March’s Staff Picks

Check out this month’s staff picks. See something you like? Add it to your cart, buy it online, and pick it up in store!

Catherine & Pierre Breton “La Dilettante”

The off-dry style of this wine makes it perfect for pairing with the spicy Indian and Thai foods that I love to cook. Though some people may not like the idea of a slightly sweet wine, when paired with spicy foods, the spice cancels out the sweetness and the wine can seem rather dry. I also got to visit Vouvray on a trip to France last year and fell in love with their wonderful Chenin Blancs. As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, I’m not sure there’s anything else that I’d rather drink on my patio.


– Seth

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JUSTIN Cabernet Sauvignon

Justin, to me, is a great “everyday Cabernet.” It has a dark ruby purple color in the glass with aromas of cherry and blackcurrant jam with some baking spice to compliment. The palate is full bodied with bright black cherry, blackcurrant, and berry fruit with an underpinning of oak barrel accents. The tannins are soft, balanced by crisp acidity and subtle floral notes. Justin is a great red wine that will pair well with most red wine-friendly dishes.

 – Ty

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Andre & Michel Quenard “Vieilles Vignes” Jacquère

If you happened to guess that “Vielles Vignes” is French for “old vines” you’d be right. The vines here are all over seventy years old and were originally planted in the 1930s by Michel’s grandfather. Today he farms these old vines with the help of this two sons Guillaume and Roman. When I taste this wine, I am immediately transported back in time to a summer I spent in the alps of Switzerland and France. The grape here is Jacquère and it has that fresh crispness of mountain air combined with a surprising richness from a wine grown so high in the mountains. Drinking it makes me crave a big pot of fondue or raqulette.

-Keegan

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Alta Maria Pinot Noir

This delicious wine comes from the Santa Maria Valley south of Paso Robles. The cool ocean breezes and higher altitude produce an ideal climate for ripening Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Alta Maria Vineyards sources their fruit from several vineyards in the valley including Presq’uile, a notable vineyard that has had great success with their Pinot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has a wonderful nose of cherry cola, strawberry, and dry leaves. On the palate, the fruit and spice are intertwined, with the fruit starting off light and building to a crescendo of spice and non-fruit complexity.

– Spencer

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Chateau Puy-Galland

This Bordeaux is full of blackberry fruits on the palate with graphite notes to the nose. A fairly simple oak note augments this simple yet elegant wine. It has developed amazingly and opens up to become a delicious red. It would pair great with barbecued foods, roast chicken, or a grilled pork chop.

– Walker

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Savoring the Savoie

When we think of French wine-growing we regions, our minds go quickly to the idyllic Loire Valley or to the chateau dotted landscape of Bordeaux. This is, of course, for good reason. Places like Bordeaux and Burgundy have become known the world over for producing high-quality wines, but they’re not the only regions in France that make delicious wines. Often, by exploring some of France’s lesser known wine regions, you’ll be rewarded with new and unusual wines of excellent quality.

One such region is the Savoie (sav-WAH), a mountainous region in Southeastern France that borders Italy and Switzerland, and one of our favorite Savoie producers is André & Michel Quenard. The father and son team are continuing a legacy started by Michel’s grandfather in the early 1900’s when he first planted vines in the area. The Quenards’ wines are all marked by a remarkably “fresh” quality, like the clean mountain air and cool glacial streams have imparted a crispness into each of their wines.

The high, Alpine vineyards aren’t ideal for growing many of the grapes that flourish elsewhere in France. In the Savoie, white wines are dominant, with a few excellent red wines being produced as well. Three of our favorite of these grape varieties are Jacquère, Rousanne, and Mondeuse.

Jacquère

Jacquère (zha-KAIR) makes a lovely, light-bodied wine that we’re absolutely in love with. Though it is often made in an off-dry style, we prefer the Quenards’ dry version or as they called it, their “Vieilles Vignes” Jacquère. “Vieille Vignes” is French for “old vines” and it’s an apt name for this wine as the vines from which it was made were planted in the 1930’s by Michel Quenard’s grandfather. Today Michel farms these old vines with the help of this two sons Guillaume and Roman. Tasting this wine is like a transatlantic trip to the French Alps. The wine has that fresh crispness of mountain air combined with a surprising richness from a wine grown so high in the mountains. You’ll also be greeted by notes of fresh white flowers and the faintest hint of honeyed apricots. This is a delicate wine and it will show best with simple dishes and cheese.

