Give Thanks for these 12 Latin Wines!

With so many different flavors on the Thanksgiving table, it’s hard to choose just one wine that will make everybody happy. Plan to serve a variety of wines, keeping in mind the various main courses and side dishes (some traditional American and others with Latin flair) that grace your sideboard, allowing each guest to choose the wine that goes best with their favorite item. Here are some of our top picks. 

It’s no secret that we love to greet guests with a glass of bubbly! Say hola with a little Spanish style by handing them a glass of cava just as soon as they have come through the door.

Pere Ventura Tresor Brut Reserva Cava, made in the traditional method, offers opulent flavors of Granny Smith apple and citrus backed by notes of freshly-buttered brioche.

Paul Cheneau Brut Cava is also made in the traditional method. Its flavors of apple, baking bread, and almond paste are a nice lead-in to dinner. 

Next, the turkey… [pagebreak]

The Turkey

Let’s face it, turkey is basically a medium for the spices that it’s cooked in or the gravy that we smother it in! Either way, Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero goes great with spicy turkey such as Pavo a la Brasa or turkey with fiery gravy.

Legaris Crianza Ribera del Duero 2010 offers gorgeous flavors of black cherry and red currant backed by sophisticated notes of back pepper and chocolate-covered espresso bean.

Bodegas Arzuaga Navarro Arzuaga Crianza 2010 has elegant flavors of cherry and strawberry are backed by subtle hints of mushroom and pine needle.

If you opt for this sweet and spicy stuffing or make yours with chorizo (like we do), Merlot is a good bet for turkey’s bready sidekick!

Oberon Napa Valley Merlot 2011, from the Michael Mondavi Family Winery, has great mouthfeel, luxurious fruit flavors, and a long, smooth finish that will all hold up well to the bright and spicy ingredients of a well-made Thanksgiving stuffing.

Artesa Elements Sonoma County Merlot 2009 offers bracing cherry and blueberry flavors with a touch of chocolate and a hint of violet, making it a good match for stuffing with a kick of spice.

The Sides

Sweet potatoes are difficult to pair with wine because of the amount of sugar in them. Whether you opt for a fiery preparation like this spicy sweet potato casserole or something a little more basic, your best bet is a fortified wine like Madeira or Sherry. Be careful—with the slightly higher alcohol level, abuela may be feeling tipsy after a few sips!

Blandy’s Five Year Old Bual Madeira with flavors of toasted almonds, raisins, and toffee complement the mouth-coating richness of sweet potatoes, and if there is any left over, try a glass alongside the pumpkin pie.

Gonzalez-Byass Alfonso Oloroso Sherry is a dry Sherry to be enjoyed as an aperitif or with food, (not after the meal as a sweet Sherry would be served.) Flavors of caramel, nutmeg, and lightly toasted nuts are ideal with dishes combining savory and sweet notes.

The sweet and tart notes of cranberry sauce are best enhanced by a fruit-forward Chilean Syrah, especially if you are adding a spicy twist to the cranberries this year. We think that Syrah is going to be Chile’s next breakthrough superstar variety!

Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Syrah 2011: With flavors of ripe red cherries with a touch of tea and white chocolate, this crowd-pleaser will bring out the best in any dish it is paired with.  

Montgras Ninquen Antu Syrah 2010: This Syrah is a bit spicy on the palate, with flavors of black plum, blackberry, fresh ground black pepper, and clove.

The earthy goodness of root vegetables such as carrots is a good match for Chardonnay from Chile.

Emiliana Natura Chardonnay 2012 is aged in stainless steel, not oak, so the bright citrus flavors of the grape shine through. 

DeMartino Legado Reserva Chardonnay 2011 spent 11 months aging in oak, so the soft notes of butter and toast are more suited to carrots, potatoes, and celery root cooked on their own or with a light sauce made with cream or cheese.