By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief
You may have noticed that the New York Cork Report hasn't published a "What You Should Drink on Thanksgiving" story this year. That's by design. I don't see us writing one of those in the future either.
Someone must read them — they appear in just about every possible wine media outlet. Every year. Like clockwork.
You can read some of the details about why I personally don't like those columns, but in short: They are based in false expertise.
There is no such thing as the "perfect" Thanksgiving wine, period. If there were, all of these "experts" would suggest the same wines — every year. That doesn't make for good newspaper and magazine sales (or blog traffic) though, so different wines are mentioned by different people every year.
And they can get away with it because there really isn't a perfect wine to enjoy with Thanksgiving dinner. The meal (and people at the table) are just too diverse.
Here at the New York Cork Report, we have a simple Thanksgiving wine rule that really applies to every meal: Drink what you like.
We're not going to tell you what to drink. The person who knows what you like best is you. And if you're not sure what you like, try a bunch of different things to find out.
What am I taking to Pittsburgh specifically for Thanksgiving Day? It's a mixed case of wines that spans a variety of grapes and styles. First there's some riesling, all from the Finger Lakes. Then some pinot noir, both from California and Long Island. A bottle each of French chenin blanc and German Sylvaner just because they're fun, food-friendly wines. A local sparkler made its way into the box, as did an Aussie sparkling shiraz. Some rose of pinot noir too, just because its so versatile with food. And yes, some New York cabernet franc.
My hope is that this case will both give me what I'd like to drink but also offer something for everyone in my family, save my grandparents who don't drink. They are on their own.
Is the "perfect" wine in there? No, that wine doesn't exist, but I'm confident that we'll drink and eat well this holiday. Then we'll start working on a post about how you should drink sparkling wine every single day — except New Year's Eve.
In the meantime, instead of us telling you want to drink. We want to know what you're planning for the holiday. Tell us in the comments — what are you drinking this year on Thanksgiving?