WINES FOR THE TURKEY (and the pudding!).

 WINE MATCH FOR THE TURKEY

(Not forgetting the pudding)

Anxious about getting the correct wine match for your Christmas turkey? No need. Don’t worry too much about red or white. Most, unless they are sweet, will do the trick. Been reading up on the subject the last week or so and it looks as if the most popular red match is Pinot Noir while Pinot Grigio or Gris tops the white.

That was from the net but I also made contact with some real people, local wine people who have the wines in the shops or online for you, and their suggestions follow.

Classic Drinks are based in Little Island, just down the road from me, and Steve Dwyer has these hints: “For turkey – try Rioja – Zuazo Gaston Rioja (Alvesa) Joven €10.99 or Petalos – from Alvaro Palacios in Bierzo Spain €19.99. On the white side, try Spirit Hawk Chardonnay – from Rutherford in California €10.99 or Oveja Negra Chardonnay Viognier from Maule Valley in Chile €10.99.”

And he had a beauty for the pudding: “For desert – Sweet Agnes Ice Wine – from Seifried family in Nelson, NZ –375ml €19.99 spectacular with cheese (Decanter Trophy Winner 4^th time in a row) or El Candido PX Sherry from Spain – 750ml €29.99 / 375ml €13.99.”

All these are available from independents including Pinecroft in Grange, Brian Barry, Midleton, O'Driscoll's, Ballinlough, Bramley Lodge, Fota – Ovjea Negra and Zuazo Garton Rioja are also available in Carryouts Nationwide.

Got in touch with Emily at Karwig Wines and their Red tips were New Zealand Bilancia Pinot Noir (18.76) and, from France, Chatelard Beaujolais Village (10.99). The Whites recommended were Italy’s Concilio Pinot Grigio Mas Gua (part of gift pack), Germany’s Erbeldinger Weisser Burgunder Spatlese Trocken (12.50) and South Africa’s Kaapzicht Chenin Blanc (9.60).

Karwig's Fizz 

For pudding: Australia’s Pfeiffer Rutherglen Muscat (17.51 a half bottle). Kariwg wines may be ordered online or at their place in Carrigaline. 

Curious Matt

Curious Wines were just after a hectic Fair on Saturday but Matt unhesitatingly came up with these tips: “Pinot Noir serves as a good foil for the turkey. The Ned Pinot Noir (15.99) would be my first choice and if you wanted to go high end, try the Greenhough Hope Pinot Noir. (32.00).  Chateauneuf du Pape is another popular choice as there are so many flavours on the Christmas dinner plate. Chante Cigale (28.00) is the real deal, not just another generic wine with 'Chateauneuf' on the bottle for the sake of it.

For the sticky, the PX Sherry (30.00 for 50cl) is fantastic. Very sweet, it went down really well on Saturday, as did Woodstock's 20 year old fortified which I have yet to put on the site.” Curious have an unmissable green base near Smyths Toys at the Kinsale Road roundabout and also operate online.

Gary Gubbins of Tipperary’s Red Nose Wine took some time out to make these recommendations. “I personally think Pinot Noir is a great one for turkey. French are the best but they are also expensive. New Zealand is a good alternative. Here are a couple of good ones.

 NZ Pinot  (16.00)  and French Pinot  (54.00) - if you want to spoil yourself then this is simply superb.- 

“For white, try something like Pinot Gris or Chardonnay. For something different, try Domaine des Anges “Archange” white  (20.00).

 Red Nose operate out of the Clonmel Business Park and also online.

Wine Alliance  have Christmas well covered, according to Maurice O’Mahony. “Either the white or the red in the Mas de Vigneron will prove a good choice. Or why not try one of the Shirazes from the Kangarilla Road winery: either the Kangarilla Road Leaf Series Shiraz (15.99) or the 2Up (11.99).”

“Many people prefer white and I would recommend the Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (15.99) by Wines by Brad. If you have a few occasional wine drinkers in the group than why not try the Pinot Grigio (9.49) by Adria. This is fairly neutral, matches well and is keenly priced.”

“Turkey is often served cold later in the holiday and here you couldn't do better than pull out one or both of the Rojo Mojos, one Shiraz, the other Tempranillo, each 8.99. Both are light, soft and fruity and will go brilliantly with the cold meat!” 

Wine Alliance Stockists include 1601 Off Licence, Kinsale Cork; Bradleys Off Licence, North Main Street Cork; JJ O’Driscoll’s, Ballinlough, Cork; Barrys, Midleton, Cork; The Beer Garden, Turners Cross, Cork; Cases Wine Warehouse, Galway; Mortons of Galway, Salthill, Galway; World Wide Wines, Dunmore Road, Waterford; On The Grapevine, Dalkey, Dublin; Hollands of Bray, Bray, Wicklow; Der O’Sullivan, The Mall, Tralee, Co. Kerry; French Flair, Tralee, Co. Kerry; Partridges, Gorey, Wexford; Red Nose Wines, Clonmel, Co Tipperary; Foleys Wine Cellar, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.

What will I be drinking on Christmas Day? Not sure yet but probably a Semillon Sauvignon Blanc from the Bergerac AOC , Montravel, and I’m inclined to try the Brown Brothers Tarrango from Australia or perhaps a Beaujolais Nouveau or Villages. I have no Monbazillac left for the pud so I be buying from the list above.

There could be an argument about what to drink with the cold meat. One of us is strong on the Rojo Mojo Shiraz while the other favours the Tempranillo. Better get both, I suppose!

Hope the suggestions above help you this Christmas and, wine or no wine, I hope you and yours enjoy the festive break. And the best of cheer too to the wine professionals who helped with this post. I know it is a busy time for you and I appreciate the efforts.