Although I’m happy to make my own recommendations, I thought it would be more interesting to throw this request out here to see what people have to suggest. I have friends who will have family in town visiting around the time of Thanksgiving, and they want wine recommendations. The wines WON’T be solely for the Thanksgiving meal itself. Some criteria:
Everyone likes wine, but no one is a hard-core wine geek.
They would prefer to spend no more than $20/bottle.
They would like a nice, dry, light white wine–NOT a heavy, oaky Chardonnay.
They would also like a nice, dry red wine.
The recommendations shouldn’t be too obscure or difficult; something you could find at most large, full-service wine retailers.
I would guess they are looking to buy 10-12 bottles in total.
So, with those criteria in mind…what would you recommend?
I’m going to try and be more helpful based on your criteria. If they are not wine nerds, here are two excellent domestic choices that fit the bill:
White
2011 Independent Producers Chardonnay $12 (or less)
Unoaked Chardonnay, Chablis-like from Wash. Clean, crisp. Looks French. Tastes better than it costs.
Red
2010 Moshin Pinot Noir Russian River $20
One of the best Pinot Noir I have found for the price. A bit under the radar but still should be at larger wine shops.
Thanks for all the suggestions so far, esp. the suggestions for specific wines. I’ll probably go to a large wine store with them and help them pick out a selection, so specific suggestions rather than categories are especially useful. I suspect I’ll throw a Sauvignon Blanc into the mix as well, depending on the store’s selection.
2010 Bonny Doon Contra $15
Old vine Carginan (100+), another example of “tastes better than it costs.” 'Ol Randall Grahm is firing on all cylinders these days.
Because e.g. the Los Angeles wine scene [WHWC, WineX, Rogness’s store, etc] is going to be vastly different from the Philadelphia wine scene [PLCB] which is going to be vastly different from, say, the Omaha, NE, wine scene.
Nathan–Sorry for any confusion; I meant “my” town–the Los Angeles area. But I’m hoping for relatively widely-distributed wines so that if they like them they can find them elsewhere, and not just in a specialty store in LA.
Pine Ridge Chenin/Viogner is the perfect thanksgiving white for descerning neophytes that have a budget. I couldn’t recommend it more for its availability, affordability, pairing flexibility and quaffability
Is it absolutely necessary that the white be dry? I would recommend Dr. L (or any other suitable Mosel Riesling) if you can fudge on technical sweetness. It’s not for dessert and it is versatile, cheap, and widely available in the low teens or less. Berger Gruner Veltliner is also one I think fits well for this type of crowd/event. I think it still comes in liter bottles, too, so you get more wine for the dollar.
On reds, maybe something from 2009 from the Loire. I drank a 2009 Clos de la Niverdiere Chinon last night and think it’s terrific. I paid just under $13, all-in for it.
Cru Beaujolais comes to mind as well. I’m not up on recent pricing/releases/availability. I like the Domaine du Vissoux wines, but they are over $20 (by a small amount) locally.
Fred–Riesling is certainly something I would suggest, but since “dry” was stressed, they may think Riesling is inherently sweet regardless of the technical numbers.
It is so, so difficult to make any recommendations which would hold for the entire nation.
You have one of the world’s most awesome wine scenes there in Los Angeles, but as soon as you get out into some state with a crazy 21st Amendment distribution policy, you’re just flat outta luck.
Having said that, in northern Los Angeles, at WHWC:
In northern Los Angeles, at the Wine House:
In central Los Angeles, at Wally’s [my personal Red Wine of the Year, and nothing else is even close]:
And in southern Los Angeles, at WineX:
BTW, from the point of view of most of “flyover country”, those are simply “Back Up The Truck!” kinda prices.
Lots of good advice here. +2 on the Pine Ridge cb/vg. Also, if you live near the Hollywood area, go visit Jill at Domaine LA and have her set you up. She’s awesome.
I just wanted to bump the thread to comment on this wine. I went wine shopping with my friends over the weekend–they got a bottle, and I got one to try. I have to agree that it’s an excellent Loire SB, esp. for the price. Quite aromatic, with lots of melon/grapefruit and cut grass. Very vibrant acidity that lingers into the finish. It would be a good match with a roast turkey with lots of herbs, as well as oysters and the usual other seafood options. Good recommendation!