I’ll be posting Thanksgiving recommendations from Hamptons wine merchants, but it’s not too early to sort out how many wines—and people for that matter—you want to serve. With pre-dinner activities, after dinner lounging and lots of courses, it’s a long afternoon. Too big for a one size fits all approach, but too relaxed and traditionally American to make a fuss or fine-tune wines to every mood and every dish.
Two to four different wines should do, depending on the menu and the duration of the celebration. Think about one for sipping as an aperitif with hors d’oeuvres that can transition into an accompaniment for appetizers or soup. You’ll probably want another for the weightier meal centered on the turkey. You might coast along with that for afternoon football but well before halftime your palate will be grateful for a change of pace.
With the great feast with which we celebrate Thanksgiving and the excess of food, you might as well have affordable wines you can pour in abundance and not worry about cost. Too rare or important a wine does not seem to fit the spirit of this occasion in any case. Choose wines with flavor and spice to keep the palate engaged. Avoid heavy, jammy and high alcohol wines. Wines that pair with a rib eye steak won’t work as well with turkey and sweet potatoes.