Vinoyo

I am really looking foward to the Holiday season this year. Even with the economic downturn I’m in good spirits. Things started off well with a uneventful Halloween spent with my children, a epic November 4th, and better days ahead: from Thanksgiving through MLK weekend and culminating with Inauguration Day. I’m even excited about the President’s Holiday. Flag Day even has a new meaning. I’m proud to be an African-American during these historic times and I am hopeful for the future. And President-elect Obama, if you need someone to run the White House wine cabinet (cellar), I’m available and thirsty.

…pt. 3 is a link to a story written in last years San Francisco Chronicle. It is an article written by a staff writer for the Food section about our families un-traditional Thanksgiving.

click here to read the story 

Cheers! And here is to New Traditions and Better Days Ahead!

Thanks for the feedback on the Thanksgiving video. I’ll keep my day job for now. This is a follow-up article to focus on the wines I’ve mentioned in the video. Some are very reasonable and easy to find like the Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay ($21 @ Costco!) or Le Cigar Volant. Others, like the DuMOL Viognier, are difficult to find and more expensive, so look for similar wines of the same varietal.

For some wines Chateanuf du Pape (CDP), you have to plan well ahead for. Stock up and cellar the very good 2006 vintage to enjoy in 2009. The 2007 vintage of CDP looks outstanding. You can still find reasonably priced 2004 CDP around, or better yet check out Le Cigar Volant.

Basically, look for food friendly wines: balance, low alcohol, high acidity. I strongly suggest French rose. I usually buy a mixed case easy drinking French rose when they are released early in the summer. The prices range from $7-15/bottle. I enjoy the case over the summer and keep an extra bottle or two around specifically for Thanksgiving dinner. American rose is refreshing, but usually more expensive and has a higher alcohol content. Often, it’s difficult to appreciate a highly acidic wine, but they pair extremely well with food. Rieslings (but not the late harvest desert wine) are also a good choice for the same reason. More on rose later.

the “line-up”

Start here. A good non-vintage sparkling wine. I prefer Piper. Gloria Ferrer is a good, and more reasonable alternative. (more…)

It has been a difficult year…for almost everyone, but there is a lot to be thankful for, especially with the results of the last election.  I never believed there would be an African-American, or person of color, in the White House.  I wonder, what kind of wine President-elect Obama would enjoy?

I’m ready for Thanksgiving; I am looking forward to the Holidays.  Here is a video to my suggestions for pairing Thanksgiving dinner with wine.

I am anxious about this video post, it’s raw video, and I appreciate any feedback.

Reg