Set the Table: Barbera’s the Best Wine for Thanksgiving Dinner
For some people, Thanksgiving is all about the food. And, what’s not to love about dreamy, creamy mashed potatoes, that savory turkey, and swoon-worthy marshmallow-covered yams? We get it. The food is pretty great. But, if you’re reading this blog, we bet you also care about the WINE on your Thanksgiving table. If you're on the hunt for a good wine for Thanksgiving, look no further: Barbera is the answer.
What is Barbera?
At the first hint of fall, Barbera is the wine we dream about. When that cool crispness returns to the air and the leaves start to flush red and orange, Barbera just feels right, like pulling your favorite cozy flannel out of the closet again. It’s warm, rich, medium-bodied and full of all the fall spices we love.
Much like the mix of aromas at a Thanksgiving dinner table, different layers of Barbera will emerge the more you evaluate it. Our Oh! Orgasmic Barbera has a touch of tannin to complement the bright red fruit notes you’ll find as soon as you pour a glass. Swirl your glass to uncover a warm mix of spice and floral notes. Sip to discover a blast of blood orange on the palate, followed by candied apple flavors. We’re not saying you have to skip Thanksgiving dessert, but with this wine, it’s definitely possible.
What makes Barbera so food-friendly?
Now, why this wine will be perfect for all you food-lovers out there? Barbera is a light Italian wine, known as the “wine of the people,” which makes it a great crowd pleaser and wine to pair with food. It’s generally higher in acidity, which means it will go with some of the fats typically found around a holiday table, like dark-meat turkey with a bit of skin, salami, and lamb. Any wine with high acidity will work to cut through the richness in your food and balance the flavors in your mouth. That’s why Barbera is an easy-going holiday drinking companion; it’s amiable while still bringing its own flavor to the table, never clashing with your traditional favorites. As an added bonus, Barbera’s high acidity will act as a palate cleanser and keep your taste buds sharp.
What to eat with Barbera
Barbera will do double-work and perform with your dessert just as well as it did with dinner, as acidity also makes for complementary pairing with sweet foods. If you’re a holiday planner who puts wine before food (we knew we liked you!), here are a few recommended dishes to go with the centerpiece of your holiday table, your Barbera:
• Rich, dark meats like turkey or lamb
• Mushrooms
• Herbs
• Blue cheese
• Root vegetables
• Braised greens
• Lentils
For dessert, try a congruent pairing, matching the flavors of your Barbera wine with the flavors in your sweet dishes to make the pairing pop. Sage, anise, cinnamon, citrus, and nutmeg should all play well with a dessert-course serving of Barbera wine. Your dinner guests will soon be saying, You had me at Barbera!
🥂 Cheers,
Evoke Winery