Thanksgiving Wine Recommendation: Vinho Verde

Thanksgiving wine should involve one name: Vinho Verde. Vinho Verde is a dry and citrusy white wine that has a bit of effervescence. This white is delicious and easily drinkable with a low alcohol content. Bonus: most bottles are under $10.

Thanksgiving wine will be second stage to the feast, the turkey and pies and all the side dishes that you've spent weeks planning and preparing anc ooking.

So the most important thing is that you choose a wine that's drinkable that most everyone will enjoy.

Vinho Verde for Thanksgiving

Vinho Verde is dry and citrusy with a bit of effervescence, which will balance all the rich food you'll likely be eating during the day like pecan pie.

Or pumpkin pie.

Perhaps a White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake.

Or a cheeseball with crackers.

This Spanish wine has a low alcohol content so you can drink it for hours.

Why Choose Vinho Verde

It really is delicious and life is too short for bad wine.
This is a wine that's usually packaged in a bottle with a really long neck, which will impress your guests or hosts.
Most bottles of Vinho Verdes are under $10.
Vinho Verde has a low alcohol content so you can probably start drinking at breakfast without any repercussions.

Go to your wine shop and ask what they have for Vinho Verde.

Or peruse the white wine aisles at your grocery store.

Vinho Verde bottles are often green and have long necks.

Vinho Verde Tasting Tips

Not all Vinho Verde are created equally.

There are a few I really enjoy and a couple I don't care for at all.

You should try several to find out what you enjoy.

Since I discovered Vinho Verde, thanks to a local wine columnist, I've been working my way through every one I can find.

While I like it for fall and winter holidays, a Vinho Verde is also a good summer wine.

My Favorite Vinho Verde

One of my favorite's is a Quinta de Azevedo Vinho Verde, for which I think I paid $12.

Here's a description of the Quinta de Azevedo from the producer's website:

Grape: Loureiro

Origin: Literally 'green wine' from the Minho region of Northern Portugal. Historically fermented in open stone lagares before being run off into cask and undergoing malolactic fermentation. Fermentation now occurs in vat, retaining the classic spritz or CO2 bubble in the wine.

Taste: Complex aromas of white and tropical fruits, citrus and white flowers. A lively and stimulating wine, with good acidity and well balanced, hints of spritz and bubble, with a concentrated and fresh finish.