NOVEMBER 2007: BIZ LIFE, PURSUITS
Give thanks
for the wine
Want to impress your guests with the wine selection at your
Thanksgiving feast? We asked Erica Landon, sommelier and
general manager at Ten 01 restaurant in Portland’s Pearl
District, to select a few of her Oregon favorites for the
occasion.
Appetizer
To start your meal in style, Landon says, there’s nothing
better than a sparkling wine. “Whenever you’re
talking about holidays and celebrating with family, I always
enjoy bubbles,” she says. Her top choice is the 2002
Argyle Brut ($25) from Argyle Winery in Dundee, an
“approachable” traditional champagne.
Main course
“Turkey goes with just about everything,” Landon
says, so select a variety of wines to match the side dishes.
Pinot noir complements rich stuffing, gravy and cranberries,
while chardonnay pairs well with mashed potatoes and other
vegetables.
Landon says she’s taking home a bottle or two of the 2005
Anden Vineyard pinot from St. Innocent Winery in Salem ($39).
She describes it as elegant, with cinnamon and cedar notes
— a light drink that won’t overwhelm the many other
flavors at the table.
As for chardonnay, Landon says those produced by the Oregon
Chardonnay Alliance are top notch, especially the 2004
Chardonnay Cuvée Forêts Diverses ($30) from
Hamacher Wines in Carlton (“finishes perfectly”)
and Ian’s Reserve ($32) from Chehalem in Newberg
(“great acidity”).
For something more robust, Landon recommends syrahs from Walla
Walla, Wash., and Southern Oregon, which boast candied, bright
red notes of raspberries and plums. From Solena Cellars in
Carlton, Landon suggests the 2003 Del Rio Vineyard ($30). From
Domaine Serene in Dayton, she recommends the rich, dark
Rockblock label (2004 Seven Hills Vineyard at $45 or the 2003
Del Rio Vineyard at $40).
Dessert
For the classic pumpkin pie, Landon couples the golden raisin,
spicy quality of the 2005 Dragonfly Vineyard
Gewürztraminer Passito ($28) from Francis Tannahill Wine
Co. in Dundee. For non-traditionalists, Adelsheim Vineyard in
Newberg makes the Willamette Valley Deglacé pinot noir
($34) with a “rich fullness and beautiful pink hue”
that pairs well with cherry or apple pie and other fruit
desserts. Take your pick and uncork a fabulous
Thanksgiving.
AMBER NOBE
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