Sip Through the Feast

As the holidays approach, versatile wines are the secret “gift” to pleasing the everyone’s palate

By Marisa Finetti

Hopefully, you will have more than one bottle of wine on the Thanksgiving table, but what would it be like to choose just one? Here is a menu of tasteful options to take you from the beginning to the end of the meal.

Lyric Pinot Noir, Monterey County 2022
Total Wine & More

Lyric brings the unique flavors and textures of Monterey County to life at a great value. This bright but savory wine displays fresh strawberry and raspberry notes, perfectly balanced acidity, fruit and a touch of oak. Like the name “Lyric” implies, this wine delivers a harmony of flavors that will play well throughout the meal. $19.99, totalwine.com

Saint K Flower Bomb Malvasia Blanc, Paso Robles Highlands District 2021
Khoury’s Fine Wine & Spirits

Whether your Thanksgiving spread is classic or proudly unconventional, look to Malvasia Blanc. While this grape’s beloved home is in Tuscany and can also be made into Vin Santo dessert wine, Flower Bomb’s Malvasia Blanc by winemaker Chris Kiranbay is grown on the central coast of California. Aromatic as it should be, but amazingly bone dry and pairable with everything. $29.99, khourysfinewine.com

Elena Walch Pinot Bianco, Alto Adige DOC 2021
Amari Italian Kitchen & Wine Shop

For those interested in having a bottle of wine versatile enough to carry the entire meal, wines from Elena Walch are essential. Pinot Bianco is the leading white wine from northern Italy’s region of Alto Adige. It goes splendidly with the region’s mix of Germanic and Italian cuisines, from cured meats, bread and dumplings to wiener schnitzel. Given its versatility, it belongs on the Thanksgiving table. $59, amarilv.com

Famille Dutraive, ‘Lantignié,’ Beaujolais-Villages 2022
Garagiste Wine Room | Merchant

The Gamay grape is the perfect Thanksgiving wine because it’s fruity, easy to drink and pairs well with various dishes. Famille Dutraive wines are made from grapes sourced from carefully selected parcels that follow the spirit of organic farming. Aromatically pure with bright fruits, the wine is light on the palate with precision and length, adding textural elegance to every Thanksgiving dish. $40 (retail), garagistelv.com

Domaine Pierre Usseglio, Tradition, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020
Wineaux

It’s no secret that red wines from the Rhone Valley are tasty and pleasurable. Pierre Usseglio’s Grenache-driven Châteauneuf-du-Pape offers an incredible bouquet of glossy red and black fruits for something with a bit more oomph. It evokes a feeling of autumn in a glass surrounded by a field of wild cooking herbs. $90, wineauxlv.com

Champagne Laurent Perrier Brut Millesime 2012
Grand Cru by Partage

French bubbles will satisfy the palate and prepare for the next delicious bite. Vintage Champagne is noteworthy because it’s a unique expression of a single year. Laurent Perrier’s classic 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot will be a delightful addition to the celebration. $84, partage.vegas/grand-cru