Nantucket Insider welcomes guest blogger Craig Hanna, Cellar Master of TOPPER'S at The Wauwinet for his picks on perfect wines to pair with Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving is a holiday that has more of a food component than any other. That being said, it is often a relaxing, drawn out meal with a wide assortment of dishes and flavors. To pick a singular wine can be difficult. I do recommend several different wines if there will be a fair amount of family members or guests (see below).
When focusing on the turkey and stuffing, I often find it a perfect match with a very American wine, red Zinfandel. Pinot Noir falls a close second. My recommendation would be a very high quality producer who focuses in this direction; Rafanelli Zinfandel. This winery in the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma creates a wine with moderate spice and not over the top alcohol level that some Zins achieve. The family's heritage turns back to around 1900 with a focus on quality. The hitch is that the wines are not available in retail, just from the winery or in fine restaurants (hint, hint). Reservations please... My other wine suggestions for the meal would be New World Pinot Noir, New World Chardonnay, Rose Champagne, and dry Riesling. Craig Hanna, Cellar Master, TOPPER'S at The Wauwinet