THE DAY BEFORE THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING (WINE PAIRINGS I WOULD MAKE IF I WERE ME)

In getting ready for the holidays, I find myself wanting to pull a Rip Van Winkle on everyone and wake up 20 years from now, though my wife would have a lot to say about that one, as would my 8 cats. This year, travelling to my mom’s in the Dayton, Ohio suburb of Kettering, my wife and I will get to meet my sister’s new boyfriend, and his 16 year old daughter. Along with that, and Mom’s smart direction of getting a Thanksgiving Dinner for all done by someone else and just warming it all up when we get there, we’re taking my sister some of her favorite Stonebrook Blackberry Wine NV.

I’ve been toying with the idea of bringing wine this year. I know it has to be a shock to some of you that I don’t break out wine every year for T-day, but alas, I am about the only one who drinks wine regularly – though my wife on occasion shares a bottle with me – so it seems pointless to drink a good bottle all by myself.

I’ve done it before mind you.

At a birthday party for my wife and her best friend Marnie, I had brought a 3 liter bottle of Dievole Chianti Classico 1997 to the festivities. A dinner party of about 12-14 people, you’d think that somebody pitch in and help me kill the bugger. Sadly, I ended up drinking about half of it myself, leaving my wife to drive my drunk-ass home and put me to bed without so much as a snog. I definitely didn’t score any points that night.

So I am always hedging my bets more conservatively these days, opting to simply roll with a cold root beer, or several cups of coffee.

In my head, some of the wines I would bring to our family dinner – if I knew there were more to imbibe than just me – would be a couple of Italians (go figure), a cru Beaujolais, a Central Coast Pinot Noir and an incredible pink sparkler from Oregon.

From Italy, my two suggestions to myself would be the I Stefanini Soave il Selese 2009 from the Veneto. I was introduced to this medium-bodied, soft-fruited white by good friend and importer Terence Hughes (aka Strappo) of Domenico Selections. This white wine has what you need to match up with the cornucopia of flavors going on at the dinner table. Likewise, the Mustilli Piedirosso Campania 2008, also from Domenico, is a unique, native Campanian red grape that drinks like a Beaujolais and gives the meal the space it needs to shine.

From Georges Duboeuf, the classic pairing of Thanksgiving fare with the Georges Duboeuf Brouilly Flower Label 2009 is as good as it gets, with the red fruits, spices and well-balanced acidity a perfect foundation to build your T-day menu around. Or keep the Burgundian varietal theme going, with our favorite California Pinot Noir,the Hahn Pinot Noir Central Coast 2008, a bit smoother, plusher and richer than the Brouilly, but still a great pairing.

To really impress the guests, I’d break out the big guns – the Soter Brut Rosé Oregon 2005, a truly seductive sparkler with loads of cherry fruit, slightly creamy toasted brioche and mineral notes that would send your T-day dinner into an ethereal direction.

Yet being the only drinker there – though my wife may disagree – it is looking like Virgil’s Root Beer. Whatever the beverage, the day will be spent with family, and that is all that really matters.