You’ve planned out your Thanksgiving day menu (or ordered it for pickup), but have you though about which wines you’ll be pouring? We asked vino pro Russell Moss, general manager of Milea Estate Vineyard in Staatsburg, for the best bottles to pour on Turkey Day.
Cabernet Franc
Whether you go the traditional route with roast turkey, or go rogue with filet of beef, reach for a cab franc. With notes of plums, currants, blackberries, dried herbs, and cola, this full-bodied wine “pairs well with most main meat dishes,” says Moss. (Cabernet franc, by the way, is one of the most popular red wine varietals grown in the Hudson Valley because of how well the grapes grow here.)
From Milea: 2022 Reserve Cabernet Franc, $45
Brut Cuvée
“This sparkling wine is the perfect aperitif to kick off a Thanksgiving party,” according to Moss. A fifty-fifty blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, brut cuvée is dry with a fruity, yeasty aroma, a medium body, and high acidity. Pop open a bottle or two as guests arrive.
From Milea: NV Hudson Valley Vineyards Right Bank Brut Cuvée, $45
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Rosé
A light-bodied, acidic pour packed with notes of fruit, rosé “pairs beautifully” with many entrées from roast turkey to squash to white fish, says Moss. It can double as a pre-dinner wine, too. At Milea, the blend is produced in a lightly bubbly frizzante style that overflows with aromas of orange peel, lemon zest, and strawberries.
From Milea: 2023 Proceedo Rosé, $35
Chardonnay
If your apps include a charcuterie board, have this bottle of white chilled and ready to serve. Oaky and fruity with a hint of vanilla, medium-bodied chardonnay offers “refreshing acidity and a hint of salinity,” says Moss. It also pairs nicely with turkey breast. Milea ferments its chardonnay in French oak barrels for 10 months, giving the finished product almond and melon aromas.
From Milea: 2023 Reserve Chardonnay, $40
To order bottles straight from Milea’s vineyard, visit mileaestatevineyard.com.
Related: Try Top Vino at These Boutique Wine Shops in the Hudson Valley
