While Christmas may still be a few weeks away, when it comes to buying wine for your holiday feast it’s never too early to talk turkey.
You might think that with all the sweet, sharp and herbaceous side dishes that typically tag along with a classic roast turkey dinner, finding an appropriate wine match would be a challenge. The good news is that the big bird is surprisingly forgiving when it comes to a liquid partner.
If you like a touch of green apple sweetness pick a bottle of German or Australian riesling. For something that swings to the drier side, choose a gooseberry-infused sauvignon blanc from New Zealand or France’s Bordeaux region.
I’m a chardonnay kind of guy at heart so a lightly oaked and tantalizingly tropical New Worlder like Concha y Toro’s 2008 Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay ($17.95 – $24.99) from Chile is one of my go-to holiday favourites.
If red is more your style, think a fruit-infused pinot noir from New Zealand or California, a cherry-berry Italian Chianti Classico or, for something completely different, an Argentinean made from malbec.
Next week I’ll ham it up with holiday wine picks for the other traditonal meat.
Prices reflect the range across the country. Some products may not be available in all provinces.
Peter Rockwell is the everyman’s wine writer, working in the liquor industry for more than 25 years and traveling the globe looking for something to fill his glass and put into words.
