Thanksgiving weekend is a great time for wine whether in the dining room or (for football fans) by the television.  A good Thanksgiving wine is bold and fruity enough to stand up to “The Meal”.  And as every ones Thanksgiving table is different, a food friendly and diverse wine is key.  I think you will find that the two wines we’ve selected for November fit nicely into this category.  If you are home from marathon shopping, watching the game, or dining with friends and family these wines will keep up with ease.

La Puerta Reserva Bonarda, Famatina Valley, La Rioja, Argentina 2006

About the Wine:  Around the time that the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians were sharing an Autumn feast in 1621, workers  in Argentina were already harvesting grapes and in fact had been doing so for almost 75 years.  If only the Pilgrims had swung by South America first, they could have picked up some very food friendly wines to share and this 100% Bonarda would have made a nice addition.
Bonarda is a red Piedmont grape that is now somewhat rare in its native Italy.  It was the most widely planted grape in Argentina until it was recently surpassed by Malbec.
This wine shows an intense, nearly black color with deep purple hues.  It displays an attractive nose of plums, spice, and damp earth.  Medium-full bodied, this wine has ample ripe black fruit, savory flavors, good depth, and soft tannins that lead to a long and elegant finish.

Food Pairings: This wine is no pushover and would do well paired with equally bold flavors like game meats, roasted garlic & vegetables, and a wild mushroom & gruyere bread pudding; for the non-traditional Thanksgiving.

Masserie Pisari Salento Rosso, Apuglia, Italy 2006

About the Wine:  From the Puglia region of Italy, this is a 100% Negroamaro, which means black/bitter in Italian.  The vines that produce this wine are between 15-50 years old, the grapes first macerate on the skins for approximately 12 days in temperature-controlled stainless –steel tanks and then mature in steel for another 10 months.  Only about1500 cases are produced annually.
In the glass you immediately notice a vibrant ruby color to the wine.  Ripe red fruit and surprising hints of citrus & herbs are displayed on the nose.  On the palate you get licorice, roasted plum, cedar, and mocha toned fruit.  It has a rich and slightly rustic mouth-feel.   The balance of soft tannins and bright acid give definition and prevent the wine from becoming “jammy” or over-ripe.

Food Pairings:  This is a well balanced glass of wine that makes it an ideal partner for roast turkey, stuffing, gravy and the 10 to 12 other side dishes that make up a traditional Thanksgiving table.  Or better yet, enjoy it the next day with a big, fat leftover turkey sandwich, (it makes a comforting end to a crazy “Black Friday”.)