHITES

Under $15

King Estate Pinot Gris (Oregon)

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viogner (California)

Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay (Washington)

Brancott Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand….Marlborough great area for Sauvignon Blanc in general).

Zenato Pinot Grigio (Italy)

$16-30

Cambria Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay (California….one of my new favorites)

Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc (California)

Pio Cesare Cortese Di Gavi (Italy)

Louis Latour Chassagne Montrachet (France)

Dr. Konstantin Frank Riesling (New York)

$31 and up

Mer Soleil Chardonnay (California)

Far Niente Chardonnay (California)

E. Guigal Condrieu (France)

Joseph Drouhin Mersault (France)

Cloudy Bay Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)

REDS

Under $15

Louis M Martini Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon (California….all their Cabs are great)

Angeline Pinot Noir (California)

Columbia Crest H3 Merlot (Washington)

Banfi Centine (Italy…great Super Tuscan value)

Delas Cotes Du Ventoux (France)

Bodegas Hijos de Juan Gil (Spain)

$16-30

Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet (California)

Cambria Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir (California)

Whitehall Lane Merlot (California)

Tenuta Dell Ornellaia Le Volte (Italy…2nd label from one of best wineries in Italy)

Chateau de Clairefont Margaux (France)

Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz (Australia….great boutique winery)

$31 and up

Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Gold Label (Italy)

The Prisoner from Orin Swift (California….amazing Zin/Syrah blend)

D’Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz (Australia)

Turley Zinfandel (California…there are many different vineyards….ALL excellent!)

Chateau La Nerthe Chateauneuf du Pape (France)

Archery Summit Pinot Noir (Oregon…again, there are a few different vineyards, but all are great depending on what you want to spend)

 

            The old adage don’t judge a book by its cover transcends many different facets of our lives. We are all guilty of it at times. It could be in meeting someone for the first time, or opting out of buying a new CD because of the jacket cover. In a recent marketing fad there are a number of wines that have funny, and sometimes downright racy, labels. While some are just good for a chuckle, some of these wines are well worth checking out. Granted none of them are going to win any wine of the year honors. However, in terms of value there are some real finds that are readily available out there. Here are some of my favorites.

            Let’s start with the Magnificent Wine Company located in the Columbia Valley, Washington. Their wines are the ones with the very plain black and white labels that just say House Wine, Steak House, Fish House, etc. However there is nothing plain about these wines. They are producing some great Cabernet blends on the red side and Chardonnay blends for the whites. They have been highly rated in the top wine magazines (Spectator, Enthusiast, etc.) and for good reason. The same goes for the Red Truck Wines, which is actually an offshoot of Cline Cellars in Sonoma. They also produce a variety of reds, whites and roses under the Red Truck, White Truck and Pink Truck labels. While all the labels feature classic American trucks, these are not “powerhouse” wines. The blends are extremely well structured, balanced and food friendly (so much so that my wife and I served it at our wedding!). You can find all of these wines for under $10, making them all terrific values.

            Also coming out of California is The Big Red Monster (which locally you can find by the glass at The TapHouse in Tuckahoe, NY). The label is a comedic spoof for a promotion of an old style horror movie. The wine is nothing but good California juice made by two of the best winemakers in Cali (Bob Pepi and Jeff Booth).  They figured out how to keep the costs down without losing the quality of a fun Zinfandel/Syrah blend. It has lots of big fruit, spice and even a little vanilla to smooth it out. Fun drinkin’ wine!

            I saved the two most “inappropriate” labels for last. I am sure you have seen the fat Italian guy sitting down, sipping wine with a giant Il Bastardo label above him. Don’t be scared! He’s a pretty good dude, and the wine in his bottle is quite tasty for under $8.  It is pure Sangiovese from Tuscany, the same grape they use in Chianti. The wine has lots of ripe cherry, nice tannins and a delicate feel. Grab a bottle the next time you are doing a pizza and pasta night.

