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French Vouvray wines, Pacific rim or South African Chenin Blancs are classic companion wines to serve with roast turkey breast and other white meats, as I learned long years ago from the fabulous Fritzi Haskell.
Mellow, good-value B&G Vouvray offers tasty Loire Valley quality. I also recommend Pacific-coast Chenin Blancs from Dry Creek Vineyard, Sutter Home, Beringer, Bogle and Covey Run.
Other good white-wine choices include off-dry Rieslings, Gewürztraminers and Pinot Grigios.
Again this year, good-value Fetzer 2006 “Valley Oaks” Gewürztraminer led its varietal class in awards. Kendall-Jackson 2006 “Vintner’s Reserve” Riesling led its class in value, as did 2007 Pinot Grigio from Barefoot Cellars, Fetzer and Little Black Dress.
Other top-ranked 2005 gold medal Gewurz includes good-value Jekel Vineyards and top-value Sutter Home “Family Vineyard Selection.” I also admire lively, spicy Columbia Valley Gewürztraminers from Ch. Ste-Michelle and Columbia Crest.
I greatly admire German Rieslings, especially recent vintages from Mosel River vineyards. Look for Piesporter and Bernkastler “Kabinett” (off-dry) and “Spaetlese” (medium-dry) Rieslings from such popular, top-value Qualitätswein brands as St. Gabriel, Josef Friederich, Josef Mueller, Schmitte Sohne, Santa Christina and Zimmermann Graef, plus “Blue Nun” and “IQ” Rheinhessen brands and “Blue Fish.”
This hemisphere’s premier, premium-priced Riesling — Chateau St. Michelle Columbia Valley “Dr. Ernst Loosen” Riesling — displays matchless craftsmanship and artistry; it has frequently ranked among the world’s “Top-100” wines.
Pink wines also go well with roast turkey. This season’s leader is good-value Little Black Dress 2006 Syrah Rose.
Sparkling wines are ideal and elegant choices for Thanksgiving turkey dinners. Crisp, tinted and tasty, good-value Korbel Blanc de Noirs won top honors in its moderate price class, as did colorful Korbel Brut Rosé. Frequent front-runner and good premium value Mumm Napa Valley Blanc de Noir won top honors at the 2008 California State Fair.
Gallo’s gold-medal, perennial-bargain bubblies — mellow Ballatore Gran Spumante and tinted, lightly-spiced Ballatore Spumante Rosso — both can add a distinctive and festive touch to holiday turkey dinners.
The classic companion wines for dark turkey leg and thigh meat are Pinot Noirs, considered by many to be the world’s finest red dinner wines.
Good premium-value Hahn Estates 2006 Monterey Pinot Noir leads this year’s award winners. Other good California Pinot Noir values include Blackstone, Mondavi, Mirassou, Smoking Loon and Kendall-Jackson Vintners Reserve.
Various lighter turkey-friendly red wines from southern France include B&G Cotes du Rhone, Paralelle 45, Fleurie or Beaujolais Villages from Georges DuBoeuf, plus Black Box Shiraz and Beaujolais-styled J. Lohr Monterey “Wildflower” Valdiguie.
