By Linzi Gay
Your Thanksgiving Table
The guest list may look a little different and the menu a bit more restrained than usual this year. But no matter what your Thanksgiving celebration looks like, the table is still the centerpiece of this food and wine-centric holiday.
It can be a challenge to select an assortment of wines that please the many palates that gather together for the holiday, let alone wines that pair with the variety of dishes that make up the Thanksgiving meal. But it’s a challenge that Clif Family Winemaker Laura Barrett was eager to accept. We asked her what Clif Family Wines will be on her table this year and she was quick to answer with three of her favorites.
- Gewurztraminer is a great white wine for Thanksgiving. With spicy palate appeal, Gewürztraminer can bring out the best in your appetizers, turkey, and everything in between. Our 2018 Clif Family Gewurztraminer shows off a bright burst of fruit and spice with a rich mid-palate, nice acidity, and a long finish. You’ll be drinking it long after the turkey has left the table.
- Grenache is another food-friendly wine that will hold its own with a variety of dishes on the table. The earthy flavors of Grenache go well with traditional Thanksgiving herbs and spices like rosemary, sage, and thyme. Our 2018 Grenache has just the right amount of fruit with a rich and structured core that makes it the perfect wine to fill your glass mid-dinner, just as you are about to dive into the stuffing.
- Bordeaux-style Red Blends offer a nice alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon on the Thanksgiving table. While Cabernet is always a crowd-pleaser, you can spice up the dinner table conversation as well as your palate with an interesting blend. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, our 2017 Climber has all the richness and tannins you need to round out your wine selection.
Now that you have the wines figured out, how about spicing up your menu a bit? Add a few new dishes to your Thanksgiving roundup with these recipes from our Executive Chef John McConnell. And if you need more menu inspiration including appetizers, sides, and main dishes, our blog is chock full of seasonal recipes.
Pour a glass of Gewurztraminer and pull out the appetizers. We have pulled together our favorite tips for building a Holiday Cheese Platter with all the bells and whistles.
Spice up your vegetable game with our Sweet & Spicy Ginger Glazed Carrots. Our Solar Grown™ Ginger Honey Spread is the star ingredient in this tasty dish.
And for the ultimate side dish, Chef John’s Roasted Caramelized Brussels Sprouts never disappoint. This is a favorite winter dish at the Clif Family Bruschetteria Food Truck and will pair perfectly with that Climber Red Blend in your glass.
Let’s raise a glass together to a Thanksgiving that may be different than year’s past but will still bring us the joy and comfort of the holiday season.