Annual Big, Free, Pre-Thanksgiving Wine Tasting! Turkey, Ham, and Family Friendly Wines – Saturday, November 7th from 2-5 p.m. Thanksgiving only comes once a year, and it’s one of those holidays where good wine is required. Whether you need special wines for that delicious meal or simple, value priced wines to keep the family happy and peaceful, we’ve got you covered. Mike Tiano and Jim Stock of The Haw River Wine Man will join us to pour 12 Classic Thanksgiving Wines from their extensive portfolio, and the tasting is free to the public.
The wines will range in price from $10 to $50, so there’s something for everyone! Even better, all of the tasting wines will be on sale at 10% off by the bottle, 15% off if you mix any six of them, and 20% off if you mix any 12 or more of them. It’s the perfect time to taste, learn and save on wines that are guaranteed to make this Thanksgiving the best ever. Check out the lineup!
The Wines
Prices range from $10 to $40
1. Belstar Prosecco Brut (Veneto, Italy) – Prosecco is the perfect bubbly to sip while you’re cooking, while you’re eating, and while you’re watching football. Belstar produces one of the best values out there!
2. Cantina Frentana Pecorino (Abruzzo, Italy) – Pecorino is one of Italy’s most interesting native white grapes and it produces a lip smackingly delicious white wine. With ripe peach, citrus, green herb, and floral notes, this extreme value white is versatile with or without food.
3. Domaine La Manarine Cotes du Rhone Blanc (Southern Rhone Valley, France) – The white wines of Southern France are perfect partners to ham and turkey. This one, based on a blend of Clairette and Bourbolenc, is plump, richly fruited, juicy and absolutely delicious especially with salty ham.
4. Domaine Thevenet Macon “Pierreclos” (Burgundy, France) – Chardonnay and White Burgundy lovers rejoice! Jean-Claude Thevenet’s Chardonnay comes from four different vineyards scattered throughout the village of Pierreclos, and the vines average 45+ years of age. Fermented in stainless steel and aged on its lees for several months, this is beautifully pure and rich Chardonnay.
5. Lis Neris Pinot Grigio (Friuli, Italy) – This isn’t your typical Pinot Grigio! Far from boring, The Wine Advocate called it “one of the most interesting Pinot Grigios in Italy.” Layered with rich white peach, golden apple, and flowers, this weighty, silken textured white wine is seriously good.
6. Sant Evasio Brachetto d’Aqui (Piemonte, Italy) – Before you move into the reds, we’ll tempt your palate with something a little bit sweet. Lightly sparkling and pleasantly sweet, this tastes like fresh strawberries and raspberries and is surprisingly versatile with foods.
7. Chateau Teulon Costieres de Nimes Rouge (Southern Rhone Valley, France) – From just west of Chateauneuf du Pape, the vineyards of Nimes are some of the oldest in the region. This wine, based on a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre, is juicy, round, and way too easy to drink. For fans of Cotes du Rhones, you’ll love this little number.
8. D. Ventura Vina do Burato (Ribera Sacra, Spain) – Like Beaujolais and Pinot Noir styled reds? You’ll love this super fresh, red fruited, lightly earthy red from steep hillside vineyards in Northwestern Spain.
9. Grochau Cellars Pinot Noir “Commuter Cuvee” (Willamette Valley, Oregon) – Ex-Portland sommelier John Grochau is making one of the Willamette Valley’s best values in Pinot Noir. This is it! With ripe red fruits, a touch of spice, and a beautiful vein of earthy complexity running throughout, this is a no-brainer for the Thanksgiving dinner table.
10. Cordero di Montezemolo Barbera d’Alba (Piemonte, Italy) – Who says you can’t have Italian red wine with Thanksgiving dinner? Not us! The Barbera from this old, pedigreed estate is always delicious and a real crowd pleaser. With supple cherry and plum fruit, this soft and flamboyant Barbera is easy to gulp.
11. Remelluri Rioja Reserva (Rioja, Spain) – Ready to have your mind blown? The Rioja from Remelluri is exceptional in this vintage (2009). With big and complex flavors, but round and soft texture, you will marvel at how good this wine is. Based almost entirely on Tempranillo, this is one of the stars of the show.
12. Tabarrini Sagrantino di Montefalco “Colle Grimaldesco” (Umbria, Italy) – Is this wine maybe a bit too big for Thanksgiving dinner? Sure, but we like to break the rules, and we think you’ll find this to your liking. Based on the native Umbrian Sagrantino grape, this is a rather large scaled wine. No, let’s just call it massive! Dark fruit, dark chocolate, tobacco and an overall intense personality make this the perfect wine for the Cab lover in your life.