Regardless of what you are pouring on Thanksgiving (and I think you should pour something out-of-the-ordinary), I do think its nice to start the day with a bubbly. It cleanses the palate, prepares it for the food to come and generally puts people in a good mood — which is exactly what you need when you put gobs of family members around one table for an extended period of time.
So I recently went to hang out with my friend Gary Fisch and his wine experts, Chad Watkins and Lisa Justice, at Gary’s Wine & Marketplace in Wayne, NJ to get some suggestions that won’t hurt your budget.
Here’s what we tasted:
- Devaux Reserve Brut $30
- 2012 Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs $29
- JCB Cremant de Bourgogne Rose 69 $18
- Bohigas Brut Reserva Cava $14
- Borgo San Leo Prosecco $16
They were all so great and so easy on your wallet — yet another reason we all should drink more bubbly every day. (But for more on actual Champagne check out this recent column we did).
And don’t stress yourself out trying to find champagne flutes or old-school saucers. Use wine glasses and be done. Champagne, prosecco, cava, or whatever bubbly you pour, is still a wine. And the more air you can get in that glass, the better it will be. (And you get a bigger pour in a regular wine glass which is fabulous and important on Thanksgiving with your mother-in-law at the table.)
Oh and one thing before you listen…there is a pregnant pause at the beginning of the podcast because Gary and I were preparing to duck from a champagne cork that may or may not have taken an eye out. Listen and find out what happened!
Cent’Anni
And you know I would love to hear your thoughts on this, the wines you are drinking or anything else…so send a quick note! Thanks!
