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Before you know it,
Thanksgiving will be here! In addition to all I’m grateful for, this has me
thinking about wine. And dinner. Our table usually numbers more than 30. We’ve
been known to have three turkeys (roasted, grilled, and deep fried) and
everyone contributes their favorite side dishes.
Many wines pair
nicely with turkey, but when it comes to Thanksgiving Dinner, there is so much
more happening! A beautifully roasted bird may take center stage at the buffet
table, but the meal itself is all about the sides. We tend to overload our
plates with those beloved side dishes—crowding that sliced turkey into a
hodge-podge patchwork of fabulous flavors, textures, and colors. That’s right where
tradition slowly changes and grows for the better.
I mean, before JoJo
joined our Thanksgiving celebration, we didn’t have jalapeño-spiked cheesy corn
at the table. Now her Texas influence is an integral part of our annual
tradition. For me, pushing some spicy, creamy corn into the mashed potatoes and
gravy was an obvious move, but when Uncle Fran’s bittersweet orange-cranberry
chutney mingled in . . . a serendipitous flavor bomb!
Chardonnay is
definitely one of the go-to favorites for Thanksgiving Dinner. It’s versatile
yet familiar. And Chardonnay is known to play well with others. Whether you’re
serving dinner this year or you’d like a nice bottle to present to your hosts,
here’s a guide to some of our favorite Chardonnay trios for 2020.
Lighter Chardonnay Trios
For milder fare, we
suggest a lighter Chardonnay. Think classic turkey dinner with simply prepared
vegetable dishes, ambrosia salad, and Parker House rolls. We think these
Chardonnays offer a nice combination of refreshing fruit crispness and soft
minerality to pair nicely with a classic Thanksgiving meal.
Bolder Chardonnay Trios
If JoJo is coming to
dinner with her jalapeño-spiked cheesy corn, you may want to consider a bolder
Chardonnay. The toasty notes and creamy finishes from these oak-barreled wines
will stand up nicely to a more flavorful buffet table. Did I mention Cousin
George’s deep-fried turkey or Ron’s bourbon-glazed sweet potatoes?
Kendall Jackson Vintners Reserve #28615
Bread and Butter California Chardonnay #28652
Mixed Chardonnay Trio
California & Oregon Chardonnay #28661
Thanksgiving 2020 is
going to be smaller, but we’ll still be incorporating some favorite traditions.
I found a used deep-fryer online and my son is going to give that a try. (We’re
ordering a smoked turkey for backup just in case. I have a feeling Cousin
George made it look a lot easier to deep-fry a turkey than it really is!) There
won’t be nearly as many sides as usual, but I’ll definitely make JoJo’s
jalapeño-spiked cheesy corn. I took over Uncle Fran’s orange-cranberry chutney contribution
many years with his blessing. So that delicious trifecta bite is happening.
The size of our gathering will be smaller, but Thanksgiving will be the same: good food, good wine, and so much to be grateful for.
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