In choosing a wine for
Thanksgiving, the big deciding factor is, are we talking sweet or dry?

There are both sweet and dry
wines that work with the typical Thanksgiving meals.

Best pairings will consider
what you or your guests like to drink and what foods you are having.

Whites are classic pairings with
Thanksgiving meals

My mother used to serve a savory turkey with a rich
stuffing, potatoes and some slightly sweet foods like yams with marshmallow and
cranberry jelly.  With that myriad
of flavors, something delicate, crisp, high acid and (possibly) slightly sweet
would work.  Some good Chaddsford
suggestions would be PROPRIETORS RESERVE WHITE because it has enough
acidity to cut through the bland turkey and hold up to the fattier side dishes,
or perhaps SUNSET BLUSH for it’s
balance of flexible fresh fruit. And I have no doubt that the zingy acid and
slight sweetness of our new ’08 RIESLING
would be a killer!

Chardonnays
also fit in this dry white category. 
I wouldn’t hesitate to use either the Chaddsford NAKED CHARDONNAY or the
more mature CHARDONNAY, MILLER ESTATE VINEYARD if the meal includes big rich
flavors like sausage and nuts (in the stuffing), buttery brown sauces, creamy
soups, or caramelly squash dishes, etc.

And then there
are Reds!

If
you like dry reds, a light red like our 2007 PINOT NOIR with its delicate, fruity flavors is a good choice.  The peppery violets and raspberry
character of the Chaddsford SYRAH
would also fit in the in the “light red” category.  I haven’t taken it for the test drive yet, but the 2007 ESSENCE would probably be a great
pairing too. Or, if the meal has spicy elements or other full, big flavors, try
the DUE ROSSI Italian blend.  Although turkey is light flavored, the
gravy and stuffing are often rich, but not quite rich enough to work with most
Merlots or Cabernets, particularly the big ones like Chaddsford Merican.

Sweet wines
will pair with a Thanksgiving dinner....

....when
most of the foods are sweetened. 
Especially if you or your guests just have an affinity for sweet
things.  In this case, you might
prefer the grapey and delicious NIAGARA.  And, if like a few people we know, you
serve ham instead of turkey, SPICED
APPLE would be the perfect wine. 
Either of these wines can also be served for dessert, of course, as
could the DESSERT RIESLING.

Don’t forget, if there are
enough people coming to dinner, you can

satisfy everyone’s
preference by serving more than one kind of wine!