Wines I Would Buy For Thanksgiving At The Last Minute

4 crowd pleasing, turkey friendly wines that you can probably find at the market right now

Welcome to the 1st Thanksgiving edition of NTKOWM! (little clunky, we’ll work on that) There are more of you here this week which is both exciting and terrifying.

If you have known me for any significant amount of time, you know I tend to leave things until the last moment. My senior year of high school I wrote my final 15 page paper the day it was due, and you won’t catch me packing more than 2 hours before I depart for the airport. I don’t say this with pride, I say it with self awareness and a hope for change in the future. Here is the problem: I got an A on that paper and I’ve never missed a flight. Alas, my last minute behaviors are positively reinforced. If you are anything like me, this might mean that you are still gathering supplies for your Thanksgiving celebration… or you will be gathering tonight when you get off work.

I write to you with a baby latched on one boob and a toddler climbing me like a jungle gym, so I’m going to keep this brief. In a perfect world you would have curated a beautiful selection of wine from your local purveyor weeks in advance, but I feel no necessity to virtue signal here so, if you are picking up odds and ends at the grocery store today (like me), I am writing this for you. My quick and dirty guide to the wine aisle at a ~nice~ grocery (Whole Foods, Plum Market, Market Fresh, etc) for anyone, but especially, the mom who cannot exactly rationalize unloading her children at one more crowded store (most definitely not one without grocery carts *cough bottle shop cough* to contain aforementioned children).

Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, Oregon- Pinot at its best and exactly as you would expect it from the Willamette Valley. Some wines require a level of knowledge of history and geography to enjoy to the fullest- this is not that.* This wine requires nothing of its drinker, but manages to deliver a seamless expression of trusty ol’ Pinot Noir. Rich red fruit, juicy and round without being flabby or oversaturated in anyway. This is a foolproof bottle sure to please anyone. Should sit just under $40 on the shelf which can feel like a bit of a splurge, but it really is that good.

*Though it should be noted the history is rich. Domaine Drouhin is owned and operated by the Drouhin Family of Burgundy (Maison Joseph Drouhin established over 140 year ago). Joseph Drouhin was a notable member of the Resistance during WWII, famously escaping German capture through the winery’s cellar and tunnels. I love some f*** the nazis energy in my wine.

Bravium Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, California- Anyone who tells you they don’t like Chardonnay hasn’t had the good stuff or is a damn liar. I am fully leaning into my Chardonnay era as a shameless suburban mom. This has everything I like in Chardonnay: ripe tropical fruit, bright and citrus-like acidity, and just a touch of burnt popcorn like my favorite White Burgundies. Full bodied white wine, like this, is a no brainer for traditional Thanksgiving food thanks to all the butter, starch, and white meat. The founder and winemaker, Derek Rohlffs, is one of few Native American winemakers in the country. ~$20

Stolpman ‘Love You Bunches’ Sangiovese, Central Coast, California- What happens when you take Sangiovese, a classic food wine, and make it in a carbonic style? Ultra-fun and fruitastic wine to drink with anyone and anything. To my own surprise, I am loving almost all of the CA central coast wine I have been trying this year and this cutie is an OG favorite. My local grocery store usually has it on sale because it is so overlooked by their normal clientele. Score! Under $20 last time I checked.

Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc, Calistoga, California- If it is good enough for the White House, it is good enough for us! This wine was first made famous in 1972 when President Nixon served it at the historic Toast to Peace in Beijing. Since, it has regularly been served at the White House. It is made in the Champagne method from 100% Chardonnay grapes grown in both Napa and Sonoma. The wine is fresh and focused with pleasant notes of citrus, stone fruit, ginger and baking spices. Will pair perfectly with the cheese and crackers you spent $70 on.

In an unexpected turn of events, I did shop for my wine in advance. Per my last email, I am serving about 95% Michigan wine at my Thanksgiving table (save for the bottle of champagne for the morning parade+caviar pairing). Aurora Cellars, bigLittle, Modales and, of course, Bos will be on the table.

Did you notice all of my picks today are American? I’m making a conscious effort to break out of my Eurocentric drinking and this may be blatant foreshadowing of the topic in my next letter to you.

With that, I bid you farewell and I want you all to know how grateful I am for your readership.