Holiday Strive and Thrive Guide Part 2 – Drinks and Desserts

White Wine

1. Vin de Days Blanc 2024, Willamette Valley, WA – An organic blend of Pinot Blanc, Muller Thurgau, Riesling, Muscat and Pinot Gris. Ever so slightly off-dry flavors of apple, peach, pear, pineapple, lychee and honey to compliment the bird.
2. Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling 2023 – World famous Riesling from from the Seneca Lake AVA of the Finger Lakes region of New York.  Clean and crisp flavors of peach and apricot with a hint of ginger.
3. Oyster River Winegrowers White 2022 – Chardonnay made in Warren, Maine from grapes grown on the North Fork of Long Island, New York.  Aromatic, crisp and textural from partial extended skin contact.
4. King Estate Artisan Series Pinot Gris 2023, Willamette Valley, WA – Succulent honeysuckle, lemon and nectarine notes with a textural snap of freshness.  Biodynamic.

Red Wine

1. Jean Pierre Laurent, Saint-Pourçain 2024, Loire, France. Organic blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir, two holiday classics combined.  Juicy with silky red fruit, minerality and rustic charm.
2. Terre Rouge, Garrigue 2014, Sierra Foothills, CA.  A blend of 2/3 Syrah and 1/3 Cabernet Sauvignon.  Ripe black fruits with just the right amounts of earth, smoke and black pepper spice.  2014 is the current release as the winemaker holds wines until he deems them ready!  Unheard of in California…
3. Santa Tresa Frappato 2022, Sicily.  Southern Italian red for Thanksgiving?  U BETCHA!  Bright red berry flavors with floral hints and spicy finish.  Cranberry, sour cherry and peach skin flavors with lively acidity.  No need for cranberry sauce! 

Sparkling Wine

1. Oyster River Morphos Rose 2023.  Pet Nat-style with flavors of strawberry and hibiscus.  Non-filtered, no additives.
2. Meinklang Prosa 2023 – A biodynamic Austrian blend of Pinot Noir, Zweigelt and Blaufrankisch. Lifted, gently sparkling flavors of raspberries, pomegranate and cherry with a hint of mint.
3. Caneva da Nani NV, Valdobbiadene, Italy.  Sparkling from the most heralded region of Prosecco production that chooses to use caps instead of corks to top the wine. Fine, tiny bubbles deliver flavors of green apple, subtle peach and honeydew melon.  Natural.

Etc.

1. Eighteen Twenty, Victoria Rhubarb Wine – Tart sweet, slightly acidic, and dry like a classic French rosé. A fruit wine from rhubarb grown in Maine that’s definitely something different with turkey and all the fixings. We also stock Eighteen Twenty Blueberry/Rhubarb for a slightly different local twist.
2. Cappelletti, Insorti Negroni Wine Cocktail.  A wine based Negroni to pop and pour as you are assembling the feast.  Bittersweet from citrus peel, gentian, wormwood and juniper.  Unique and delicious.
3. Currant Cassis, CC Spritz.  Sparkling Blackcurrant Aperitif in 12oz cans!  Blackcurrant Liqueur with botanicals, citrus peel, a touch of honey and seltzer.  Dangerously drinkable…

Cider

1. At present we stock ciders from 8 Maine producers on the shelves. Almost all of them have flavor profiles or descriptions on the label. Many are smaller in size, so you can mix and match and try all the different styles offered. Look for the light blue “Local” tag below the shelf.

Beer

1. If you’re a fan of fall seasonal beers, we’ve got lots to choose from—autumnal flavors of pumpkin or stouts made with coffee or red and brown ales and fall IPAs. Look for the fall colors on the cans. New versions or yearly releases of brewer’s magic arrive every week.

Kombucha

1. Root Wild’s Ginger and Blueberry are great fall flavors and are wise choices before everyone sits down to eat.  Be kind to your gut before the feasting begins! 

ETC ETC

Not into it?  Scared of dinnertime political discussions?  Hate the football games?

Perhaps one of our THC/CBD drinks is the way to go?!?!

Try a 5mg can.  Just enough to give you a different perspective on the day…

Support Maine Brewers in their new endeavor by trying:

High Shore – Tangerine

or

Mystic Cove – Tiki Dragon

or

Illmadic – Lime

A whole new way to celebrate the holiday!

Need help? Want to talk choices? Struggling with wine dilemmas? Look for me by the wine shelf or ask for me if I’m not out front! I’m more than happy to help make your day memorable!

Happy Thanksgiving!

John McClement