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Roussanne

Roussanne (ROO-sahn) is known for its thick and almost oily texture, and here, in the hands of the Quenard family, it really shines. The grapes for this wine are hand pruned by André Quenard himself, ensuring that each cluster of fruits reaches optimum ripenesses. The wine is called “Les Terrasses” after the steep mountain terraces that the vineyards grow on. This is a white wine that is best decanted to open up a decadently floral bouquet that seems sprinkled with lemon zest. For many, this will be their first introduction to Roussanne and what a wonderful introduction that will be!

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Mondeuse

The Mondeuse (mon-DUZE) grape has been growing in the Savoie region of France since before the Romans brought their winemaking techniques to the region thousands of years ago. Known for its striking pepper note, it is one of the parent grapes of Syrah. It’s deep purple in the glass, with strong tannins that are held in balance by a tight acidity. It has aromas of raspberry and strawberry that cushion the soft scent of autumn flowers that develops after decanting. This wine is delicious now, but could easily be aged for over 10 years in the right conditions. It’s an excellent pairing with duck, quail, or other fowl, as well as cheeses such as Reblochon and Chevrotin.

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Febuary’s Shamrock Selections

Shamrock Selections is a monthly subscription service that brings you the best wines from around the world. Each month’s selection is carefully chosen by sommelier Keegan Sparks and his team. He keeps a keen eye out for wines that are unique, rare, and new to our market. Shamrock Selections is ideal for enthusiasts and explorers who delight in finding hidden gems and trying new, exclusive vintages. Each month, you can join us on a journey of sampling and learning about some of the greatest wines in the world. Each selection of wine comes with detailed tasting notes and food pairing suggestions from our team.

As you might have noticed, we try to always give you wines that are seasonably appropriate. Light and crisp whites in the summer, with deeper and heavier reds in the winter. There are, of course, alway exceptions, but that’s a trend line we try to stick to. So, what do we do with a month like February? Just a few days ago it was almost 80º without a cloud in the sky, but as I write this (Valentine’s Day) it’s 45º and raining. Well, we tried to split the difference with a wonderfully delicate white wine and big, bold red. Drink them whenever and however you like, but as always, enjoy.

2013 Garnier & Fils Premier* Cru Chablis "Mont de Milieu"

I was recently helping a customer in the shop when he asked me about chardonnay, saying that he never drank it because of the “ABC rule.” He went on to explain that this stood for “anything but Chardonnay,” a rule he’d learned during college. I’ll admit that hearing him say this broke my heart, as there are just so many excellent chardonnays being produced in the world. Of course, for every great chardonnay, there is a…less great chardonnay out there lurking on the shelf (but not our shelf, we only stock the great ones). 

I tell this story because I’m sure there are several of you who’ve heard of the ABC rule, or who, in general, have a mental picture of chardonnay as a strangely buttery, flabby wine that’s often given out for free at charity events. I don’t blame you for being weary, but don’t worry, you’re entire life (or at least the chardonnay aspect of it) is about to change!

Chablis is a small commune in the Burgundy region of France where some of the world’s best chardonnay is grown. Chablis is a sexy, sports car version of chardonnay, the Beyoncé of Chardonnay if you will. A key thing to look for here is a racing acidity that serves as the wine’s backbone. It’s this acidity that allows the wine’s fruit flavors to really shine. Right off the bat, you’re sure to notice a strong lemon aroma (personally, it reminds me of a lemon cream), that’s followed up with notes of ripe peach and fresh pear. The finish here is quite long and commanded by a lingering hint of brioche or of lightly buttered baguette. 

A wine like this can really elevate a simple meal. One of my weeknight standby by recipes is for poached salmon with a beurre blanc sauce, and I can only imagine how well the wine’s acidity would balance with the salmon’s natural fat. If you’re looking for a vegetarian option, I think this would be an excellent pairing with a hearty grain-based salad with a light vinaigrette. 

