Superstar Thanksgiving Wines

Istockphoto/evgenyb

Allegra Angelo|Nov. 11, 2010 5:10 pm EST

Turkey is the obvious superstar of Thanksgiving, and every November, food magazines silently compete for the grandest turkey picture.

Sadly, the talented and more impressive actors, like the chestnut stuffing or orange-glazed sweet potatoes, are pushed to the side, overpowered by a fat turkey leg or decorative table shrubbery with free-flowing ribbon. And somewhere in this 'perfect' photograph, between the turkey, stuffing, potatoes and table wreath, is a glass of wine.

Yes, Thanksgiving is when the diets stop and it's cool to plump-up stuffing with foie gras and sausage, fight for the dark meat and smother it with mom's gravy, or eat homemade pies while watching football. But it's not just a family tradition, it's also a gastronomic celebration—a blowout—fit for drinking champagne, uncorking a decade-old anniversary bottle of wine, or trading memories with a close friend in the comfort of an old Rioja.

Here are a few recommendations for making your Thanksgiving a blowout and making wine one of the superstars...

Wine: Champagne, Cuvée Prestige

Grape: 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir

Producer: Paul Déthune

Location: Ambonnay, Champagne, France

Year: NV

Thanksgiving Character: Freshly Baked Bread, Toasted Almonds

Wine: Saint-Aubin, La Chatenière

Grape: Chardonnay

Producer: Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey

Location: Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France

Year: 2007