5 to Find: Turkey day wines, beer pairings for football

BY MICHAEL SMITH World Scene Writer
Thursday, November 01, 2012
11/01/12 at 3:55 AM

November has arrived. Thanksgiving Day is three weeks away, but it's never too early to begin planning the day's menu. There should be food, and there should be drink, the latter of which often isn't given much thought.

But this is an important day with multiple priorities, so we asked Richard Hartman, operator of Ajax Liquor Emporium at 8125 E. 51st St. this question: What are some quality wines to serve with turkey dinner, and what are some seasonal beers good for football-watching the rest of the day?

Hartman, a former representative of two breweries, gave us five options to consider on Turkey Day - including one wine that you can serve warm. "That's right, I said warm," Hartman said of "glow wine." "This is a treat that shows up in your liquor store just as the weather changes."

Riesling

The most common Thanksgiving wine recommendation is a riesling, he said. "My favorite is Graf Piesporter Michelsberg. It has a slightly sweet start with a clean, crisp finish and pairs wonderfully with turkey or ham."

Pinot noir

Another choice is a pinot noir, and Hartman said his preference would be one from New Zealand. "A favorite of mine is Over the Edge pinot noir. It brings great fruit flavor that will remind you of cherries, and it pairs exquisitely with lamb."

Gluhwein

"On a cold night I enjoy a nice warm cup of gluhwein, which is also called 'glow wine,' " Hartman said of this wine flavored with spices such as cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. The tradition is to warm gluhwein in a sauce pan and ladle it into a cup, he said, but "you can skip tradition and pour some gluhwein in your mug and microwave, then proceed to the fireplace."

Paulaner Hefe-weizen

"Football and beer are a perfect combination," Hartman said, and he recommends a classic German lightly filtered wheat beer, light-bodied with a citrus note. "When pouring your Hefe-wezien into a glass, save the last bit of beer in the bottle, swirl the remaining beer to get all of the unfiltered goodness, and then continue the bottle-to-glass transfer. Float - don't squeeze - a lemon slice on top of your beer and enjoy."

Fuller's London Porter

This porter is "perfect for food, bringing flavors of chocolate and coffee that will enhance your brats and make your tailgate chocolate-chip cookies taste even better," Hartman said. Although black in color, this beer "is not heavy, and its creaminess has wonderful mouth sensation."

Original Print Headline: 5 to Find: Seasonal beer and wine

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STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World