Celebrate this Thanksgiving with a bottle of local flavour

Our Thanksgiving celebration is about giving thanks for the season’s harvest, so you will naturally want to drink local.

And because it’s a family event, the wine choices should be pleasant and not pretentious. If you have some favourite purchases from a Niagara trip, there’s no better time to share them.

Thanksgiving meals often take place mid-afternoon or early evening so I suggest that you also focus on lighthearted wines. My shopping list consists of wines previously recommended but I think you’ll enjoy having them all together as a local team. Go Canada.

Start by getting your folks in a cheerful mood with Pelee Island’s yummy Gewurztraminer Reserve. Don’t ask them if they want white or red, just pour this so everyone begins on the same page. Put both Cave Spring Chardonnay and Henry of Pelham Pinot on the table for the big bird and tell people to help themselves.

Pour the semi-rich Colio CEV Merlot after supper, maybe with local cheddar. And finish with the delicious sweet, raspberry wine (Framboise) and a chocolate dessert — or pumpkin pie. Chill the framboise.

• Join me at Southern Accent restaurant on Tuesday for my monthly Moody Tuesday Wine School. We’ll begin with wonderful Segura Viudas Brut sparkling with appetizers, then taste three whites and three reds … followed by a tasty Southern buffet. Lots of fun and great value (everyone also gets a copy of my book — Billy’s Best Bottles Wines for 2006. For more information, visit www.billysbestbottles.comthen click Billy’s WineSchool.

Tickets: $65. Starts at 6:30. Call Southern Accent to reserve at 416-536-3211.

Billy Munnelly is author, wine critic and publisher of Billy’s Best Bottles Wineletter and Billy’s Best Wines For 2005. Visit www.billysbestbottles.comfor information about his in-home wine-tasting seminar. To receive a free copy of Billy’s Best Bottles Wineletter, e-mail info@billysbestbottles.com.