Now this is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. Wine. Specifically, what does one serve for Thanksgiving? Oh yeah, there are many wines that are absolutely wonderful with a rich, fat, calorie laden meal, infused with mushrooms, onions, sweet potatoes and turkey. It is really ones own preference. Whites, such as a Reisling, or a Viognier are perfect to go with the bold flavors of a traditional meal. The citrus of a Pinot Grigio is also well suited for the heaviness of the cuisine. One of the most popular wines is a Pinot Noir. It's mushroom like quality and the lightness of the grape make it the #1 choice of most holiday tables. Many haughty taughty families also enjoy a premium sparkling wine or champagne to celebrate this autumn feast.

Enough sophistication. To make this real we know that most of us are surrounded by our quirky families on this holiday. From goofy Uncle Bobby Joe to tipsy Grandma Myrtle. We have kids running around playing Pilgrims and Indians, and football blaring on the tv. Your 17 year old daughter brings her new boyfriend Slash over, complete with head to toe tattoos and multiple body piercings. Hell, Uncle Harold will probably prefer his Bud Lite served in a mason jar. Wouldn't make a difference to him. Grandma will already be a bit tipsy from nipping in the pantry all day. And how many of us really are that picky after watching football all day and doing shots with Cousin Frank?

Which brings me to my favorite wine for turkey day. Not only is it inexpensive, but it has got a great story behind it! Beaujolais Nouveau !!! Here is an excerpt from About.com Wine......................

"As the clock strikes midnight on the third Thursday of November, the new vintage of Beaujolais, Beaujolais Nouveau, is released to the world! Over 60 million bottles make the trek to Paris for worldwide distribution, of which Germany is the leading importer. This is a young wine (only 6 weeks old), grown from the Gamay grape, and is very fruity, light-bodied, and virtually tannin-free making for an extremely easy-to-drink red wine. It is best served chilled to really bring the fruit forward and is a popular complement to Thanksgiving dinners, in part due to its annual release date and in part due to its food-friendliness.

According to a French law passed in 1985, Beaujolais Nouveau may not be released earlier than the third Thursday of November. As a result, tradition and custom have set in to make the annual release race of this much loved wine a fun-filled event. Starting with the hand-picking of the grapes in the Beaujolais growing region (part of Burgundy), followed by carbonic maceration, pressing, and fermentation and on to speedy bottling all to culminate in the midnight release on the third Thursday of November. Next vintners race to see whose Beaujolais Nouveau will be the first to fill the bars and bistros of the world awaiting the new vintage. They have employed all methods of transport as part of the fun and sport – from trucks to trains, jets to hot air balloons to rush their vintage to the front of the uncorking lines. Banners proclaiming, “Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrive!” – "The New Beaujolais has arrived!" are scattered throughout wine shops, enticing those who are seeking a light-hearted, fruit-filled wine to decorate their holiday tables, and for a mere $6-10 a bottle, the decoration comes fairly cheap!

Beaujolais Nouveau is typically meant to be consumed within the first year of release, certainly not a wine that is intended for aging. Some of the top producers of Beaujolais and Beaujolais Nouveau include: Georges Duboeuf, Domaine Yvon Metras, Jean-Paul Thevenet, and Louis Jadot"

At around $8.00 a bottle it is full of fruit, not too sweet, not too dry, and meant to be drunk (like Aunt Flo) immediately!

This has been a public service announcement. Don't blame me if you buy the expensive stuff and your family doesn't remember what it was! And if you like the expensive stuff, keep your bottle hidden in the washing machine, and refill when Cousin Pete is retelling his annual story about the 17 point buck that he shot, but could never find, even with the help of the FBI.