We asked vino pro Russell Moss, general manager of the 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 HV because of how well the grapes grow here.)
From Milea: 2021 Sang’s Vineyard 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
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 made with six different grape varieties, imbuing each sip with strawberry, papaya, and orange peel. (Milea won “Best Rosé” in this year’s Best of Hudson Valley awards.)
From Milea: 2022 Rosé, $25
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 their chardonnay in French oak barrels for 10 months, giving the finished product almond and melon aromas.
From Milea: 2022 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