Recipes & Pairings
Perfect Pairings: Choosing the Best Rioja Wine for Your Thanksgiving Feast
With the aroma of autumn in the air and Thanksgiving Dinner fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to start planning the ultimate dinner to delight your family and friends.
Amid the culinary considerations, let’s not forget the all-important question of what to drink. Enter Rioja wine – your versatile companion for the Thanksgiving dinner table.
Discover the Delights of Rioja Wine
Rioja, a region steeped in winemaking tradition, sits at the heart of Spain’s most celebrated viticultural offerings. Famous for its red wines, Rioja owes much of its acclaim to the Tempranillo grape, a variety that finds its most expressive form in the region’s diverse terrain. These wines are lovingly aged in oak barrels, imparting a depth and complexity that can elevate any meal – particularly the eclectic flavors of a Thanksgiving dinner.
Explore Rioja – Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva
When you’re scanning shelves or browsing online for the perfect bottle for Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll encounter three distinctive types of Rioja:
- Crianza: A friendly introduction to Rioja, Crianza wines have spent at least one year in oak, offering a harmonious balance of fruit and spice that can enliven any dish.
- Reserva: With a minimum of two years in oak, Reserva bottles bring a touch more elegance and structure – a great middle-ground for those seeking depth without overwhelming the palate.
- Gran Reserva: The pinnacle of Rioja wines, these bottles boast a minimum of five years of aging, resulting in a wine of extraordinary complexity and finesse, ideal for the most special occasions.
Thanksgiving Dinner Pairings Made Simple with Rioja
The beauty of Rioja lies in its versatility. Here’s how it can harmonize with your Thanksgiving dinner favorites:
- Turkey: A Rioja’s rich palette wraps around the succulent flavors of turkey, complementing without overpowering this centerpiece dish.
- Stuffing: The savory spices and herbs of stuffing find a friend in Rioja, with its oaky notes and vibrant character.
- Mashed Potatoes: The creamy richness of mashed potatoes is elegantly cut through by the smooth tannins of a well-chosen Rioja.
- Cranberry Sauce: The vivacious tartness of cranberry sauce dances beautifully with the subtle sweetness inherent in many Riojas.
Gourmet Twists on Classic Favorites with Rioja
For this year’s Thanksgiving dinner, step away from the conventional and embrace the extraordinary with a menu that marries tradition with a touch of gourmet finesse. Begin with a Roasted Chicken glazed in a reduction of aged Rioja reds, creating an entree that’s both familiar and thrillingly new.
Complement this with a Roasted Beet and Grapefruit Salad, a vibrant medley of colors and tastes that balance sweet and tart, alongside the nuanced notes of a crisp Rioja white. And what’s a feast without a signature sauce? Our Red Wine-Infused Cranberry Sauce, with its full-bodied red wine and festive spices, promises to transform every bite of Thanksgiving dinner into a luxurious experience.
Roasted Chicken with Aged Red Wine Glaze
Not having Turkey for this year’s Thanksgiving dinner? Elevate your roast chicken with a sumptuous aged red wine glaze. This recipe combines the classic flavors of roasted chicken with a complex glaze made from aged Rioja reds such as La Rioja Alta 904, Conde de los Andes, or Ramón Bilbao Mirto.
You’ll start by roasting a whole chicken seasoned with olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme, stuffed with lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs. As the chicken roasts to a perfect golden brown, create a rich glaze by reducing aged red wine, balsamic vinegar, and honey, finished with butter for extra silkiness. Serve this decadent dish with a glass of the recommended Riojas to complement the depth of flavors. When planning for Thanksgiving dinner it can be fun to think outside the box!
Roasted Beet and Grapefruit Salad
Enjoy a harmonious blend of flavors with this Roasted Beet and Grapefruit Salad, where the earthy sweetness of beets meets the sharpness of grapefruit. This dish is dressed in a homemade vinaigrette and perfectly complements aged Rioja whites like Izadi Seleccion Blanco or Martinez Lacuesta Tempranillo Blanco.
You’ll roast seasoned beets until caramelized, then toss them with grapefruit segments, greens, goat cheese or feta, and nuts. Drizzle with a vinaigrette made from olive oil, grapefruit juice, honey, and Dijon mustard. Enjoy this refreshing salad with a glass of Rioja white for a truly elevated Thanksgiving dinner experience.
Red Wine-Infused Cranberry Sauce
This recipe for Red Wine-Infused Cranberry Sauce adds a sophisticated twist to a classic holiday condiment. The sauce combines fresh cranberries with a full-bodied red wine, sweetened with granulated sugar, and enhanced with the zest of an orange. Aromatic spices like a cinnamon stick and ground cloves, along with a pinch of salt, give it a warm depth of flavor. You’ll simmer the ingredients until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, adjusting the sweetness as desired. The sauce is perfect alongside roast meats or as a gourmet addition to a cheese board. Enjoy with a glass of aged Rioja red like Monte Real Gran Reserva or Lan Edicion Limitada for a perfectly paired taste experience.
Top Rioja Picks for Your Celebration
To ensure your holiday is a hit, consider these expertly selected Rioja wines:
| Wine | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| La Rioja Alta S.A. Gran Reserva | Red | Full-bodied, complex wine with flavors of ripe black fruit, tobacco, and leather. |
| Conde de los Andes | Red | Medium-bodied, fruity wine with flavors of red fruit, spice, and vanilla. |
| Bodegas Ramon Bilbao ‘Mirto’ Edicion Especial | Red | Full-bodied, elegant wine with flavors of black fruit, chocolate, and tobacco. |
| Monte Real Gran Reserva | Red | Powerful, age-worthy wine with flavors of black fruit, cedar, and smoke. |
| Contino Reserva | Red | Well-balanced, flavorful wine with flavors of red fruit, spice, and earth. |
| Lan Edicion Limitada | Red | Ripe, fruit-forward wine with flavors of black fruit, plum, and vanilla. |
| El Cristo de Samaniego | Red | Complex, elegant wine with flavors of black fruit, truffle, and smoke. |
| Flor de Muga Rose | Rose | Fresh, fruity rose with flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and citrus. |
| Livius Reserva Rose Reserva | Rose | Full-bodied, complex rose with flavors of red fruit, spice, and earth. |
| Vivanco Cuvee Sparkling Reserva | White | Dry, crisp sparkling wine with flavors of fruit, citrus, and minerality. |
| Izadi Seleccion Blanco | White | Fruity, refreshing white with flavors of citrus, apple, and pear. |
| El Pacto de Alto Negrilla Blanco | White | Complex, elegant white with flavors of citrus, stone fruit, and minerality. |
| Manzanos Blanco Fermentado en Barrica | White | Dry, crisp white with flavors of citrus, apple, and minerality. |
| Martinez Lacuesta Tempranillo Blanco | White | Fruity, aromatic white with flavors of citrus, peach, and honeysuckle. |
As you curate your Thanksgiving menu, remember that the right Rioja can transform your meal from routine to remarkable. So, raise your glasses this Thanksgiving with a wine that weaves together tradition, taste, and the joy of togetherness. Cheers to a holiday steeped in flavor and fond memories!