Local wine merchant Doug Reichel discusses the Thanksgiving holiday and which wines and foods to pair.
Let’s face it: the term Thanksgiving is a hard sell, both commercially and personally—the advertising industry and our human nature seem to foment discontent.
Thanksgiving, however brief, presupposes satisfaction brought about by gratitude. Gratitude is an antidote to greed, the desire for more.
I wonder if he was thinking about that when Jesus said to some people, “Look! Protect yourself against the slightest bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even if you have a lot” (Luke 12 vs. 15 The message)
It’s interesting how wine and food and gratitude seem to travel together in so many cultures. Celebrating the food harvest, honoring milestones in a person’s life such as birthdays and anniversaries, a national or religious festival, a reunion with acquaintances, friends or family over a meal.
Wine is at its best when it’s communal, when it invites others to share and join in. Like other alcoholic beverages, wine is at its worst when used for avoidance and manipulation.
Our Thanksgiving holiday is a wonderful time to bring food and wine together. Yes, a good wine is a wine to enjoy, but not all wines go well with all foods. I’m a clumsy dancer to music, but I do it anyway.
You may feel a little awkward choosing the right wine to go with the food you’re serving, but do it anyway. Below are some wines that would pair well with some of the food you might enjoy – they are available at one or more local liquor stores… (e.g. Urban Cellars). Enjoy the dance!
These foods: Turkey, roast and grilled chicken, all pork based (ham, pork ribs, grilled pork sausage), Asian or spicy East Indian, grilled or smoked salmon, trout, pike, pike, vegan and vegetarian dishes, sausage board, lentil and garden vegetable salads and potato salads, Brie, Edam and Gouda cheese.
These wines:
Redstone Limestone Vineyard Riesling VQA -Canada
Selbach Riesling Kabinett (Green Fish Label) – Germany
Selbach (Detzemer Maximiner Klosterlay) Riesling Spätlese – Germany
Terra de Lobos Sauvignon Blanc and Fernao Pires (bottle) – Portugal
Terra de Lobos White (3 Liter Bag in Box) – Portugal
(Bottle shots: Selbach Riesling Spatlese, Limestone Riesling, Terra de Lobos White (3 liter case)
These foods:
Red Meats – Wild and Local (beef, bison, elk, venison steak, smoked brisket, beef ribs, hamburger, grilled sausage, meatloaf, lamb, duck, goose, etc.), lasagna, pasta dishes, pizza, charcuterie board, stronger/aged cheddar and hard cheeses.
These wines:
Ares de Medeiros Red – Portugal
Medeiros Regional Red – Portugal
Chateau Canada – France
Finally! Shiraz – France
Goru Red – Spain
Las Hermanas Seleccion (Orange Label) – Spain
Terra de Lobos Red (3 liter bag in box) – Portugal
(Bottle Shots: Medeiros Regional Red, Goru Red, Las Hermanas Seleccion)
Doug Reichel is the owner of Doug Reichel Wine Marketing. He can be reached at [email protected]
The views expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Moose Jaw Today, Moose Jaw Express, its management, or its affiliates.
