Washington Wines Go Great With Your Thanksgiving Dinner

If you haven’t made your wine selections for Thanksgiving dinner then now is the time to do it. To simplify your search, remember that Washington wines can easily provide you with the variety and versatility you’ll need to complement practically any traditional Thanksgiving food you can throw at them.

For those who prefer dry, white wines, try the Terra Blanca 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (about $14). Made from Yakima Valley grapes, it features a zingy aroma of gooseberries and plenty of citrus and lime flavors that linger on the palate. Also notable is the Lost River Winery 2007 Rainshadow (about $15). This newly released blend from the Winthrop winery is a tasty combination of 60 percent sauvignon blanc and 40 percent semillon.

And who says you can’t serve a cabernet with Thanksgiving dinner? I think as long as the wine isn’t a huge fruit bomb or overly tannic, it should go perfectly well with turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes and gravy.

A couple of suggestions: The Eaton Hill 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (about $24) from Yakima Valley is a super-delicious red wine, filled with beautiful vanilla aromas and flavors along with a nice touch of chocolate-covered cherry on the finish. The Sagelands 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (about $13) is also an excellent choice, with a pleasant fragrance of fresh berries along with plenty of silky dark berry, plum and black cherry flavors.

To finish up, remember that the wine should always be sweeter than the dessert. Late harvest and ice wines work well here, and a sure fire winner is the Mount Baker Vineyards 2004 Late Harvest Viognier (about $20 for 375 milliliters). It’s loaded with mouth-watering pear and peach flavors that melt into an incredibly lengthy, honey-like finish.