            Then there’s the Bitch….and no I am not referring to (fill in the blank with whoever came to mind). The label just has a pink oval with the word Bitch in it.  My wife likes to bring a bottle of this to parties as a fun gift for the hostess. However, after trying it for the first time at a barbeque….the Bitch rocks!!! It is a Grenache from Barossa, Australia and really has a lot going on. It has the strawberry and cherry you would expect, but it also has an earthy, smoky quality that is quite intriguing. Since you can get this at most places for around $9 a bottle, it is clearly another winner. Again, the key to finding a lot of these deals is doing a little research on where the wines are made and possibly if they are affiliated with a winery that you already like. And of course the fun part, keep tasting new things!

            Have you found a fun labeled wine that you’re into right now? I would love to hear about it….

               RECESSION…..it seems the word is impossible to escape these days. You can’t turn on the TV, pick up a newspaper or have a conversation without it coming up. Some economists argue we are coming out of it, others say it may last years. While of course we hope that this is a short lived situation, there is one major upside to this current state of our economy….VALUE WINE!!!!

            This recession has reached all facets of industry, and the wine and spirits sector was hit as hard as any out there. There are many people, including myself, that consider wine as a part of everyday life.  However when the cash flow slows down, it is a lot tougher to buy those bottles that are just out of your normal wine price range, and even tougher to make that splurge purchase on that special bottle. But the same way clothes shoppers may have taken a break from Nordstrom and Neiman’s to hit TJ Maxx or even Old Navy (gasp!), wine lovers are taking the less expensive road as well.  And since the wineries and distributors are aware that is where they are making their money during these tough times, they have afforded us, the consumer, some great deals out there. The trick is to be able to distinguish the deal from the just average bottle of inexpensive wine.

            For example, sure you can buy the Woodbridge Cabernet for around $5-7 a bottle at most stores. It is a staple inexpensive wine and is fairly drinkable for the price. But for the same $6-7 a bottle you can also pick up the Columbia Crest Two Vines Cabernet-Merlot Blend which includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc as well as Merlot. It is a really fruit forward Bordeaux style blend that has great structure, a smooth finish and is quite food friendly. The same goes for Barefoot Cellars Zinfandel at $6 a bottle. While all of the Barefoot wines are decent, the red Zin is made from Lodi (California) fruit, the same area where some of the best Zins in the world come from! Then there’s McMannis Family Vineyards. Depending on the store, the wines are usually around $10 and can even go as low as under $8. Again, all their wines are quite good, but the Petite Sirah is a clear standout. Full of big fruit, chocolate and even hints of licorice, it drinks like a bottle twice the price.

     You can also find a number of deals from less popular, yet up and coming, wineries from other countries (aside from France and Italy). There are some great Shiraz and Cabs coming out of Australia (Barossa being the best area in the region). Roo Estates is producing some very jammy and rich reds at under $8 a bottle. I am sure most people know the Yellow Tail label, which puts out a very decent entry level Shiraz and Cab. But if you spend a couple dollars more, still around $10-11 a bottle at most stores, and jump up to the Reserve there is a tremendous difference in quality…especially in the Shiraz!

     It is important in the smaller market wine regions to know which specific areas are the good ones. Then it is worth taking a shot at something on the inexpensive side. For example, in Argentina you want to find Cabs and Malbecs from Mendoza. In Spain, Ribera del Douro, Rioja, Jumilla and Priorat are where the best reds are made and in Portugal there are some wonderful red blends coming out of Douro.

            The most important thing is to keep trying new wines. Talk to your local wine merchant and see if they have something a little out of the ordinary on sale. Many times, if they have an excess of inventory, they may be looking to unload an older vintage. As long as it is within the last 5 years or so, and the wine has been stored properly, you can find some excellent deals that way as well. Just make sure if you take the wine home, open it and it is corked or gone (smells like vinegar or and old shoe), that they will refund you. After all, even the good deals should still bring full enjoyment!