Whether you're expecting a crowd or just looking forward to a quiet Holiday at home, we have the perfect pair for your Holiday Table! These two gems will deftly navigate the complexity and diversity of any traditional Holiday meal while remaining light on the pocketbook and wallet. These were a smash hit for Thanksgiving this year.
The 2016 Carpinus Tokaji Furmint
If you haven't checked out the terrific dry wines from Hungary, you're in for a real treat. Furmint is a grape that's still firmly off the radar, however, it's rapidly becoming a go-to in restaurant hot-spots all over the country. Traditionally, Furmint was made into Tokaji, the famous sweet botrytis influenced wines which made the region famous. For generations, these wines were a staple with Kings, Queens, and heads of state all throughout Europe. Fast forward to today and you'll find the newest generation of young Hungarian winemakers producing wonderfully crisp, dry white wines from the grape. I read a quote from British wine critic, and author Hugh Johnson that provides an apt description of Furmint: "it's like Chenin Blanc with attitude."
At the Carpinus Family Winery, Istvan and Edit Bai are producing a stunning range of delicious dry whites from indigenous grapes. They are dedicated to uncompromising quality while adhering to traditional and sustainable farming and production methods. Their Carpinus Tokaji Furmint is 100% Furmint, sourced from four different vineyards; Deák, Lapis, Veresek, Gyertyános.
Why is this a perfect Thanksgiving and Holiday white? It's all about the balance between body and brightness. There's more than ample weight and body to complement the Holiday table, however, there's beautiful, bright acidity that helps to cut through the richness of the food. In the glass, you'll enjoy notes of orchard fruits, fresh herbs, and citrus all in harmony through the lengthy finish.
$15.99 per bottle
The 2017 Château Pizay Beaujolais
Here at the AWM, we've been on a 25-year mission to introduce Western North Carolina to the joys of true Cru Beaujolais. Please don't confuse Cru Beaujolais with the Beaujolais Noveau that appears every year on the third Thursday of November. Sure, the Nouveau is a fun and kitschy celebration of the harvest, however, it bears little or no resemblance to the real wines produced in the Beaujolais region. The true wines of the Beaujolais regions are superstars of the food and wine pairing universe.
Château Pizay is based in the Cru Village of Morgon and the property has a winemaking history that dates back to the middle ages. Over the years, the property has grown to more than 40 hectares and this entry-level release is blended from holdings in Morgon, Brouilly, and Régnié. In the glass, you'll be greeted with juicy notes of fresh crushed berries and spice gliding into a fresh and lifted palate with a beautiful underpinning of minerals.
Why is this the perfect Thanksgiving and Holiday red? Simply put, Cru Beaujolais is a knockout with any roasted bird and is especially perfect with Turkey. Thanks to its clean brightness and acidity, it also plays very, very nicely with all of the traditional Holiday side dishes... Okay, maybe not so much with Aunt Myrtle's green jello mold...
$14.99 per bottle