Just because you didn't ask doesn't mean we are without heavily biased opinions on, well, pretty much anything under the sun. But when it comes to matters of the grape, we here at TAE would like to throw in our 2(Euro) cents to all of our friends back home. Thanksgiving is celebrated only in the USA, and to really rub salt in the wound, my bride will still be in China and I'll be here in Germany hanging with some expat friends, both vegetarians. Sounds like a lovely evening with Tofurkey and gluten-free stuffing in my immediate future-- hence the pressing need for some good booze.
I really can't do any better than to defer to my long-suffering wine go-to guy Bruce Bauer-- bon vivant, sybarite, all-around goodfella, and proprietor of Portland's Vino, recently named one of America's best wine shops. I first met Bruce during one of Vino's first weekends in business, and bless his heart, he was there for me when I wanted to educate myself about wine, yet could only afford $10 bottles. His patience, good humor and decidedly non-snooty attitude kept me coming back. Vino's mantra is "if it tastes good, drink it" sounded like good advice then as now, and Portland (which has its fair share of food and drink elitists) is a better place for it. And on a personal note, his fab Friday Tastings were one of me and B's regular places to start up our weekends during our courtship. Thanks dude!
But on to the subject at hand: Click HERE for a direct link to Bruce's recent guest article to online foodie resource Culinate (a worthy place to bookmark whether you're a whiz in the kitchen or overly-reliant on a George Foreman Grill like me) and his piece "Holiday Wine Choices." As far as individual brands and varietal recommendations ask your local merchant (most already have some wines picked out and featured for holiday meals), but I see that Vino has stocked up on the Louis Perdrier Rose Champagne (pictured above), an unbelieveable steal at $9.95/ bottle, and one that flat-out smokes most $25 sparklers. Champagne/sparkling wine effortlessly pairs with just about any food you can throw at it, which is why it's great to have always a bottle or 3 around. For wine buffs this Perdrier is terrific stuff at a laughably cheap price; for non-wine buffs who only drink Champagne on New Year's Eve or in their Mimosas, it'll be the best fizzy they've ever tasted. And folks let's get over the pink wine thing: True enough, Franzia and white Zin have killed pink-colored wine's cred in the public's eye, but Rose wine has nothing to do with those sugar bombs and is the great meeting ground for folks who love white wines but don't like reds and vice versa. I mean, come on: did you know that the most expensive Dom Perignon Champagne is a Rose? And if I may go a little rogue here: Despite living in a country widely known for its white wine excellence, I'm not a fan of the stuff myself and always look for a red that will match up well with turkey-- I recommend a fun, fizzy Lambrusco-- think of it as sort of a red wine champagne (avoid the overly-sweet cheap stuff and look for the $10-13 bottles-- you can thank me for the lack of a hangover later), or a good Gamay Noir/ Beaujolais, and you're off to the races.
And for all of our foodie friends on both coasts and abroad, read and bookmark Bruce's blog: Eat. Think. Drink. (link HERE), a freewheeling, delightfully opinionated, occasionally profane, rollicking great read from a lover of fine food and drink that singlehandedly gives blogs a good name. Do check it out.
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