All About Thanksgiving

Most of us consider Thanksgiving to be kind of a big deal. For some, it's the best meal of the year, both for the food and the companionship. For us, it's a time when our stores are packed, and sometimes there can be a wait for assistance. That's where we come in, saving you time (and money).

Exclusively for our Woodbridge shoppers-you can shop and order online for in-store pickup. We can't imagine a bigger time-saver. Click here for details.

Both stores will have extended holiday hours during the week of Thanksgiving, as follows:
Sunday, November 22: 9am-9pm
Monday through Wednesday, November 23-25: 8am-10pm
Thanksgiving Day: 9am-4pm

We'll talk about What to Drink for Thanksgiving for the rest of this post. Click here for Part 1 (craft beer) of the series. Click here for Part 2 (red wine). We also have a coupon available for Block 478 Pinot Noir, one of our recommended reds. Click here for the coupon, which is valid at both stores.

Before we discuss white wine for Thanksgiving, we have a whiskey to discuss. Your blogger prefers pecan pie over pumpkin, and there are any number of great recipes for a bourbon-enhanced pecan pie. Click here for one tasty example, from Maker's Mark.

What to Drink for Thanksgiving, Part 3

Revel Stoke Pumpkin Spiced Whisky. Spiced whisk(e)y is a fast-growing category, with Fireball being perhaps the best known label. But most of us want pumpkin, not cinnamon, for Thanksgiving. And that takes us to Revel Stoke. Revel Stoke Pumpkin Spiced Whisky is made with a blend of rye, corn, and barley malt that is triple distilled in copper stills. The whisky is aged for three years in charred white oak barrels. Natural pumpkin spice flavors are then infused before bottling at 70 proof. It pours to a golden color.  The aroma is nutmeg, clove, and allspice with an eggnog backing. The sweet whisky entry has vanilla flavor. Nutmeg arrives and is joined by clove and allspice. It fades with spicy cinnamon, vanilla, and whisky taste with mild heat from the alcohol. Revel Stoke Pumpkin Spice finishes with a mild sting and natural pumpkin spice taste.

The 750ml size is available for $14.99.

White Wine for Thanksgiving

Generally speaking, we look for something on the crisp side for Thanksgiving. There are so many rich flavors on the table that a lighter, crisp white tends to provide the best balance to the meal.

Cambria Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay. Brandon Bartfalvi, Senior Wine Manager in Lawrenceville suggests this for those who have to have a Chardonnay on their table. It's "a well-balanced white, offering flavors of green apple, pear, and citrus with a touch of vanilla on the finish. An elegant style of Chard that is balanced and clean, yet retains a certain degree of richness. This is lip-smackingly good!"

The winery says "bright fruit and oak spice aromas are found in the nose; citrus, pineapple, white peach and apple flavors carry through the mid-palate and into the finish. The finish is crisp and bright."

Only $14.98 in the Bottle Club®.

Marcel Hugg Pinot Blanc and Riesling. We talked with Kevin Saunders, Wine Manager in Lawrenceville, about these new wines from the Alsace region of France. He said the Pinot Blanc has "a delicate bouquet of apricots and crushed stones that flow easily from the glass onto the palate. The finish offers hints of lychee and just a touch of sweetness. It's a great sipping wine, and perfect as an aperitif!

Only $10.96 in the Bottle Club®.

On the Marcel Hugg Riesling, Kevin said, "I love this wine. It has aromas of simple citrus fruit, crushed almonds and honey, which all transfer into light, delicate flavors of the same."

Only $11.96 in the Bottle Club®.

We've always said that the first rule of wine is to drink what you like. On Thanksgiving, however, we're often looking to satisfy a number palates that might have different preferences. We hope this guide will be helpful.