Prarie State Winery Pumpkin Wine

If you're looking for a unique wine to celebrate Thanksgiving, how about pumpkin wine? Earlier this year I found myself in Springfield for the Old Capitol Art Fair.  A handful of wineries from Illinois were also there presenting their various wines - some grape based and others not so much - and this is where I met Rick Mosher from Prairie State Winery. Rick makes a wide array of wines from American hybrid grapes such as Frontenac, Seyval Blanc and Vidal as well traditional Vinifera species including an impressive award winning Cabernet Franc . He also produces a line of wines made from fruits such as apple, pomegranate, cranberry and elderberry but it was his pumpkin wine that caught me by surprise. I'll admit, I was very skeptical at first since I generally don't fruit wines but the flavors of pumpkin pie in a glass had me at hello. Rick infuses local pumpkins with traditional baking spices and the result is a golden colored wine with enticing aromas of freshly baked pumpkin pie, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and just the right amount of sweetness with a snappy crisp finish. Personally, I think it's too sweet to serve with turkey and the trimmings but it would be excellent with desserts such as pumpkin & apple pie or buttery cookies.

According to their website, Prairie State Pumpkin Wine is available at Binny's for $11 or you can call the winery direct at 815-784-4540. A recent posting on Prairie State's Facebook page indicated they are down to the last few cases so if you're interested in purchasing this item for next week - you better hurry!

Chicago Tonight Ask Alpana - Thanksgiving Day Wine Pairings

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In last night's segment of "Ask Alpana" for Chicago Tonight, I offered wine pairing suggestions for Thanksgiving dinner. Not all of our viewers have access to a specialty wines store therefore I picked wines that were available for purchase at a major supermarket (The two exceptions being the Crispin Hard Apple Cider and the Vieille Ferme white wine. You can find the Crispin at Binny's or Whole Foods and the Vieille Ferme is available at any Binny's).

There is one tip that I forgot to mention: instead of buying multiple bottles of the same wine, I would suggest purchasing a variety of different selections and then set up a wine tasting buffet for your guests to sample from. This way, everyone gets the type of wine that is best suited to their tastes and a wine tasting is a fun way to keep people occupied, especially if you are running behind in the kitchen.

Beaujolais Nouveau 2008 Has Arrived!

I know - it's the moment we have all been waiting for all year! As the clock struck midnight on the third Thursday of November, the new vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau was officially released yesterday, and I just happened to be at Brasserie JO to taste it. According to French law passed in 1985, Beaujolais Nouveau may not be released earlier than the third Thursday of November. I was always tempted to open the wine like on a Tuesday just to see what would happen but I feared the Gendarmerie would hunt me down and make me do hard labor in some remote vineyard in the Languedoc. The wine is made from Gamay grapes that are harvested in September, fermented and then released a mere six weeks later making it the first taste of the vintage. The wine is light like a Pinot Noir, very fresh and fruity and tastes freakishly similar to bananas and gum drops. Now here's the thing about Beaujolais Nouveau, you either like the flavor or you don't but the taste is not the point as it is more about what the wine represents. The winemaker has spent the last nine months working the vineyard, pruning, worrying and waiting and then the moment finally comes when he/she and the world gets to taste the fruits of his/her labor. I also think Beaujolais reminds us that the year is slowly coming to a close and it is a nice way to usher in the holidays as Thanksgiving falls one week after the official release. This is probably the main reason why Nouveau ends up sitting next to the Turkey. The wine also features a different label every year. I know some folks who collect posters of the labels. Wine companies often employ elaborate and show stopping methods of getting the wines out to eagerly waiting thirsty patrons in time for the official release. I have heard stories of them using jets, elephants, speed boats, hot air balloons and in one case even a rickshaw.

Here's a particularly clever promotion: one spa resort in Hakone, Japan filled a hot spring with Beaujolais Nouveau for patrons to soak in. I bet this does wonders for your skin.

Even our favorite boy bander and Dancing with the Stars contestant- Lance Bass was on hand last night to light the Eiffel Tower red in Las Vegas to commemorate the launch.

As you can see, the whole thing has turned into a great reason to party and I imagine there was a ton of hoop-la-ing taking place in bars and bistros around the world last night. So yes - cue Kool and the Gang - because there's a party goin' on right here a celebration to last throughout the years so bring your good times, and your laughter too, we gonna celebrate your party with you, celebrate good times, come on!

You can grab your bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau at your local wine store for around $10 a bottle or you visit Brasserie JO for the complete French experience.

