The most celebrated feast of the year is about to begin and in many kitchens around the United States, you can find moms and dads, aunts and uncles, cousins, sisters, brothers, etc. all doing one thing, nipping on the wine! There are 5 Wines for your Thanksgiving Table and Wente Vineyards has one for every taste, food, and style. What would the celebration be if not a little wine runneth into the cup? It would not be a day that is for sure! On the lighter side of the preparation is the fact that a glass of vino is sure to lighten your spirits, and bring a little more jolly to your cheeks.
I will quite honestly tell you that I am not a professional Wine taster, but in tasting WENTE brand of wines over and over, reading, and then tasting again, I can definitely offer you an opinion of what I think and what I have learned. Here are 5 wines For Your Thanksgiving Table, all letting you lavishly live the adult side of Thanksgiving out loud~ Cheers.
Keep Your Sophisticated Opinion To Yourself
While a true Red Wine girl, I have opened up my palate to extend well into the White Range of wine and what I have discovered is that a glass of white, fermented and aged properly, by a brand that is about a journey and not just about bottling wine, truly makes wine an experience.
The Etiquette of Wine Drinking is really more of a background to enjoy life at it’s finest…I am honest and real with it and I do love my wine tasting sessions.
Now you know I am going to have my thoughts posed here, because this is like going to a home where you are not provided Salt and Pepper at the dining table because they don’t use it.
Wine Etiquette
Etiquette Rule: I once had someone tell me that the only correct wine to drink with a turkey meal is white, but I hate to inform that person, both Red and White have a place at the table. As a long time Red Wine drinker, I will personally throw this out there: the day is about family, friendship and giving thanks, not about YOUR personal views on wine.
It is proper and welcoming to offer both red and white wine at a dinner table and as a happy hour libation. Having guests into your home is not about YOUR preferences it is about making everyone feel accommodated.
The One other note that I will make is not only to be open to both red and white, but appreciate the fermentation and aging process of each wine, if you want to be a sophisticated wine drinker because this is where the taste is!
The Wente American Journey of Tradition
Wente Vinyards has tradition built into their business with over 5 generations of family producing great wine from the top regions of California because they LOVE to and because it is a non-ending journey. This journey all started with C. H. Wente when he dreamed of creating a great life for his family and moved to America in 1883. C. H. Wente pursued his dream and passion for winemaking and well the journey is ongoing.
C.H. Wente son’s Ernest and Herman took over the business for their family. Ernest was more the farmer, and he created’best practices in winemaking’. In fact, his work with the Wente clone helped to earn the title of “California’s First Family of Chardonnay” Herman was the marketing end and his work paved the way to create a grand overall perception of wine in California, something that had not been previously done.
Karl L. Wente led the development of the Arroyo Seco in Monterey, it is the top cool climate region of California. This area offers Riva Ranch Single Vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Now with the fourth and fifth generation involved in the business, the family is growing, and producing wine from top regions in California as it is a family passion and provides a daily journey!
5 Wines For Your Thanksgiving Table
I personally feel like I know the Wente’s as their wines are full of personality. RED —My favorite Wente Wine is a 2013 Charles Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon and it retails for $30. The wine created at this vineyard is foundin the Livermore Valley where they Wente family purchased the winery in 1883 from Charles Wetmore an American vinter. At this location you will find the Vineyard Tasting Room, Course at Wente Vineyards and Resaturant. The Cab is homage to the very good friend of Carl H. Wente.
Fermentation of this wine is in stainless steel tanks that are pumped over 2x daily and the aging occurs for 20 months in new French and neutral American and Eastern European oak barrels. Your tasting notes will honor floral aromatics with hints of tobacco, followed by flavors of ripe black cherry, and dark plum undertones of leather, coffee and spice. Rich and approachable tannins offering a long, and smooth finish. Translation – a drier wine, with a great taste, no cheek burning, no throat burning and the taste will send you mouth into over-drive. My glass has tried this both chilled and not, and I simply have no preference.
WHITE — 2013 Louis Mel Sauvignon Blanc
2013 Louis Mel Sauvignon Blanc that retails for $15. Louis Mel was a french emigrant who was in the Western U.S. in the 1870’s seeking a place to make wines that would challenge those in other parts of the world. Mel ended up in the Livermore Valley with vineyard cuttings from Chateau d’Yquem and Chateau Margaux in the Bordeaux. Mel built a gravity-flow winery into the hillside and began creating wines that won him accolades. When Mel retired in 1930, he sold the winery to his friend Ernest Wente. This wine is dedicated to his work with the earlier variety.