*Now, if you look at the bottle, you’re going to see “1er” which is pronounced “premier.” Unfortunately, no one told me this until after I had been working at the shop for about six months. I had been pronouncing it “une-er.” Don’t make the same mistake I did! 

2011 Los Vascos Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua, Chile

The second wine is from Chile’s Colchagua Valley. It takes the idea of a Bordeaux-style blend (i.e. lots of cabernet sauvignon, with other French blending grapes) and gives it a uniquely South American twist. The predominate grape here is still cabernet sauvignon (75%), with carmenere, malbec, and sryah rounding out the rest in almost equal amounts.

When I first opened this wine, I was struck by how reductive it was. That’s a fancy way of saying that the winemaker took special care to expose the wine to as little oxygen as possible. What that means for us is that this wine greatly benefits from being run through an aerator once (or even twice) or decanted for at least an hour.

Once you’ve done that, you’ll be rewarded with a surprisingly fruity wine. The most immediate fruit notes for me were plums and blueberries. Blueberries is a tell-tale sign of malbec for me, so even had I not known where this wine was from, it would have given me a hint. Where this wine really gets interesting is its finish. There was a lot of debate amongst our staff on this, but we all came away with notes of chocolate, tobacco, black pepper (that’s the syrah saying hello!), and mocha.

This wine is just aching for food, and I want to give it some meat. I think it would be excellent with steak or pork, even lamb. Likewise, I think this would really shine if paired with a hearty pasta (ooh, lasagna!). While you’re cooking, add a splash of wine to the sauce to liven things up.

Want to join Shamrock Selections? Click here. 

Sweet Wine Tasting Preview

On Saturday, February 18 from 1-3pm, we’re hosting a wine tasting focusing on sweet wines. Sometimes sweet wines can get a bad reputation, with most people thinking of mass produced and poorly made products. The truth is that sweet wine have been around for hundreds of years, and for good reason: they’re delicious!

Charles & Charles Riesling

This excellent, single vineyard riesling is everything one can want from a Washington riesling. Its sweetness is held in balance by a taut acidity that accents. The resulting wine is a gorgeous, full-flavored riesling with aromas driven by stone fruit, mineral notes, wet rock, citrus, and floral scents. Its palate has a beautiful focus with lingering notes of honeysuckle and crushed rock. For those looking to try a Washington state or a new world riesling, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better one than this.

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Tintero Gramella Moscato

With this wine, the Tintero family provides a rarity among Italian moscatoes, a single vineyard bottling. The Sori vineyard is located on the southern facing slope of a hill named “Gramella” which creates a perfect microclimate for growing moscato. Full of fruit flavors like peach, apricot, and quince, this wine is an ideal pairing for light meals or an afternoon of steady sipping. Its light body and low alcohol level make it an ideal wine for parties and social events.

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Le Tertre de Lys Sauternes

Bright golden color with pale gold hue, the nose contains top notes of honeyed apricot followed by some raisin, toffee, and spice. The wine’s rich and luscious palate texture shows excellent concentration with mouth-filling flavors of honey, raisins, apricot and apple. The finish is clean with a long aftertaste of honey, apricot, and raisin. Though only a 375ml bottle, this wine is meant to be sipped and savored. Pair it with an array of sweetbreads or desserts for the end of a meal, or, opt to recreate one of the world’s best wine pairings: foie gras and Sauternes.

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Cocchi Asti

Asti Cocchi is a sweet sparkling produced in the hills, just north of the Italian city of Asti. Made from the moscato grape, the wine has a rich and intense aroma with notes of wisteria, acacia and honey on the palate. It features a well-balanced sweetness and a low alcohol content (7% Vol). It’s ideal with desserts and is a must with almond or hazelnut pastries. It also makes a wonderful accompaniment with orange juice in a morning’s mimosa. Out of all the Italian sparkling moscatoes, few achieve this level of balance. Even those who claim to not like sweet wines will be coming back to this one again and again.

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Montinore Borealis

Mouthwatering and multi-dimensional, this perennial crowd-pleaser is a blend of our favorite cool-climate whites: gewurztraminer, muller-thurgau, pinot gris and riesling. Intensely aromatic, with a nose of tropical flowers, ripe kiwi and melon, the silky soft palate is brimming with rose petals, pink grapefruit, mango and white nectarine then finishes on a high, clean note of bright key lime.

