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Thanksgiving Traditions Beverages Mentioned on Minstrel and Muse



Celebrate the Holidays at Minstrel and Muse, Audio Art Magazine.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Naturally, I was happy to be invited back to Minstrel and Muse to talk about my favorite Washington beverages for Thanksgiving. As Linda mentioned during the interview, the beverages we choose to pair with our Thanksgiving meals are part of a tradition involving family and friends.

Our conversation began with a discussion on hard cider options. Yes, hard cider. Cider is a good choice for those wanting a change from other traditional refreshments. I'd suggest pairing cherry and dry ciders with turkey - both recommended cideries have options for you. If you don't do turkey, apricot or pear cider would be good options for ham.

We also discussed appetizer wine options - I recommended dry sparkling wine and dry white still wines. Of course we talked Thanksgiving dinner. We may have gone off track a time or two. At least I know I did.

Here's the link to this podcast

Thank you Linda for inviting me to share my Thanksgiving suggestions. May you enjoy your Thanksgiving traditions as much as we do.

Following is a list of the beverages I mentioned and some I wanted to include.

Cheers and happy Thanksgiving!

What is Hard Cider?

Hard Cider has a long history in the United States. During colonial times apple cider was consumed as the main beverage with meals because water was often unsafe for drinking.

Hard Cider is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% ABV to 8.5% or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, cider may be called "apple wine". Cider may be made from any variety of apple, but certain cultivars grown solely for use in cider are known as cider apples. The more varietals used in making cider, the more complex the flavor and texture of the cider.

Washington cideries make an array of hard cider styles, from the stark, bone dry, the slightly sweet, to the super sweet and even fruit and hops flavored ciders. Truly a cider for every palate and occasion. I enjoy taking a break from drinking wine to savoring a cool, sparkling and refreshing cider. There's plenty of complexity in Washington hard ciders to keep my interest.

  • Recommended Washington Hard Cideries
Finnriver Farm & Cidery
62 Barn Swallow Road
Chimacum, WA
(360) 73-CIDER
web: Finnriver.com
Ciders: $8.99 - $22.99
They recently posted they have a limited production cranberry cider!

Brandy Wines: $19.99
Good option for after dinner sipping.

Tieton Cider Works
321 Humphrey Road
Tieton, WA 98947
Cidery is open by appointment, to schedule a visit call: (509) 673-2880
web: TietonCiderWorks.com

Ciders: $6.95 at local retailer.
Cherry flavored cider perfect for Turkey dinner.

Liberty Ciderworks
164 S Washington, Suite 300
Spokane, WA. 99201
web: www.LibertyCider.com
I have not had the pleasure of sampling Liberty Ciderworks. On my list.

You can learn more about Pacific Northwest Cideries at: NW Cider Association. There are currently 32 Members in the NW Cider Association (www.nwcider.com). This includes Washington (15), Oregon (14), Montana (1) and B.C. Canada (2).

  • Suggested Appetizer Wines (Dry White)

Columbia Crest Grand Estates 2012 Unoaked Chardonnay $9

 Gård Vintners 2011 Riesling Grand Klasse Columbia Valley $22

 Lauren Ashton Cellars 2011 Cuvée Méline $28

 Parejas Band of Sisters 2012 Wysling Columbia Valley $16

 Southard 2011 Estate Riesling $20

  • What is Sparkling Wine?
The wines I mention here are not Champagne, they have bubbles, but they are not Champagne. I point this out because people often, mistakenly, call all wines with bubbles "Champagne." Wines with bubbles are generally referred to as “Sparkling Wine.” Because they sparkle. However, there are sparkling wines from other regions of the world with specific regional names, such as: Cava from Spain, Prosecco from Italy and Crémant d'Alsace from north-eastern France.

Note 1: Champagne was invented and perfected in Champagne, France. True “Champagne” is only made in the Champagne region of France, using the Méthode Champenoise to create those lovely bubbles. The Champagne winemaking community, under the auspices of the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), has developed a comprehensive set of rules and regulations for all wine produced in the region to protect its economic interests. 

