Give thanks with wine
The Thanksgiving turkey is such an obliging bird. Not only will he bring family and friends together this weekend for a delicious long-weekend meal, but he’s a dream to pair with wine.
Because so much is going on with turkey dinner – light and dark meat, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, potatoes and vegetables – you can match it with sparkling, white, rose or red wine.
This week, Summerland-based winemaker Daniel Bontorin swung by with two such suggestions from his tiny Seven Directions and Bottega wineries.
The slightly off-dry Seven Directions 2017 Tractor and Vines Vineyard Pinot Noir Rose ($20) would not only be a fabulous pre-dinner drink, but its acidity and aromas and flavours of apple, cherry, peach, melon, rose petal and almonds will complement turkey dinner.
Generally, you shouldn’t serve a big red with the Thanksgiving meal because the tannins in red wine clash with turkey.
But the Bottega 2015 Merlot ($48) has such soft and silky tannins that it might just help that bird fly again.
Otherwise, expect a profile of plum and cherry with a bit of pepper and maybe even some savoury liquorice.
Bontorin also arrived with big news about his little wineries.
Both Seven Directions, which exclusively makes Rose, and Bottega, which produces only Merlot and Viognier, have found a permanent home at Saxon Winery in Summerland.
The partnership means Bontorin will make Seven Direction and Bottega wines using Saxon’s facilities.
A Seven Directions and Bottega tasting room and shop will also open on Saxon’s property next summer.
Saxon continues to be owned by Paul and Jayne Graydon and the wines will continue to be made by Tom DiBello, who’s also made wines for Sage Hills, Burrowing Owl and CedarCreek.