What to drink for Thanksgiving

I recently heard that more wine is sold for Thanksgiving than any other holiday of the year. My first guess would have been New Year's Eve, or maybe even the Fourth of July. But then again, I really shouldn't be that surprised, considering I can't remember a Thanksgiving dinner with my family without a gigantic bottle of Carlo Rossi White Grenache proudly displayed next to the turkey, yams with burnt marshmallows, and the ubiquitous bowl of quivering jellied cranberry sauce. Having wine was a big deal for my family. Most evenings of the year, they drank Scotch, but my mother forced my dad to relinquish his Johnnie Walker on this special night. She thought the pink stuff added a classy touch to the evening. The year I began my career in the beverage business, I begged my mother to let me pick the wines for the holiday. I spent the week planning and purchasing, and the night of the big dinner, I stood at the table and recited my dissertation on each wine and food pairing. When I concluded, my family tentatively sipped each selection without comment. I eagerly awaited the proclamation of how brilliant I was. Never mind that I never became a doctor, having a sommelier in the family was much better! But then, much to my surprise, the complaints started pouring in: "This one is too dry for me, don't you have anything sweet?" "What about Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon? I hear it's the best." "You only poured me a little bit. Why are you being so stingy?" "I can't drink! Don't you remember I just got out of rehab?" and on and on. I learned an interesting lesson that night: Don't worry about pairing wine with the actual Turkey Day dishes, as it is more important to match the wines you serve with the various tastes of your guests. So here are my selections for Thanksgiving 2008. With any luck, you'll be able to please everyone at your table!

All of the wines are available at your local Dominick's or Safeway so you won't have to make a separate trip to a wine store.

SERVING TIPS

Purchase various selections and place the wines on a credenza or side table and let your family serve themselves as this will free you up to do other things. This will also eliminate clutter on the dining room table. If you are short on space in the refrigerator and live in a cooler part of the country, you can always keep your white wines outside or in the garage to keep them nice and chilled. Also - don't forget about the folks who don't drink, we would not want them to feel left out.

THANKSGIVING 2008

For the sweet wine lover

Polka Dot Riesling, Pfalz Germany $9

Tastes of crisp green apples without being too sweet. Perfect for those who don't like anything too dry. Plus - the bottle is really cute!

For those who don't care what's being served just as long as it is wine

Redwook Creek Pinot Grigio - Italy $10 for a magnum (two bottles)

Light as a feather, slightly fruity and refreshing with flavors of lemon zest. Serve well chilled and it will go down nice and easy.

For Uncle Bob the Wine Snob - face it we all have one and he loves to brag about his wine cellar and repeats the same stories about his last trip to Napa!

Hess Allomi Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley $23 (yes - Uncle Bob is expensive)

Classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with dark berry fruits, nice and smooth. Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa costs more because the the land is more expensive.

For the folks who saw Sideways too many times and won't drink anything but Pinot Noir. Also good for people who want something lighter and not too heavy.

Chalone Vineyards Pinot Noir, Monterey $ 16

This is from my hometown so it has to be good! Bright flavors of ripe bing cherry fruits, on the lighter side but still satisfying with a slight spiciness. A great value! Pinot Noir has fewer tannins so it is not as chewy as Cab Sauv.

Great all purpose white if you want to simplify things

Montes Chardonnay, Chile $9

Perfect balance between for those who want something light yet rich enough to satisfy the butterball lovers. Flavors of crisp peppers and baked apples.

Great all purpose red

Gascon Malbec, Argentina $12

Rich and well strucured. This is a great wine for the money and will please most palates. Soft enough for Merlot drinkers yet rich enough for Cabernet fans. Like a cross between Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. One of my favorite varietals!

Something to bring as a host/hostess present or last minute gift

Sofia Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine, California $14

This was made by Francis Ford Coppola in honor of his daughter, the great Sofia Coppola (well, he didn't actually make it, some winemakers did but he told them what to do so this counts in my book). It comes wrapped in a pretty pink cellophane for an extra touch of class. You could also serve this to your guests when they first arrive.

For the traditionalist

Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais, France $10

The launch of Beaujolais Nouveau falls about a week before Thanksgiving so this could be the reason why it is often associated with the holiday. It makes a decent pairing since the wine is light and juicy with a slight bubble gum flavor. It's also really inexpensive. This is not the Nouveau so it is not as fresh but also less likely to leave you with a headache.

For the abstainers or little ones

Martinelli Sparkling Cider $5

This stuff is just plain good! It's slightly sparkling so serve it in a Champagne flute. My mother used to buy this for me and my brother when we were kids and we took turn toasting each other like they did in Dynasty and Wall Street. It's really no surprise I ended up in the wine business.