This time of year one of the most common questions in wine shops across the United States is what wine goes with turkey? Answers range from full-bodied whites, to light Pinot Noirs, to the just released Beaujolais Nouveau. But instead of trying to come up with a universal answer, the response should be another question: what sides are you serving?
While the turkey is clearly the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinner, it is a fairly blank canvas when it comes to wine pairing. The side dishes are what set the tone of the meal. Here are some suggestions followed by names of a few producers. Don’t worry if you can’t find the specific producers, there are many wonderful possibilities.
This article appears in Nov 18-24, 2009.