The holiday season is fast approaching! A great time to spend with family, friends and neighbours. Also the time of year to eat great food, and enjoy a glass of wine or two of wine.
My fondest memory of Christmas was getting together with family. Having a big meal with lots of food, wine, and more food and more wine. Well, I was too young to enjoy the wine! The eating and having a great time with family was the fondest memory.
As we get older we cut down on the food ... well sort of, and we cut down on wine...again sort of. Okay who am I kidding we still like to over eat and enjoy our wine. Now we think about what wine to drink with that Christmas dinner and with family and friends. When the time comes; will we start with a glass of sparkling wine or Champagne? Have a Rosé, white or red with dinner or all three? Decisions on what to have can be difficult. It is not only the turkey you want to match the wine to, but also the stuffing, gravy and your company.
SO to make it easy I suggest the following. Sparkling wine you could start with a Processco from Italy or a Cava from Spain. A white with dinner try a Riesling or Gewurztraminer; For a red try a Pinot Noir or a Gamay; and you could also try a Rosé. After dinner a glass of port to round off that big Turkey or Ham dinner. The colour you choose does not matter as long as it is medium to high acidity, light body, low tannins, low - medium alcohol (10% - 13%) and light Oak to no oak.
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| See Ya Later Riesling Joie Farm PTG |
Road 13 Honest John Rosé 2011:
Who says Rosé is only for summer. Why not try this Rosé with your Christmas dinner. This Rosé is a blend of Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Merlot, Voignier and 4 other varietals. 13.1% alcohol; Nose: Fresh Strawberries a hint of spice; Palate: Sour cherry, spice, nice long finish. For $15.99 this is a good value wine. You may be able to find it at your local BC liquor store
See Ya Later Riesling:
This wine would be a great match with your Christmas Turkey or Ham as it has the right balance of flavour and acidity. 13% alcohol; Nose - very aromatic with fresh green apple, some floral notes; Palate - Melon, green apple, some minerality, medium acidity and a pleasant finish. For $16.99 this is a great buy. You can most likely find it in a local BC Liquor Store
Hahn Winery 2010 Pinot Noir
Here is a nice Pinot Noir south of the border from Monterey California. This winery will be at the Vancouver International Wine Festival. This Pinot Noir has 14.5% alcohol; Nose - Forest floor, Red Fruit, cherry; Palate - Red stewed fruit, earthiness, vanilla, medium body, and smooth tannins and great acidity. I ready enjoyed this wine. You can find it at your local BC liquor store for $21.99.
Joseph Foiveley Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2007I have had this wine a few times and rather enjoy it. Alcohol 12.5%; Nose - Red fruit, raspberry, cherry earth floor; Palate - Strawberry, sour cherry, hint of mocha on finish. Look for it at your local BC liquor store for $19.99
Joie Farm 2010 PTG:
As stated on the back of the label "PTG stands for Passe-tout-grain a classic but little known wine of Burgundy that combines the elegant Pinot Noir of the Cote d'Or with the rich spicy Gamy of Beaujolais" The PTG is made up of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Gamay. This blend will go well with either your turkey or ham Christmas dinner. 13.7% alcohol; Nose - Very aromatic take the time to enjoy, fresh red berries, vanilla, and slight barnyard aromas; Palate - dark fruit, spice, with light tannins. This wine can be found in limited BC Liquor store and at Everything Wines. Great wine for the price of $23.99
Taylor Fladgate - 20 year old tawny Port
What a better way to round off your Christmas dinner than with a glass of port. This Tawny Port is one of my favorites. I have also tried the 10 year old Tawny which is just as good, but has a lighter body. The 20 year old port has 20% alcohol; Nose - red berries, toffee, hint of candied citrus: Palate - Sweet toffee, caramel, sweet candied red berries and a nice smooth long finish. The Taylor Fladgate Tawny Port is aged at 10, 20, 30 and 40 years. Click on link to the left and scroll down to Taylor Fladgate to chose the port of your choice. The 20 year old Tawny Port can be found at a local BC Liquor Store for $69.99.
Tired of the same old Turkey done in the oven. Every year I like to do my turkey on the gas barbecue. It seems faster and juicer! The meat has a pink tinge to it from the barbecue. No worries once the turkey is cooked this is okay. When doing the turkey on the barbecue you need to make sure you have a full tank of propane or if you have a gas barbecue hooked up to your house no worries. Unless you forgot to pay the gas bill.
This method is called indirect cooking which means you are not cooking over the direct heat. On my barbecue I have three burners (front, center and back) and I only use two heating (front and back) elements but keep the temperature very low.
First step; Make sure your grill is clean and oiled.
Second step (optional): You will need a lasagna pan (disposable). Large enough to fit under the turkey. To the pan add; 1 cup of chicken stock, 1/2 cup of cranberry juice, 1/2 cup of Apple Juice, and 1 cup of water, 1 chopped onion, 4 garlic cloves (peeled and smashed), sage leaves (8 fresh or 1 tablespoon dried), oregano (1 tablespoon). Remove the grill from the barbecue and put this pan on top of the coals in the center of the barbecue. Put grill back on over top. Pre-heat barbeque to 250F. Makesure you check liquid as it gets low during the cooking process. Add more juice as required.
This liquid can be used to baste the turkey and after the turkey is cooked it can be used for the gravy.
Barbecue Turkey
1 - 15 lb turkey (thawed)
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp sage
1 1/2 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp all spice
1 1/2 tsp onion powder
1 1/2 tsp paprika
1 cup lemon concentrate
1 cup cranberry juice
1 cup apple juice
Wash and rinse thawed turkey under cold running water and drain well. Pat dry with paper towel. Then wash inside and out with lemon concentrate.
In a bowl mix the pepper, sage, garlic salt, all spice, onion powder and paprika together. Sprinkle or rub this mix all over the turkey.
Pour the cranberry juice and apple juice into a spray bottle. If you do not have a spray bottle mix in a bowl and brush onto Turkey. You will not need this if you go with option 2
Pre-heat your barbecue to 250F using the indirect method (above). Make sure you have completed the first and second (optional) step above before pre-heating.
Place the turkey breast side up in the centre of the barbecue above the pan (if using). Barbecue for 4 - 5 hours at 250F until the internal temperature reaches 180 - 190F. Make sure you check the liquid (if using) and replenish as required. Spray the juice mixture onto the turkey or brush juice onto turkey every 1/2 hour to one hour.
When the turkey is cooked remove from barbecue. Put on a platter cover with foil and let rest for 15 minutes. Turn off the propane
Using oven mitts carefully remove the grates when cool. Remove pan with drippings (if you completed optional step) and you can use this for your gravy.
Hope you enjoy the wines I have tried and tested
Ciao and all the best over the holiday season!
