Hot Topic: The Holiday Season calls for Nice Wines

By Bryan Robbins, Cool Springs Wines & Spirits

Published in VIP Franklin Magazine, November 2006

The Holiday Season is upon us, and with it, the parties, dinners and celebrations that call for nice wines. It's the time of year to uncork those special bottles you've been saving in the cellar ��� but it may also be time to experiment with something different from your local wine shop. There is nothing like an exciting new wine to get conversations started.

Thanksgiving offers all sorts of possibilities in wine ��� from traditional to adventurous. Whites, like Riesling or Gewurztraminer, are an easy fit with turkey. You can find a Riesling for almost any palate. Choices range from a light, subtle St. Urbans-Hof Riesling Kabinett (made from the harvest's first grapes), to the richer, sweeter Riesling Spatlese (late harvest) from the same German winery. But don���t forget the other Rieslings for those at your table who have a taste for the drier side.

Try Jacob's Creek Reserve Riesling for a delightful off-dry experience from South Australia. Early German settlers there brought their passion and know-how for making every style of Riesling and many rival anything from Europe. Closer to home, Bonny Doon's Pacific Rim Dry Riesling yields a fresh, clean, dry taste. Then, just for fun, think about a Gewurztraminer (ga wurtz tra meener). Once you get past the spelling and pronunciation, you are going to love it and how it matches with food. Try Hook & Ladder Gewurztraminer from California for full fruit and an off-dry finish.

For those who prefer red, Pinot Noir is a natural with turkey and trimmings and it also works well with beef and salmon. Lily Pinot Noir can segue from aperitif wine to dinner wine with its red raspberry and rich spice. Stephen Vincent Pinot Noir is another quality product from this fine wine maker���his Pinot captures rich blackberry flavors with hints of clove and cinnamon���all nicely balanced and wrapped in soft tannins.

And when the meal is finished and there is no room for another bite, bring out a tawny port to wile away the post-feast hours. Look for another surprise from Australia���Galway Pipe tawny--aged 12 to 15 years. It���s nutty, sweet aromas of raisin, fig and caramel give way to a long, dry finish, preventing it from being too cloying and sweet. A port for which to give thanks is the Talyor Fladgate 10 Year Old Tawny Porto. It is elegant and refined, providing a silky mouth-feel with flavors of raisins and nuts, with a vibrant finish. The perfect ending to a delightful evening.