Here are a few Finger Lakes red wine selections for your meal from Dewi of Red Feet Wine Market and Spirit Provisions. These wines are dry, food-friendly reds that gracefully partner with traditional Thanksgiving foods. Grab one of these bottles and prepare yourselves for mmms and ahhhs.
As always, many thanks to Dewi for suggesting wines for our families to enjoy this holiday!
For your Thanksgiving red wine choices, we offer more Finger Lakes specialties. The perennial turkey day red wine favorites happen to be what we grow here. After all, what reds go best with white meat? Pinot Noir? We’ve got some special ones. Cabernet Franc? That’s our middle name. Blaufränkisch? Check. Cool-climate meritage? Why, ya don’t say!
10 Finger Lakes Red Wines for your Holiday Meal
Ravines Wine Cellars Pinot Noir 2010 or 2011. The vintage is in the process of switching and we’ve tried them both. You can’t go wrong with either year. Absolutely true cool-climate Pinot that reminds us of Marsannay from Burgundy. Fresh cherry, red raspberry, cranberry, bits of spice and earth, fine texture. $25.
Forge Cellars Pinot Noir 2012: Still young, but you might want to put away a case and watch this unfold. Reminds us of Volnay from Burgundy. Violets, raspberry, light earthiness, mineral, sensual. $24.
Ryan Williams Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010: This comes from a newcomer on the east side of Seneca Lake (just south of Stone Cat Cafe). Uncanny likeness to Oregon Pinot Noir. Incredibly ripe plum and black raspberry fruit mixed with a red earth component. We liked it so much we scooped up a bunch of this warm vintage for you. $25.
Ravines Wine Cellars Cabernet Franc 2011: Positively delicious and quite saturated and ripe for 2011. The tannins are round and this is perfectly balanced with blackberries, earth, black pepper and juicy acidity. $20.
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2010: Rich and lush with black plums, blackberries, toast, vanilla and a soft, round texture. $24.
Hector Wine Company Merlot 2012: The HWC Reds from 2012 are lovely, clean and fresh. This is medium weight with red and black cherry fruit, red currants, fall spices and ripe tannins. $26.50.
Red Tail Ridge Vineyards Teroldego 2010: Reminiscent of Pinot Noir but with more heft, this is complex, savory, long and satisfying. Black and red cherries, blackberries pomegranate, licorice, earth, herbs, mineral and clove. A memorable wine for the holiday. $40 VERY LIMITED.
Atwater Estate Vineyards “Big Blend,” 2012: A blend of 5 grapes (Blaufränkisch, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, with small amounts of Merlot and Syrah), come together in this well-balanced, medium weight red with sweet, juicy raspberry and light spice. Very approachable and versatile. $18.
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyards “Field Cuvee” 2009: This Cabernet Franc-based wine also brings in Merlot, Lemberger, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon to create a medium to lighter-bodied wine with an exceptionally drinkable balance. Violets, spicy perfume, plums, tart black currants, and raspberries give way to hints of loam and bramble with firm acidity. $15
Shalestone Vineyards “Harmony” 2010: 60% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is quite rich and deep, with some structure and grip, but everything is well-integrated. $20.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Thanks to all the quality-minded growers, wineries and Finger Lakes wine supporters out there. How lucky we are to live in such a beautiful, bountiful place where most of our ingredients for the holidays can come from so close. With stellar locally grown foods and increasingly exciting wines, we’re living a charmed life, FLX-style.
Gratefully yours,
Dewi and the Staff of Red Feet Wine Market
