Thanksgiving is upon us once more―and that itself is reason to be grateful! It never fails us. Whatever is happening in this country, in the world at large, in our individual communities, Thanksgiving rolls around every November, presenting us with great opportunities to make new shared memories with families and friends, to take stock of just how very much we have to be thankful for. To enjoy our annual national ritual of good food and wine, in company with those we treasure most.
Gratitude is actually good for you (don’t forget to eat your green bean casserole, either!). Researchers at the Harvard Medical School have found that, “Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
Across many studies, people ranking higher in the trait of gratitude tend to have:
- Greater life satisfaction and happiness, and more positive emotions.
- Less depression, anxiety, and stress, even when you control for personality traits like optimism.
- Better relationships (more satisfaction, more prosocial behavior, less aggression).
- Better health-related behaviors (sleep quality, exercise, fewer physical complaints) and sometimes better objective health markers.
So, let’s make sure that this Thanksgiving, we court better lives with gratitude for the lives we have.
And let’s further that aim with kindness, tolerance, and common cause with our fellow humans.
Do catch up with those you don’t see often outside of holidays―how is their school or college work going? How is the new job working out? Is there any help you can offer in advance of their upcoming wedding? How are they finding new parenthood, and how’s the baby doing?
Don’t challenge those whose politics disagree with yours. Don’t bring up what your third cousin said two Thanksgivings ago to upset you.
Holidays are times, in my view, to strengthen relationships, not weaken them. Or blow them up.
Leave negativity and disputes of all sorts on the front porch with your galoshes.
Let’s remember that the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag were wholly alien to one another, yet traded amicably and respectfully, leading to the invitation to tribal members to the first Thanksgiving feast. The natives brought lots of venison to the community party.
That said, let’s talk turkey. And other Thanksgiving treats. And wine.
As a certified sommelier, I have a few recommendations:
If you’re starting out your feast with charcoal grilled oysters (and don’t we New Orleanians love those!), here are three recommended pairing options:
Kirkland Champagne―it’s a good wine, made by vintner Jonathan Mercier of Janisson Wine House in Verzenay, France. Citrus notes, nutty nose. And it’s available at your local Costco.
If you’re happy to pay around twice as much, Nicholas Feuillatte NV Brut Reserve Champagne is softly elegant, lemony and light. I do prefer it over the Kirkland, but it is certainly pricier.
Another affordable choice is Villages Chablis by Patrick Piuze. Clear, clean, and sharp but balanced minerality.
Any of these would make a great pairing for your oysters!
When it comes to turkey, or turducken, I recommend a good Beaujolais – it’s tasty, fruity, effervescent, goes wonderfully with turkey, and is reasonably priced.
Yes, I admit it―I’m partial to the wines of la belle France.
But sommelier standing aside, these, like so many things in life, come down to our own personal preferences. If there’s a favorite wine you want to serve with any course, by all means do so! Taste is subjective―there’s no “right” and no “wrong” here.
There are red wines which can go with oysters, and they will if that’s what your tastebuds crave. You can certainly serve white wines with turkey―though you want to be careful the rich flavors of the rest of your meal don’t push your wine too much into the background.
What are your plans for the holiday? With whom are you celebrating, what are you serving, what are you pouring?
Please click here to email me directly – I’d love to know what you’re planning.
Until next time –
Peace,
Eric
