Wondering whether to serve Red or White for Thanksgiving? How about Orange? #WinePW

When our administrator, David of Cooking Chat, suggested we share Creative Thanksgiving Wine Pairings this month, I immediately knew I would share an orange wine.  I mean, what is more fall-like and unusual than an orange wine?

I was first introduced to Orange Wine at an event with this group back in 2020.  At that time, orange wine wasn't available here in Michigan, and I ended up ordering a bottle of Donkey and Goat Stone Crusher from California.

In 2021, our Italian Wine group explored Romato wines.  These wines can range in color from light pink to dark orange.  I opened a bottle of Sun Goddess Pinot Grigio, which was light orange in color and crisp and bright in taste.

My next experience with Orange Wine was for our World Wine Travel group in 2022, when we visited New Zealand.  I found a bottle of Spook Light Orange Wine made with Pinot Gris that was perfect for our Halloween celebration. 

And then.....Orange Wine went off my radar. until David announced unusual wine pairings for Thanksgiving as this month's event.

I found this bottle at Total Wine for $23 and bought it based on the online reviews.   I wanted to serve it with flavors normally associated with Thanksgiving, so I roasted some chicken thighs, made a pumpkin rice, baked some apple cider biscuits, and included a kale salad.

I opened the wine as I prepared dinner, adding a little to the rice dish and pouring a glass for my sister-in-law and me to sip while the dinner finished in the oven.  The wine was crisp and citrusy, so citrusy that Roz thought it contained oranges.  I did get citrus notes, but not quite as strongly as she.  I enjoyed this wine and poured another glass to pair with the dinner while she switched to a White Sangiovese.

The L'un des sens is a blend of Chenin Blanc (70%) and Melon B (30%).  I had never heard of Melon B, so I did a quick Google search to learn that Melon de Bourgogne is primarily grown in the Loire Valley of France and is the grape used in Muscadet.  These grapes are macerated for 5 months, imparting an orange hue.  I thought it paired very well with the dinner I served.

The second bottle I purchased for this event, also from Total Wine, is Bertrand Orange Gold.  This bottle is priced at $24. I bought it because it is a Gerard Bertrand Wine, and I love his wines.

Each Halloween, I invite our neighbors over.  We live in a rural area and don't get beggars, so instead of passing out candy, we gather and celebrate one of the neighbors' birthdays.  I wasn't sure if we would have our gathering this year, as Frank had just had his right hip replaced 5 days earlier.  

When Halloween arrived, he was feeling pretty good, so I threw some brownies in the oven, pulled out some impromptu snacks, ordered up Chinese food, and sent out texts that our annual gathering was a go!!

When the guests arrived, I poured the Orange Gold for those who wanted while Frank poured Margaritas from a special pitcher he brought home from the hospital.  I think being able to serve those drinks was an incentive to heal so quickly.  Frank loves his Halloween tricks.

The Orange Gold was heavier than the L'un des Sens. It was not citrusy at all, but more floral on the nose, with a hint of pepper.  I enjoyed this wine as I have enjoyed all the Bertrand Wines I have had.  This wine is a blend of 7 different grapes, primarily Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and Viognier.

I have decided that either of these wines would be perfect for Thanksgiving.  I see another trip to Total Wine in my near future.  Please stop by and visit the other members of our Wine Pairing Weekend Group for more Creative Thanksgiving Wine Pairings.....Happy Holidays.....

• Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm shares “Wondering whether to serve Red or White for Thanksgiving? How about Orange?“. 
• Culinary Cam will share “Running Afoul of Tradition with Waterfowl and a Skin-Fermented Grüner Veltliner“. 
• David from Cooking Chat is writing about “A White Rhône Style Blend for Thanksgiving“.