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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us November 22, 2005 Off The Vine Both red, white good with turkey Lorn Razzano Just as though we haven’t enough to worry about, the wine folks are in a tizzy about what to serve with traditional Thanksgiving fare. The camps are evenly divided (as they have since the Pilgrims had their first dinner) on the issue of red wine or white wine with Thanksgiving dinner. To make things a little more complicated, we have the emergence of the sweeter, off dry folks, who insist that dry white wine with turkey is at least a misdemeanor, maybe worse. Let’s look at the facts and see where you fall in the controversy. All of us know that turkey lovers also all fall into two very unyielding camps, those who like dark meat and those who insist on the breast of the bird. It is true that the breast, left alone, is the drier meat of the two and the traditionalist in the wine business say that a dry white wine served with the drier meat just does not work. These folks call for a wine with at least one percent residual sugar or more. They also argue that the sweeter yams and cranberry sauce lends itself to the wines with the sweeter backbone and more tropical bouquets. If you believe this theory (or have practiced it in the past) here are your choices: under 9.5 percent alcohol Rieslings, Gewuerztraminers and Muscats. The very nice Amabile white wines from Orvieto, Italy, are perfect if you are thinking of an off dry white wine. You might also try the Moscato D’Asti semi sparkling whites as well. These wines are fresh, sweeter and have slightly carbonated noses to them. These can be terrific offerings. For those of you wishing a dry white wine, the dry Gewuerztraminers from France and Oregon might just be the ticket. To pick a Gewuerztraminer so that it is on the drier side, choose one above the 11 percent alcohol and does not say “Late Harvest.” These wines have the best of both worlds, spicy bouquets with hints of allspice and cinnamon and a dry, thirstquenching finish. I love a dry Gewuerztraminer! If you enjoy Chardonnay, try to choose the softer, less woody styles out there. California is filled with superb Chardonnay. If you jump over the 13.5 percent alcohol level, you might find the Chardonnay to be a bit too “hot” for the meal. I think the great levels for Chardonnay, where Chardonnay displays its best all-around balance, is at 13 percent alcohol. One of the great white wine favorites for Thanksgiving has been the ever popular Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio) grown in Oregon and in northern Italy. Remember that Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are the same grape but grown in different locales. This very lovely white wine displays lovely, minerally fruit with a hint of pear and sometimes dry melon. The best are grown in northeastern Italy and the Willamette Valley in Oregon, both cool climate areas. OK, for the red wine lovers. Here’s the way to go: Pinot Noir from Northern California and Oregon. What a great wine for Thanksgiving! With its spicy fruit, warm and generous back flavors and light tannins, these red wines are just perfect with every level of Thanksgiving treat. Oregon has seemingly no end to beautifully balanced Pinot Noir for a succession of great vintages. There is also the beautiful Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) from Italy, which is just as lovely and generous in flavor as well as the terrific French Burgundies with their broodingly spiced flavors and toasty oak. The great French Burgundies are considered by many to be the great Pinot Noirs and are the home of this spectacular grape. Lastly, and also of great value in the red wine treats for Thanksgiving, are the layers and layers of superb, low priced Spanish Tempranillo on the shelves with rich flavors and superbly balanced oak. These wines are perfect for the budget minded who want real value for the buck. The increase in quality of these wines is outstanding, and the wines can be very lovely indeed! Well, these are my picks for this year. Happy Thanksgiving! DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Generic Viagra Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Sportsbook Absinthe Supply Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations African Safari Hammocks Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino King of Spirits ink cartridges Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams