Easy to Find Thanksgiving Wine Recommendations

November 16, 2022 By

You have just over a week to get to the wine store to find the ‘perfect’ bottle for Thanksgiving. In the USA, more wine is sold around Thanksgiving than any other holiday. Choices can be overwhelming with so many wines at various prices and for bottles that need to please people with very different palates.

One additional challenge I often hear from my wine drinker friends is that wine compilations are often for wines that aren’t easy to find or for wines that are available on limited bases. The following recommendations are for easy-to-find American wines for Thanksgiving at various price points.

Sparkling Wines for Thanksgiving

Sparkling wine should be on hand for any celebration and Thanksgiving is no exception. Bubbly is food-friendly and it’s simply festive! Whether you pour a glass as an aperitif or pop open a bottle to pair with richer foods, don’t leave sparkling wine off your holiday table.

Gruet Winery Blanc de Noirs NV, New Mexico, $16.99

Chandon California Brut Sparkling Wine NV, $17.99

Mumm Napa Brut Rosé NV, $17.99

Decoy by Duckhorn Brut Cuvee Sparkling NV, $19.99

Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rose NV, $32.99

Sparkling Pointe Brut Seduction NV, $52.99

2010 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Cuvée, $88.99

Thanksgiving White Wines

Riesling, Viognier, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer are always top picks for Turkey Day with big flavors and great acidity that are a great match for white or dark meat and for the bold flavors of candied yams and spiced dressing. Here are 10 American white wines for Thanksgiving:

2015 Ravines Wine Cellars Dry Riesling, $19.99

2015 Red Newt Riesling Tango Oaks, $19.99

2016 Lenz Gewurztraminer, $20.99

2019 Stags Leap Viognier, $24.99

2020 Trisaetum Riesling Dry Coast Range, $26.99

2021 Pedernales Cellars Viognier Reserve, $42.99

2016 Grgich Hills Chardonnay, $43.99

2016 K Vintners Viognier Powerline, $49.99

2018 Ramey Chardonnay Rochioli Vineyard, $78.99

2018 Domaine Serene Chardonnay Evenstad Reserve, $64.99

Thanksgiving Red Wines

While Pinot Noir is THE go-to red varietal for Thanksgiving as it pairs well with most foods, the mighty Zinfandel with a touch of smokiness is also a great option especially for dark meat and meat stuffing. Here are 10 American red wines for Thanksgiving:

2019 Evolution Pinot Noir, $19.99

2019 Seghesio Zinfandel Sonoma, $19.99

2019 Turley Zinfandel Juvenile, $29.99

2019 Enroute Les Pommiers Pinot Noir, $32.99

2016 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir, 2016, $38.99

2015 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Russian River, $39.99

2017 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Russian River Valley, $39.99

2018 Penner Ash Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, $44.99

2019 Ridge Zinfandel Geyserville, $45.99

2017 Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast, $49.99

When you head off to the wine shop, plan on one bottle of wine per adult, with more just in case.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
4 May 2022 2019 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Los Amigos and Limerick Lane

2019 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Los Amigos and Limerick Lane

May 4, 2022 By

I’ve been a huge fan of Limerick Lane Cellars (www.limericklanewines.com) wines for many years. This boutique Sonoma wine producer makes some of my very favorite California Zinfandel and this bottle was outstanding. I love their motto “while we lack pretension, we are very serious about our craft”.

I was fortunate enough to visit Limerick Lane in 2019 and their place is intimate, tranquil and just magical. The tasting room is mere feet from the vineyard and we had an opportunity to spend time in the field and on the patio after our tasting.

We enjoyed this Russian River Valley wine on Easter where I served grilled lamb chops and it was an amazing pairing.

At this price point for such a delicious wine, I’m sorry I only have two bottles left in the cellar. Only 325 cases of this wine were made, so if you can get your hands on some, do it. I can’t wait to taste the newer releases.

Looks: Inky dark red in the glass

Smell: Inviting dark berry and cherry with some mocha and herbal (sage?) notes on the nose

Taste: Ripe strawberry and raspberry with some peppery notes on the palate

Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, with great acidity on the long finish

Pairings: Grilled beef or lamb. Would be great with skirt steak tacos

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Old vine Zinfandel

Region: Sonoma County, CA

Price: $48

Cheers, Veronique

Filed Under: United States, Wine Reviews, Zinfandel Tagged With: , , , , , ,
21 July 2021 2017 Sean Minor North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 Sean Minor North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon

July 21, 2021 By

About Sean Minor Wines

The goal of Sean Minor Wines is to make enjoyable, approachable, quality wines that won’t break the bank. The popular California North Coast wine producer doesn’t own vineyards and instead sources fruit from some of the top sustainably conscious growers in California and Oregon.

About the 2017 Sean Minor North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon

I uncorked this affordable California Cabernet Sauvignon the other night to pair with cheese burgers and it was a perfect pairing.

The wine had lovely dark berry aromas and it was smooth with a small amount of tannins. For that price, admittedly I don’t drink a lot of Cali Cabs at this pricepoint, I thought it was a nice glass of wine! This wine is easy to locate at wine stores across the country, even in this vintage from a few years back.

Looks: Dark ruby red in the glass

Smell: Dark berries, cassis notes

Taste: Juicy dark cherry and blackberry flavors with some coffee notes on the finish

Texture and Finish: Full-bodied, light tannins, smooth, dry finish

Pairings: Grilled meats – beef or lamb, cheesy burger

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: North Coast, CA, USA

Price: $21.99

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
7 July 2021 2019 Early Mountain Vineyards Shenandoah Valley Cabernet Franc

2019 Early Mountain Vineyards Shenandoah Valley Cabernet Franc

July 7, 2021 By

This Virginia wine was in my April wine club pack put together by The Cork Report. There were only 370 cases made, so finding a bottle could prove challenging, but definitely worth it.

Photo by Early Mountain Vineyards

About Early Mountain Vineyards

Early Mountain Vineyards is a 350-acre property situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The popular Virginia winery was voted the number one USA tasting room by USA Today in 2016.

Early Mountain Vineyards was acquired by Jean Case in 2012. Case, a philanthropist, is the Chairman of the National Geographic Society and CEO of the Case Impact Network and the Case Foundation. Her primary vision in buying the winery was to advance respect for Virginia wines.

One of the first things Case did after buying the winery was hire Ben Jordan, a native Virginian, as Winemaker. Jordan started his winemaking career in Sonoma County, CA and was the GM and Winemaker with Michael Shaps Wineworks in Charlottesville, VA prior to joining Early Mountain Vineyards. Jordan and Early Mountain align on a philosophy “to craft high quality wines that showcase a commitment to the vineyard and the expression of place”.

About the 2019 Early Mountain Vineyards Shenandoah Valley Cabernet Franc

The 2019 Early Mountain Vineyards Shenandoah Valley Cabernet Franc shows what kind of wines can be crafted when left to the care of an artisan like Ben Jordan. More Burgundy than Bordeaux in style, this Virginia Cabernet Franc is a delight of dark fruit and berry on the nose and palate with a smooth/silky texture. I served the wine with grilled steaks and roasted mushrooms and it was outstanding.

Looks: Medium ruby red in the glass

Smell: Dark berries, plum and tobacco aromas

Taste: Juicy dark cherry and ripe raspberry/blackberry flavors with some leather/earthy notes

Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, medium tannins, smooth, dry finish

Pairings: Grilled meats – beef or lamb, cheesy burger, roasted mushrooms

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Cabernet Franc

Region: Shenandoah Valley, VA, USA

Price: $30

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Cabernet Franc, Red Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
16 June 2021 2018 Gary Farrell Russian River Valley Chardonnay

2018 Gary Farrell Russian River Valley Chardonnay

June 16, 2021 By

This 2018 Chardonnay by Russian River Valley’s Gary Farrell Vineyards proves yet again that everyone should have an open mind about California Chardonnay. Unoaked Chardonnays lovers will enjoy this wine with its nice level of acidity and cripness while more traditional Cali Chard fans will appreciate a glass of this beauty with its touch of oak.

The nose is of juicy ripe lemon/pink grapefruit. Great balance between the Meyer lemon/lime flavors and the richer flavors of honey and juicy peach. Crisp and refreshing.

Simply a beautiful example of what this Russian River Valley pioneer and Winemaker Theresa Heredia produce together. Plus, so much value at this price.

Pairings: Brie or Camembert cheese, seafood like lobster or crab, cheesy quiche.

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Chardonnay

Aging: 8 months in 30% new French oak

Region: Russian River Valley, CA, USA

Price: $35

This wine was provided to me for sampling and I’m adding to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Chardonnay, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
2 December 2020 2019 Limerick Lane Rosé

2019 Limerick Lane Rosé

December 2, 2020 By

I wrote about my visit to Limerick Lane Cellars after my last Sonoma County winery tour. The place is amazing, and I highly recommend a visit next time you’re in wine country. Very intimate setting with very knowledgeable staff and some of the very best wines in Sonoma.

As part of my allocation, I ordered a few of the rosé bottles as it’s a special wine. The creation of the Limerick Lane Rosé was inspired by Jake Bilbro’s 2012 visit to Southern Rhone region of France then Provence.

The grapes for the 2019 Limerick Lane Rosé are grown and picked specifically for this wine and not a saignée of Pinot Noir or Zinfandel. If you’re fortunate enough to find this wine (less than 500 cases made), buy buy buy!

Looks: Medium salmon in the glass

Smell: Inviting juicy citrus and floral notes on the nose

Taste: Zesty citrus, ripe strawberry on the palate

Texture and Finish: Light-bodied, with great acidity with a dry/clean finish

Pairings: Seafood (specially oysters and mussels), fish (ceviche would be great). Great as an aperitif but so food friendly also

Style: Rosé Wine

Grape Type(s): 50% Syrah, 27% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache & 3% Grenache Blanc

Region: Sonoma County, CA

Price: $28

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Grenache, Mourvedre, Rose, Blush Wine, Syrah / Shiraz, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

2018 No Curfew Pinot Noir

November 11, 2020 By

The 2018 No Curfew Pinot Noir is part of the Amici Cellars and Olema Wines family from Calistoga, California, known for expertly crafted wines of character, quality, and personality.

I’m trying to incorporate a few wines I’ve never sampled, priced under $15, every time I go to the wine store. This medium-bodied Pinot Noir was found on one of my shopping trips and I need to stock up on it and check out the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon No Curfew also produces. It  drinks young and fresh with cherry cordial flavors and a lovely velvety finish.

The 2018 No Curfew Pinot Noir is affordable, a very enjoyable easy drinking wine and I’m digging its motto of “Because Limitations Are A Drag”.

Looks: Dark garnet red in the glass

Smell: Bright cherry and dark berries aromas with notes of tobacco

Taste: Chocolate-covered cherry and ripe strawberry with a little spice on the palate

Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, spice on the long finish

Pairings: Duck, turkey, mushroom-based dishes (mushroom risotto would be stellar), grilled salmon, a great cheesy burger

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir

Region: California, USA

Price: $14.99

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Pinot Noir, Red Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

10 American Rosé Wines to Enjoy this Fall

September 23, 2020 By

While conventional wisdom might suggest we stop wearing white on Labor Day and reserve our rosé drinking to summer, it doesn’t have to be so (well, perhaps on the wearing white part).

Recent Nielsen stats (as reported in Wine Business Monthly) show that Rosé wine sales in the U.S. are the fastest growing of any wine category at a growth rate of over 40% annually.

Rosé wine was once known as a summer patio sipping wine, but its food friendliness and its many excellent medium to heavy-bodied examples have changed the perception and now rosé is popular year-around. While there are many light-bodied rosé wines best served as aperitifs or lighter dishes, many can hold up to the heartier foods served in the fall.

Here are 10 American rosé wines to enjoy this fall:

Gruet Brut Rosé ($14.99) – Deepest pink color in the glass with moussy bubbles and intense red berry favors. I’m a huge fan of Gruet and you need to check them out. 100% Pinot Noir from New Mexico.

2019 Flowers Sonoma Coast Rosé of Pinot Noir ($19.99) – Lovely salmon-colored in the glass, this delicious wine is lighter than some of these others, but it’s elegant and offers peach and strawberry flavors with great acidity and we’re not always eating short ribs in the Fall! Bonus: it comes in a magnum. 100% Pinot Noir from Sonoma, CA.

2019 Stolpman Estate Rose Ballard Canyon ($19.99) – Deep pink in the glass, this wine offers big juicy strawberry flavors and the winemaker goes as far as suggesting it be paired with a steak. 100% Grenache from Santa Barbara, CA.

2019 The Withers Rosé ($19.99) – Salmon-colored in the glass, this medium-bodied wine offers big cherry and peach flavors with floral notes. 100% Pinot Noir from the Sierra Foothills, CA.

2019 Bedrock Rose Ode to Lulu Sonoma Valley ($20.99) – If you love the fab Bandol rosé of France, this will be right up your alley. Vibrant wine with ripe berry flavors and a hint of pepper on the long finish. 65% Mataro and 35% Grenache from Sonoma Valley, CA.

2019 Paumanok Vineyards Vin Rosé ($21.00) – In the glass, the color is deep pink. This is a semi-sweet wine that would be super paired with Thai food or other spicy cuisine. Rosé blend from North Fork of Long Island, NY.

2019 Red Tail Ridge Pinot Dry Rosé ($24.99) – If you can find/order wines from this winery – do it. This rosé is a big mouthful of ripe raspberry with a bit of cranberry tartness. 100% Pinot Noir from the Finger Lakes, NY.

2019 Ehlers Estate Sylviane Rosé ($32.00) – This lighter pink color is deceiving as it’s a full-bodied wine with big strawberry jam and juicy peach flavors. Great acidity on the long finish – perfect food wine. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc from Napa Valley, CA.

2018 Milbrandt Vineyards Rosé ($35.99) – Much fruitiness on the palate but a mix of berries and dried fruit like cranberries which would be great with pasta in a creamy sauce. Just a touch of herbes de Provence on the finish. 73% Syrah, 27% Tempranillo from Columbia Valley, WA.

