Champagne Is the Only Wine You Need for Thanksgiving
In most homes, the Thanksgiving meal does not change much from year to year, and yet there is always a lot of puzzlement over which wine to pair with turkey and trimmings. The answer is simple: champagne.
I am not a sommelier, but I am quite sure of this (correct) opinion of mine. Champagne or another good dry sparkling wine from a region other than Champagne is the best choice on Turkey Day for many reasons. First, it’s holiday AF, and – especially if you’ve cooked a turkey – you should celebrate. Second (and more importantly), its sour, vibrant, effervescent nature makes it the perfect foil for the salty and greasy foods that make up a good Thanksgiving menu. When in doubt, eat potato chips dipped in sour cream and wash them down with a sip of champagne. Your life will change forever. But even with the salt and fat aside, champagne isn’t bad with anything. Although dessert wines should technically be sweeter than the desserts they are served with, I ate champagne and quiche and loved it.
If, for some very strange reason, you are bored with simple bubbles, you can always make a cocktail . The French 75s are my favorites, but I also love this cranberry syringe and has been known to treat Elizabeth Taylor from time to time.
Finally, not every bottle of sparkling wine you serve needs to be champagne with a capital letter. As explained in this video , there are many wines that are made in the style of Champagne but are made from grapes outside of the Champagne region. If you’re unsure of what to buy, just head to the liquor store, or Trader Joe’s, or whatever wine botanist’s location, and tell them you want a champagne-style wine that fits whatever your budget. (Wine nerds love to be helpful.) My plan is to drink one really good bottle of champagne and then add cheaper champagne when I’m a little drunk and my palate is dull. Feel free to borrow this brilliant strategy; works every time.