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Rosa Regale

Sparkling wine from the brachetto grape as long been a traditional sign of affection in Italy. Legend has it that both Julius Ceaser and Marc Antony sent it to Cleopatra in hopes to win her heart. Rosa Regale is a wine that fits any occasion and is an ideal match for any palate. The slightly off-dry nature of the wine makes it a perfect pairing with anything from seafood to spicy Asian cuisine. In the glass, it shines a bright and festive pink with striking fruit aromas that are followed by dramatic notes of raspberry and strawberry that dance across the palate.

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February’s Staff Picks

Check out this month’s staff picks. See something you like? Add it to your cart, buy it online, and pick it up in store!

Andre & Michel Quenard Chignin Mondeuse

Though mondeuse will be a new grape variety to many, it’s familiar in that it is a parent grape to syrah. This is evident in the rich and spicy character of this wine, which recalls both black and white pepper and roasted meats. It has aromas of raspberry and strawberry that cushion the soft scent of autumn flowers that develops after decanting. It’s an excellent pairing with duck, quail, or other fowl, as well as cheeses such as Reblochon and Chevrotin.


– Seth

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Montes Alpha Pinot Noir

A vibrant, full-bodied pinot noir with ripe cherry and berry aromas. In the glass, it’s a beautiful ruby red color. It was grown in Chile’s Aconcagua valley and aged for a year in French oak. It’s juicy and generous but balanced with some terrific acidity, making it ideal for salmon, mushrooms, or roast chicken.

 – Ty

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Domaine d’Aupilhac Languedoc Montpeyroux

The harsh rocky terrain in the village of Montpeyroux is perfectly captured by this rustic red from the Languedoc region of southern France. It is rich and full-bodied with chewy tannins. Bright acidity brings balance to the wine and helps with ageability. As the wine opens up in the glass it reveals layers of smoke, meat, and earth as well as some fresh cherry. I recommend trying it with BBQ pulled pork.

 -Keegan

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Castello Di Meleto Borgaio Toscana

This delicious wine is a perfect way to ease into Italian wines. It’s packed notes of dried cherry and balsamic and, while it would certainly pair well with a meal, it’s light and fruity enough to enjoy on it own. The blend of sangiovese and merlot is a winning combination. The sangiovese gives the wine the deep cherry notes and classic Italian character, and the merlot adds richness and body.

– Spencer

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Domaine Georges Vernay Syrah “De Mirbaudie”

Grown on the tiny hillside of the commune of Condrieu on the banks of France’s Rhone River is this beautifully elegant syrah. This is a medium, almost full-bodied syrah that is nicely dry on the palate. The all-stainless steel fermentation process gives it expressive flavors of dried cherry, pungent herbs, and cracked pepper that are supple and sweet. It contains a firm finish with sneaky tannins and spicy persistence.

– Walker

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January’s Shamrock Selections

Shamrock Selections is a monthly subscription service that brings you the best wines from around the world. Each month’s selection is carefully chosen by sommelier Keegan Sparks and his team. He keeps a keen eye out for wines that are unique, rare, and new to our market. Shamrock Selections is ideal for enthusiasts and explorers who delight in finding hidden gems and trying new, exclusive vintages. Each month, you can join us on a journey of sampling and learning about some of the greatest wines in the world. Each selection of wine comes with detailed tasting notes and food pairing suggestions from our team.

 

This month, we’ve got two incredible red wines to keep you warm on these cool January nights!

2013 Bodegas Emilio Moro

The Moro family has been tending their vineyards in Spain’s Ribera del Duero for almost 100 years. For years, they sold their grapes to other winemakers, and it wasn’t until 1988 that they made their own wine. Emilio’s son José invested the family’s entire savings in winery equipment, so there was little turning back. Today, the winery produces some of the most complex and delicious wines from the tempranillo grape in the Ribera del Duero. This wine, the “Emilio Moro,” is the flagship wine of the Bodega and it’s a perfect example of the region’s typical style. The tempranillo grapes for this wine underwent a 28-day long maceration and were then allowed to age in barrel for a full year before bottling. I’m always impressed by the combination of freshness and ripeness I find in these wines. Leather, dark tomato sauce, mushrooms, and strawberry compote notes are combined with fresh red apple, wet stone, and violets, making this a very complex wine. On the palate, it is full-bodied but still fresh and lively with a kick of acid. Tempranillo always makes me crave mushrooms and, to that end, I can think of no better pairing that grilled ribeye covered in jaeger sauce (mushroom gravy).