Note 2: How to Saber a Bottle of Champagne. I do not endorse or recommend opening a bottle of sparkling wine using this method. Since I mentioned the technique, I have included a video.



Note 3: Sparkling wine is best served chilled, between 40°F and 45°F. Warm bubbles are no fun.

  • Suggested Washington Sparkling Wines
Hard Row to Hoe $42
300 Ivan Morse Rd.
Manson, Wa (Lake Chelan)
'Good in Bed' Sparkling wine, Brut Blanc de Noirs
www.hardrow.com
$42 direct from winery.


Karma Vineyards $49.99
http://www.goodkarmawines.com/
Open Noon - Wednesday through Sunday
Closed - Mondays and Tuesdays
1681 S. Lakeshore Road
Chelan, Washington 98816
509-682-5538
$49.99 direct from the winery.

 Chateau St. Michelle/Michelle $8.99 - $10.99
http://www.michellesparkling.com/
Brut, Brut Rosé and Extra Dry (sweeter) styles.
New look for Michelle/Chateau St. Michelle sparklers.

Pacific Rim White Flower $9.95
Sparkling Riesling
Pacific Rim Winery Web: http://rieslingrules.com/
Brut and Sweet styles.

Local price $9.95
Juergen and Christian Grieb
owners Treveri Cellars.

Treveri Cellars
225 S. 2nd Ave.
Yakima, Wa 98902
Tasting Room open Monday – Saturday, Noon – 6pm.
Phone: 509-248-0200
www.trevericellars.com

Treveri wines are typically priced between $14.95 - $19.95.

They make many delicious styles of bubbly:

Treveri Cellars Extra-Brut "Blanc de Blanc"
Treveri Cellars "Blanc de Blanc" Brut
Treveri Cellars Sparkling Pinot Gris
Treveri Cellars Sparkling Rosé
Treveri Cellars Sparkling Mueller-Thurgau
Treveri Cellars Sparkling Riesling
Treveri Cellars Sparkling Gewürztraminer
Treveri Cellars Sparkling Syrah Brut




  • Suggested Rosé Wines which are Wonderful with Turkey and Ham

Barnard Griffin Winery $10
878 Tulip Lane, Richland, Washington 99352
Phone: (509) 627-0266
The tasting room is open daily
www.barnardgriffin.com

Annual favorite.




Charles & Charles $9.48
Learn more at their website: bielerandsmith.com
Follow them on twitter: twitter.com/charlesbieler and twitter.com/kvintners
Locally Paid: $9.48

Hightower Cellars
19418 E. 583 PR NE
Benton City, WA (top of Red Mountain)
phone: 509-588-2867

www.hightowercellars.com
Contact winery for availability - lovely wine.

Masset Winery $17
620 East Parker Heights Road
Wapato, WA 98951
509-877-6755
www.massetwinery.com
Paid $17 at the winery.


Local price: $8.95
Purple Star Wines $8.95
VISIT FOR A TASTING
1812 Washington St.
Vancouver, WA 98660
(360) 693-2700
www.purplestarwines.com






  • Cabernet Franc is a great choice if you need to have red wine
While we ran out of time...I also wanted to suggest these wines for Thanksgiving. Cabernet Franc is the perfect appetizer wine for those who don't drink white wine (I know you are out there). These are also wonderful wines paired with roast beef or leg of lamb. Any leftover wine is perfect for sipping after dinner too. These are fairly robust red wines with wonderful qualities. After Washington Syrah, I believe Washington Cabernet Franc is the "other" Washington red variety that Washington does oh, so very well. Strongly recommended.

SRP: $30


 Two Mountain Winery Cabernet Franc $30
509.829.3900
2151 Cheyne Road
Zillah, WA 98953
www.twomountainwinery.com






SRP: $40
Vin du Lac Cabernet Franc $40
105 Highway 150
Chelan, WA 98816
866.455.WINE
www.vindulac.com






Many thanks to Linda for inviting me back to discuss hard cider and wine for Thanksgiving. You can tune into Linda's Arts Magazine blog at Minstrel and Muse.

Here's the link to this podcast

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Cheers!
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