The Beauty of the Vine



As dabblers of growing grapes, people often ask us about wines and vines. With the biggest feast right around the corner, this article by Gail Appleson might be helpful when pairing your choice of wine with the Thanksgiving meal. http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/variety-of-wines-work-well-on-thanksgiving/article_a0748cad-b787-5ea4-918c-483ecfa4580b.html

While this famous American holiday offers a range of flavors, food and guests, it can be difficult to find a wine pleasing for everyone. When handling a mixed crowd with diverse tastes and varying degrees of understanding wines, Pinot Noir or a light Chardonnay (no oak) tends to please all. You can extend your choices from the article’s suggestions but keep in mind, there are many beautiful wines one may be tempted to serve. However, the beauty of the vine and its wine can be lost when paired with an incompatible meal. An obvious 101 perspective but a safe outlook to use when serving wine with such a beastly meal and many guests – keep it simple!

In case you are wondering about today’s picture, it’s Sagrantino, a grape varietal that grows only around the hilltop town of Montefalco, Italy. (Of course, in the green heart of Italy – Umbria!) Although this wine may not stand up to our Thanksgiving dinner requirements, (it's a big, fat wine; a meal in itself) this Umbrian experience is one to put on your books. Make sure you look for a 100% Sagrantino, sip slowly and enjoy. And as Michael Broadbent, the British wine critic suggested, "Food and wine: Decide which is the soloist, which the accompanist."

Image of Sagrantino vines by Greg Bilowz  

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