2012 Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir

For those who were Shamrock Selection subscribers in 2015, you might remember that we had the fantastic Evenstad Reserve Chardonnay just over a year ago (The 2014 vintage of that wine was recently named the best white wine in the world by Wine Spectator Magazine).  Now we are bringing you the Pinot Noir which received that distinction back in 2010. The Evenstad Reserve is a hand selection of the very best barrels each vintage produces. The extreme lightness of color can be deceiving, but don’t let that fool you; this is a magnificent wine bursting with ripe cherry and strawberry note. It is one of the most elegant pinot noirs I’ve ever tasted. It is so light and elegant that it glides across the palate, leaving a lingering, mouthwatering finish that makes you crave more. For a wine this good, it is best to go with the most classic and most simple pairings. Sauteed duck breast with tart cherry chutney would be the perfect way to elevate this wine. 

Want to learn more about Shamrock Selections? Click here. 

January’s Staff Picks

We’re ringing in the new year with an amazing array of wines and beers.

Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Chardonnay

The 2014 vintage of this wine was named the best white wine in the world by Wine Spectator Magazine and it’s easy to see why. Rich and complex, with layered notes of brown butter, toasted nuts, and Easter lilies, it’s beset with gentle aromas of wood smoke and white fruits. For those who’ve never fallen in love with Chardonnay, I encourage you to splurge for this bottle. It’s an incredible wine and it’ll open your palate to a new range of flavors.


– Seth

Fifteen Appellations Meritage

Made with exactly one ton of grapes from each of Napa Valley’s fifteen (sixteen as of 2011) appellations, this unique projects creates a wine that is worth all the trouble. The cabernet base and other Bordeaux grapes are able to withstand the 33 months of oak aging to create a wine that is powerful yet fruity with dusty tannins and a loooooooooooooooong finish. A perfect wine to enjoy on a cold evening this winter. 

– Susie

Haraszthy Old Vines Zinfandel

The staff has nicknamed this wine “purple bear” for obvious reasons. It’s a delicious medium-bodied wine with blackberry, raspberry, and cherry flavors. It has a very slight smoky aroma that integrates beautifully with the delicious roundness of the fruit. There is a hint of cinnamon, sweet plum and a nicely balanced acidity in the lingering finish.

 – Ty

Starmont Merlot

I love Merlot from Carneros. The cool climate and clay soils are perfect for growing fantastic merlot. The 2013 Starmont is bursting with ripe strawberry, blackberry, and chocolate aromas with hints of sage and rosemary.

 -Keegan

Stone Brewing's Double Bastard: Bigger, Longer, Uncut

Continuing on with their “go big or go home” mentality, Stone has one-upped themselves once again with this absurd yet delicious beer. Fair warning: this beer is aged in scotch whiskey barrels and is a peat bomb. The double bastard is already a heavy hitter but the time spent in the Scotch barrels brings the beer to a whopping 13.5% abv. The most enjoyable thing for me is the way the hop bitterness and the peat smoke play off each other, both fighting to wreck your palate. This bastard is a challenge to beer drinkers and one I gladly accept. 

– Spencer

Mollydooker Enchanted Path

This excellent blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz captures everything I love about Australian wines. The intense Australian heat bumps the alcohol level up to 16%, which makes both delicious and effective. It’s full of ripe, bright fruits and dusty, dusky tannins. You can pair it with almost any sort of smoked or roasted meat for the ultimate wintertime feast.

– Walker

Miraval Rosé

I haven’t been a big rosé drinker in the past but decided to try this to see what all the hype was about, and I was not disappointed. The issue I had had with rosés is that they were too thin for me as I primarily drink reds, but Miraval was definitely full of flavor and covered the palate. On the nose, it was very floral and had hints of berry. As I tasted it, it was nicely acidic and bright without being harsh. The berry taste continued with lovely white flowers coming through as well. Even though it is getting cold out and the winery’s owners Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are getting divorced, this wine is a must try.

