Turkey and Wine Pairing – Part 1
“If food is the body of good living, wine is its soul”– Clifton Fadiman
Six days and counting until Turkey Day! Thanksgiving is a feast of food, family, friends and celebration for most Americans. I would like to focus on the evolution of the holiday to represent the time honored tradition of eating, drinking, playing tag football and a brief rest before the shopping madness for Christmas starts.
“If it grows together, it goes together” should be taken into account when looking at pairings with Turkey and many other traditional Thanksgiving foods. For the red wine lovers in the group my focus today will be on Hahn’s Pinot Noir, an American wine from Monterey county (www.hahnwines.com).
Hahn Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a lighter varietal that pairs well with poultry and grilled meats. Hahn’s Pinot Noir has hints of cherry, strawberry and spices.
PositiveVines ‘HelpfulTip : Pinot Noir is often compared against Cabernet Sauvignon varietals in terms of body and boldness. Pinot is much lighter and should be enjoyed within 4 to 5 years of bottling. Cabernet Sauvignon can age quite well for 10 to 20 years.
The Hahn Pinot Noir vineyards are located in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County. The Santa Lucia Highlands are known for having rich soil in a cooler mountainside climate. Customers described this wine as having a slight hint of tannins. The tannins provided a smooth balance to the initial fruitiness.
Hahn’s everyday offering of Pinot Noir’s averages $14 a bottle. This makes it easy to stock up for the holidays. If you’re willing to spend a little more, Hahn has a SLH variety (Santa Lucia Highlands-remember) that starts at $40 bottle with Wine Spectator ratings of 90 and above.
Let me know what you think! Post to my blog or email me. I’m thrilled to hear from wine enthusiasts. I will be back before Thanksgiving to talk about a good Turkey pairing for the white wine lovers in the group.