While food may be the star of Thanksgiving Day, an extra special array of drinks can greatly enhance the holiday.  In Bucks, we are lucky to be surrounded by a trail of local vineyards with fine, hand-crafted wines.  Scattered across the county, you can find just about any type of wine to pair with your meal- dry, sweet, white, red.

Best of all, as Thanksgiving marks the end of the harvest season, it makes perfect sense to mark the occasion with one of Bucks County's newly released harvest wines.  Read more about Harvest Wines and other popular pairing options for Thanksgiving dinner as recommended by local experts.

Chaddsford Tasting Room (Peddler's Village)

Assorted Wines from Chaddsford

Some good Chaddsford suggestions would be PROPRIETORS RESERVE WHITE because it has enough acidity to cut through the bland turkey and
hold up to the fattier side dishes, or perhaps SUNSET BLUSH for it’s balance of flexible fresh fruit. If you like dry reds, a light red like our 2008 PINOT NOIR with its delicate, fruity flavors is a good choice. Another wine I think works beautifully is the very light elegant 2009 DRY ROSÉ OF SYRAH with its graceful berry flavor and mouth-watering acidity. I haven’t taken it for the test drive yet, but the 2007 ESSENCE would probably be a great pairing too. Or, if the meal has spicy elements or other full, big flavors, try the DUE ROSSI Italian blend. Although turkey is light flavored, the gravy and stuffing
are often rich, but not quite rich enough to work with most Merlots or Cabernets, particularly the big ones like Chaddsford Merican.

Crossing Vineyards

Tom Carroll Jr. hand harvesting fruit

Le Nouveau 2010
On the red side for Thanksgiving, my personal favorite is Le Nouveau. This light, lower in alcohol red wine represents the first fruits of the harvest and is vinified using a traditional French method called “maceration beaujolaise” or “maceration carbonique.” This process transforms the grapes from vine to wine in about 30 days. Le Nouveau’s sunny simplicity makes it read like a pleasant sauce for your buttery, rich turkey and all its yummy fixins’.  Price : $15

Riesling 2008
Riesling fans will love the way this versatile white wine pairs with Thanksgiving fare. Often recommended as a complement to spicy Asian food, Riesling also works well with the zesty flavors present in many holiday dishes. Finished dry or sweet, Riesling can be a real standout and a perfect pairing at your holiday table. Price: $17

Pinot Noir 2008 The traditional wine to serve on Turkey Day is Pinot Noir. Crossing's 2008 Pinot is the ideal “middle of the road” wine, not too heavy (like a Zinfandel, perhaps) or too light (like the Beaujolais Nouveau), but just “agreeable” enough to go with any food  on the typical Thanksgiving menu. Price: $22

Wycombe Vineyards

Everything Nice Festive Spice Wine. Bouquet of warm apple pie. Our holiday spice wine is made from Chardonnay grapes, sugar, spice and everything nice. Serve warm. Perfect for the holiday get togethers or cozy night in watching the snow fall.
$16 bottle

New Hope Winery

2010 Nouveau Beaujolais, due out this Friday 11/19/10

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