– Carley

December’s Shamrock Selections

Shamrock Selections is a monthly subscription service that brings you the best wines from around the world. Each month’s selection is carefully chosen by sommelier Keegan Sparks and his team. He keeps a keen eye out for wines that are unique, rare, and new to our market. Shamrock Selections is ideal for enthusiasts and explorers who delight in finding hidden gems and trying new, exclusive vintages. Each month, you can join us on a journey of sampling and learning about some of the greatest wines in the world. Each selection of wine comes with detailed tasting notes and food pairing suggestions from our team.

 

This month, we’re highlighting the second round of wines that we imported directly from France. These wines are so special, and they’re unlike anything you’ll find on our shelves, or anywhere else in Arkansas, for that matter. A theme you will notice this month selections, and in previous selections is “old vines”. As vines age, the size of their grapes become smaller. This, in turn, results in a wine is more concentrated and complex. Old vineyards are rare and finding two wines from vineyards that are over seventy years old is a real treat.

Domaine D’Aupilhac l’Hérault “Les Servières” Rouge

This is the second time we’ve had a wine from Domaine D’Aupilhac and we’re thrilled to bring you another of their fantastic wines. The domain is owned by Sylian Fadet, whose family has been farming this land since the nineteenth century. The “Les Servières” is a truly amazing wine. The vineyard was planted in 1900 on extremely rocky terrain composed of clay and limestone. The resulting wine is deep and complex with ripe flavors of strawberry, cherry and an underlying savouriness. Composed entirely from cinsault, this is the greatest example of the grape I have ever tasted. I recommend decanting the wine as it’s a bit tight and angular at first sip. Given just a few minutes to breath, it opens up to reveal a great depth of flavor and remarkably smooth texture. I’d recommend enjoying it with hearty winter food like pot pie and roasts.

André & Michel Quenard Vin de Savoie Chignin “Vielles Vignes”

If you happened to guess that “Vielles Vignes” is French for “old vines” you’d be right. The vines here are all over seventy years old and were originally planted in the 1930s by Michel’s grandfather. Today he farms these old vines with the help of this two sons Guillaume and Roman. When I taste this wine I am immediately transported back in time to a summer I spent in the alps of Switzerland and France. The grape here is jacquere and it has that fresh crispness of mountain air combined with a surprising richness from a wine grown so high in the mountains. Drinking it makes me crave a big pot of fondue or raqulette.

Want to learn more about Shamrock Selections? Click here. 

November’s Shamrock Selections

Shamrock Selections is a monthly subscription service that brings you the best wines from around the world. Each month’s selection is carefully chosen by sommelier Keegan Sparks and his team. He keeps a keen eye out for wines that are unique, rare, and new to our market. Shamrock Selections is ideal for enthusiasts and explorers who delight in finding hidden gems and trying new, exclusive vintages. Each month, you can join us on a journey of sampling and learning about some of the greatest wines in the world. Each selection of wine comes with detailed tasting notes and food pairing suggestions from our team.

This month we’re highlighting exciting new wines that have never been available in Arkansas until now. For the first time, O’Looney’s was able to order wine directly from France specifically for Shamrock Selections. This has allowed us to deliver some really knockout wines to you that we just couldn’t get any other way.

2015 Eric Chevalier Clos de la Butte Muscadet Côtes de Grand Lieu Sur Lie

The nose is subtle but complex white pear, white flowers, chamomile, fresh melon and a hint of ocean brine are all there. At first, there is a lot of tension on the palette. The body is light with racy acidity, but there is also a round creaminess to the texture. The wine is very tart, but give it time to breathe and warm up a bit and that tension is relieved and it becomes really sublime. When it comes to pairing a wine like this I like to go two ways. First is to match the intense acidity with similar dishes like oysters with lemon or sushi. The second path is to pair it with heavier cream sauces. Fried catfish with tartar sauce comes to mind as a uniquely southern pairing. When it comes to serving a wine like this I recommend chilling it ahead of time then decanting it and leaving it out of the refrigerator to warm up just a bit.

