Thanksgiving Day Bargains - Thanksgiving Wine Gifts

Thanksgiving Wine Gifts - How To Give The Most

Pleasure

By Elaine Berry

Thanksgiving is the time for feasting, celebrating, and giving thanks for all the good things we have. So what could be a better gift for this time of celebration than wine?Many of us visit friends or family at this time, and want to take something along as a gift. Wine is an ideal gift to take, and looks a bit more classy than a six-pack of beer! But how do you figure out how to choose the most appropriate Thanksgiving wine gifts?

First of all, it should go without saying that you need to make sure that your host, or the recipient of the gift, actually drinks alcohol! The most superb Thanksgiving wine gifts in the world will be wasted on a strict teetotaller - not to mention that they could well give offense.

As it's such a specially American festival, it's a nice idea to choose wines grown in the USA if possible. That still gives you plenty of choice!

A Thanksgiving dinner has a huge variety of dishes, most of them often being rich and highly flavored. Wines to serve with a Thanksgiving meal should ideally be lighter and lower in alcohol, so that they will enhance the food rather than overpowering it.

Of all possible Thanksgiving wine gifts, the one you really can't go wrong with is bubbly - Champagne or sparkling wine. Try a California Brut, such as NV Domaine Chandon California Brut Classic. Not only is this a great choice for popping the corks at any kind of celebration, but also, unlike many sparkling wines, it's exquisite with food. And you need the dryness of a Brut to counteract the richness of the Thanksgiving spread.

For a white wine you can of course play safe and choose a fruity Chardonnay from California - you certainly can't go wrong. But a perfect match for a Thanksgiving dinner would be a Riesling from Washington State, or from the Finger Lakes region of New York State.

The most popular choice for a red wine at Thanksgiving is California Pinot Noir. Choose a low to medium alcohol one that won't overwhelm the food. An American Zinfandel is also popular at Thanksgiving, but watch out that it's not too powerful for the Thanksgiving meal.

When giving Thanksgiving wine gifts, as with any gift, your main consideration is what will give pleasure to the recipient. But Thanksgiving is unique - you are playing a part in the nation's feeling of thankfulness and celebration. Make sure you chime into this, and you will greatly add to the happiness of the day for your friends and loved ones - and yourself!