2016 Benton Lane Pinot Noir Rosé ($38.99) – Bright pink in the glass, this intense wine has flavors of cherry pie filling with some cranberry tartness. 100% Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, OR.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Rose, Blush Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
22 July 2020 Virtual Tasting with Dracaena Wines

Virtual Tasting with Dracaena Wines

July 22, 2020 By

Last week, I participated in an informative Zoom wine tasting with Lori Budd of Dracaena Wines. I’ve done a few virtual wine tastings since the start of the pandemic, and this was fun with tons of great info sharing about the winery and Paso Robles.

About Dracaena Wines

Lori and her husband Michael left corporate America, and New Jersey, four years ago to live out their dream in Paso Robles, California. Through hard work they’ve grown to producing over 400 cases of wine yearly.

Dracaena, pronounced [druh-see-nuh], is the scientific name of the plant better known as the Draco plant. The name allowed the couple who come to winemaking from scientific backgrounds to also honor the memory of their Weimaraner, Draco, through their winemaking business.

We tasted three wines: 2019 Rosé of Syrah, 2017 Reserve Cabernet Franc and the 2017 Cabernet Franc Classic.

2019 Dracaena Wines Rosé of Syrah

Lovely Provence-style rosé that would be great with food but also perfect for sipping on a warm day. This has bold flavors and definitely not a wimpy, watery rosé (amen to that).

Looks: Dark rich pink/coral color in the glass

Smell: Fresh, ripe strawberry

Taste: Juicy strawberry and raspberry with some floral notes

Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, crisp, great acidity, dry finish

Pairings: Grilled fish, roasted chicken, creamy cheeses or as an aperitif on a warm day

Style: Rosé Wine

Grape Type(s): Syrah

Region: Paso Robles, CA, USA

Price: $20

2017 Dracaena Wines Reserve Cabernet Franc

Single clone, single vineyard (Plummer Vineyard) Cabernet Franc. According to Lori “not made to taste like bell pepper” which I can absolutely appreciate.

Looks: Dark ruby in the glass

Smell: Dark fruit, black berries with smoky/mocha notes

Taste: Ripe raspberry, dark fruit, chocolate/leather notes

Texture and Finish: Medium-heavy bodied, rich, medium tannins, medium finish

Pairings: Grilled/roasted red meats, aged cheeses, ribs

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 100% Cabernet Franc

Region: Paso Robles, CA, USA

Price: $45

2017 Dracaena Wines Classic Cabernet Franc

This wine received a stellar 92 points from Wine Enthusiast and is a big boy that could benefit from some cellaring to attain its full potential. For the tasting, I used my aerator and it saw an immediate softening. Lori stated it could easily go 10 years in the cellar.

Looks: Dark purple/red in the glass

Smell: Dark fruit (raspberry/cherry)

Taste: Ripe raspberry, chocolate-covered cherry, pumpkin pie spice

Texture and Finish: Medium-heavy bodied, rich, medium tannins, medium-long finish

Pairings: Grilled/roasted red meats, aged cheeses, beef short ribs would be especially tasty

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 95% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petite Syrah

Region: Paso Robles, CA, USA

Price: $34

Wine Club

Dracaena Wines has a very popular wine club called Chalk Club where fans of their wines can become members by buying three bottles twice a year at a minimum. A progressive discount is offered for folks who remain members. Members can choose either all red wines or a mix of red and rosé. For more information on Chalk Club, visit: https://dracaenawines.com/chalk-club.   

Dracaena Wines are distributed through the winery, available online for purchase and available at many places.

Lori teased by telling us that 2020 will bring about a Chenin Blanc from Clarsburg and I cannot wait to get that in my glass.

Cheers,

Veronique

Note: Wines were provided by Dracaena Wines complimentary for this tasting.

Filed Under: Cabernet Franc, Petite Syrah, Red Wine, Rose, Blush Wine, Syrah / Shiraz, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

2017 Mooncrest Sauvignon Blanc

July 8, 2020 By

This 2017 Mooncrest Sauvignon Blanc is an affordable, light, fruity easy drinking porch sipper.

Looks: Pale yellow in the glass

Smell: Pink grapefruit, grassiness

Taste: Green apple, juicy pear, sweet citrus on the palate

Texture and Finish: Light, crisp, good acidity, dry finish

Pairings: Oysters on the half shell, grilled fish, aperitif on a warm day

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Santa Clara Valley, CA, USA

Price: $14.99

Cheers,

Veronique

This wine was provided to me for sampling by https://wineinsiders.com/ and I am adding it to my repertoire as it’s enjoyable.

Filed Under: Sauvignon Blanc, United States, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
Next Page »