2015 Catherine & Pierre Breton Bourgueil "Les Galichets"

The Bretons are one of the most interesting families in wine. They have been farming their twenty-seven acres of vineyard organically for over two decades. The “Les Galichets” is one of their single vineyard wines named for the gravel soil in the vineyard. The nose is bright with expressive notes of green pepper, tart cherries and a hint of smoked meat and spice. On the palate, it is quite dry with light body and refreshing acidity. The tannins are surprisingly fine for Cabernet Franc which can often be very rough and rustic. This will be the wine I pour at my family’s Thanksgiving celebration. It is perfect for pairing with the huge diversity of flavors on a Thanksgiving table. No need to get fussy with this wine. Just pull the cork and enjoy.

Want to learn more about Shamrock Selections? Click here. 

What to Drink this Thanksgiving

If you’re anything like me, Thanksgiving can seem like the worst best holiday. Of course, there are so many great things – being surrounded by so many loved ones and tables full of wonderful food (and of course the wine to go with it!) But the holiday, especially if you’re playing host, can also be full of stress.

I may not be able to make sure your turkey comes out right, but I can at least take one stressor off your list: choosing wine.

Choosing wine for a big meal like this is harder than you might imagine. With a big group, everyone will have different tastes. Your Aunt Sue doesn’t like to drink anything other than moscato and your cousin Randy loves a merlot but hates all white wine. What’s a host to do? Well, first, you need to accept that you can’t please everyone. The most you can do it to find a wine (or two, I usually recommend a red and a white) that will be three things: tasty, affordable, and will work well with your food.

So, with those three things in mind, what should you actually get?

Well, first, let’s think about how much to get because that will often impact the wine you choose. I think it’s helpful to remember that there are 4 to 5 glasses in each standard sized bottle of wine (10 glasses if you’re getting magnums). From there, think about how much you anticipate your crowd drinking. Some people will have just one glass, and of course, others will have a bottle all to themselves (I am this person in my family and I will not apologize for it.).

So, now that we know how much we’re shopping for, what are we actually going to get? Well, as always, you have lots of options.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay can seem like the safe choice and that’s because it is. A good chardonnay, especially one with a little bit oak to it will match savory dishes that contain nuts, wild rice or apples. Chardonnay’s natural fruit flavors and spiced vanilla aroma will also go hand in hand with turkey. Alternately, if you’re not a fan of buttery chardonnays, an unoaked one will still fit the bill with its apple and lemon flavors and full-bodied profile.

Beaujolais

Is there a wine more traditionally linked to Thanksgiving than Beaujolais? I don’t think so. The link stated with a marketing gimmick that created “Beaujolais Day” as the third Thursday in November. This is the day that wine shops release the newest vintage of Beaujolais, just weeks after bottling. This weeks-old wine is made from 100% gamay, is called Beaujolais Nouveau, and its quality can vary widely each vintage. It’s not the only wine that carries the Beaujolais name, however. There are many producers in the area whose wines are all of excellent quality and would be the perfect, fruity addition to any Thanksgiving meal.

Pinot Noir

Pinot noir is, for very good reason, one of the world’s most famous varieties. Its flavors range from cherry and chocolate to warm earth and mushroom. For Thanksgiving, it can work with both light and dark meat turkey as well as cream based dishes like green bean casserole. And, of course, it’s the perfect compliment to cranberry sauce!

Riesling/Gewürztraminer

For those looking for something a little less traditional, a dry riesling or gewürztraminer might just do the trick. These two grapes are widely planted in the mountains of France and Germany and both come in dry and sweet styles. The flavors of these wines can range from the sweet apple and peach of riesling to the spicy floral notes of gewürztraminer. The high acidity of these grapes will help cut through the richness of traditional holiday foods.

Champagne

What better way to show your thanks than with a toast of Champagne? But in actuality, Champagne would be a wonderful pairing throughout the entire meal. It’s bold enough to stand up to stalwart dishes like turkey and dressing, and, if your meal is skewing fruit heavy with cranberry sauce and the like, you’d find no better match than with a wonderful rosé Champagne. If true Champagne is out of your budget, no worries! There are plenty of option from all around the world that will work just as well.