On the Wine Side - NYS Tasting & Thankgiving Wines Wed, Nov 06, 24 Ready or not, here come the holidays! And we're ready at Exit 9 to help you choose just the right wines for your occasions - and your budgets. I'll share some selections here, and of course when you're in the store do, please, ask any of the staff here for help. It's what we love to do. First, an event you won't want to miss is the New York State Wine Tasting here at the store. It's this Saturday, November 9, from 1 to 5 pm. Over 25 wineries will be here! How great is that?! It's an excellent opportunity to not only try a range of wines, but to learn more about the wineries themselves. This is a very popular event every year, and Exit 9 is proud to not only host it, but to offer such a selection of New York State wines here at the store. We will be donating 25% of NYS wine proceeds purchased during to the event to the Special Olympics of New York. OK, let's talk about wines with Thanksgiving in mind, since it's coming up fast. If you do a Google search for best wines with turkey, you'll find Riesling and Gewurtztraminer popping up frequently. Why? Because they are white wines that bridge the gap between dry and sweet and thus pair well with not just turkey, but the variety of sides that are served with it. (If you want to go this route, you'll find lots of great choices for either or both of these at the NYS Tasting on Saturday.)In a recent Wineology class, we tasted through a range of wines that can pair well with the traditional turkey and lots of other Thanksgiving yummies, from foods as simple as chips and dip to cheese plates, shrimp cocktail, veggies, and even pies.At the top of the list was a Prosecco, the Contarini Victor Valdobbiadene. It's a lovely sparkling wine from Italy in a festive bottle. Sparkling wine is very food friendly, and is as good when people are just starting to gather as it is when it's time for dessert. Another food-friendly wine that transitions well is rose. Many of us love to "drink pink" in the summer, as this wine is so associated with seaside resorts. I say drink pink all year! Roses are crisp and bright but have that hint of red fruit that makes them so tasty. Some favorites? Chateau Paradis Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, a classic Grenache/Syrah/Vermentino blend that will pair with anything. Another one is the Sabine Bieler Pere & Fils, also from Aix-en-Provence. The winemakers craft this from an assortment of grapes - Grenache and Syrah, but also Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rolle, Ugni Blanc, and Clairette. As a result, on the palate it offers up all kinds of fruit notes, making it really fun to drink. For those who love reds no matter what's on their plate, the best choices for some that are food-friendly are those that are lighter-bodied and more fruit-forward, like Pinot Noirs and Gamays (Gamay is the grape in Beaujolais wines). There will be some of these on offer from the New York wineries on Saturday, so be sure to check them out. We have a Pinot Noir in the store that is rated #1 on Wine Enthusiast's 2024 "Best Buys" list, and it's really good. It's Inscription from the Willamette Valley. Another great choice is Gearbox, which scored 90 Points from Wine Enthusiast. It's a California Pinot, lean and lovely, with lots of red fruit notes. A special meal is a nice time to serve a dessert wine, too. We have some beautiful ports in the store. The 375ml-sized Kopke ports are wonderful, and if you don't drink port often, it's just the right size. There are some ice wines from New York State, and, if you really want to splurge, how about a Chateau d'YQuem Sauternes? You'll find it in our fine room. Having had this cult this wine before, I can assure you it's worth every penny. While sparkling wines and roses and fuller-bodies whites and lighter-bodied reds are all wonderful choices for Thanksgiving - and it's fun to put a variety of these on the table so guests can decide for themselves - I remind people looking for the "perfect" wine that the most important consideration is whether you like it. If you and your family like moscato, go for it. A big Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel? Enjoy! Wine is about bringing pleasure to a meal shared with family, with friends, with a favorite football team or a feel-good movie.Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving! By Caitlin Duma