The grapes are fermented COLD to retain their natural fruitiness and they wine is aged in stainless steel tanks. The tasting notes on this Sauvignon Blanc offer a beautiful straw color and aromas of guava, melon, gooseberry, grass and lime. The crisp acidity and flavors of honeydew melon and pineapple close off the long refreshing finish. My Words on this Sauvignon Blanc: It is best IMO chilled and will be a great starting wine for your appetizers from cheeses to fruits. The taste is graceful and a good transitioning wine for those who tend to consume ‘zifandel’ –
Morning Fog Chardonnay
2014 Morning Fog Chardonnay is $15. Ernest and Herman Wente introduced Wente Chardonnay in 1936. They went on share cutting from their ‘WENTE CLONES’ of Chardonnay with others around the country and today did you know that 80% of all Chardonnay has roots with the Wente Clone? Wente is the First Family of Chardonnay.
The tasting notes and fermentation of 2014 Morning Fog Chardonnay
You will find crisp green apple flavor alongside tropical fruit, balanced by subtle oak, cinnamon and vanilla from barrel aging. Mouth-filling body, balanced acidity and a medium-long refreshing finish. This is the perfect wine to introduce to your first time White Wine drinker or to the more ”sophisticated” wine enthusiast who wants to get back to basics!
Riva Ranch Single Vineyard Pinot Noir
2012 Riva Ranch Single Vineyard Pinot Noir retails for $30. The background on this wine is all about the Riva Ranch which was the Arroyo Seco’s first vineyard planting in 1963 and it is standing till this day showing the pioneering spirit of Mr. Karl L. Wente(3rd Generation winegrower). The region is rugged and has long cool growing seasons: short days, cool nights and foggy mornings are PERFECT for growing cool-climate grapes such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir~ Cheers on this Karl.
Important to realize that the 2012 Riva Ranch Single Vineyard Pinot Noir wine goes through a cold soaking process and is fermented in stainless steel tanks(small) in lower temperatures, keeping the flavor of the fruit NATURAL. These are pumped twice daily maximizing extraction aromas and approximately 30% of it goes through extended maceration! Aged for 20 months in 50% new French oak and 50% in nuetral.
The resulting taste are rich aromas of cherry, strawberry, and vanilla with subtleties of toasted oak, earth, and cigar box. Bright, crisp and natural acidity, delicate tannins and a long fruity finish. My two cents: Refrigerate, serve well chilled, keep chilled while on the table, and used chilled glasses, as the taste sensation is amazing and best IMO when chilled.
Eric’s Chardonnay
2014 Eric’s Chardonnay retails for about $25. Eric is a 4th Generation Winegrower working with his brother and his sister to perpetuate an already flawless brand. They are maintaining wine quality and integrity and they are branching into Small Lot Series(hello, grab it while you can!) The Small Lot Series are created from specific vineyard blocks that are carefully farmed, sustainable grown and hand-harvested. Get ready for an unoaked Chardonnay that balances fruit and acidity.
2014 Eric’s Chardonnay was fermented primarily in stainless steel tanks. The aging of this wine is 4 months and it is unoaked, clear, bright and offers up a medium intensity. Aromas include lemon zest, green apple, pear, pineapple, and nectarine alongside citrus blossom. If you are looking for your Turkey’s best friend, here is the bottle I would be purchasing. The balance of flavor on this against the meal will be outstanding and if you opened only One bottle of wine all evening you will have made a great choice.
Wente & Wine
As you sit down and get ready to nibble on your appetizers, and then provide a pumpkin pie finish, you will certainly find a Wente Varietal that is perfect to accompany each staged part of your meal. Red, White, chilled, not chilled, just make sure the name on the bottle is Wente. I want to make it very clear that Wente Vineyards does not pay me to promote their wines, they are just a wine that I have become quite accustomed to each holiday and throughout the year. Wente offers a wine for every food, and every food needs a wine. Celebrate the day of the bird with the day of the Grape, get the right botle and your day can be celebrated from the moment you uncork, or twist off until the moment you bite into the bird! Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy 5 Wines For Your Thanksgiving Table as you lavishly live Thanksgiving out loud! ~ DANA
Do Not Drink and Drive. Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. Pregnant persons should refrain from drinking alcohol. You need to be of legal age to consume alcohol and you should not serve minors. The information above is an overview of wine products available and by no means should influence anyone to drink, begin drinking or to ruin a sobriety achieved. Drink with caution and do not get behind the wheel. Product was provided, opinions are my own, as is imagery.