It's a great time of year for wine and food lovers. Large family dinners, holiday parties, and a general sense of good cheer make for great opportunities to enjoy the good life (and a little vino).

Here's some tips for selecting wines if you are serving a turkey dinner with the traditional sides:

1. Don't go too big with your reds. Bold Cabernets, Zinfandels, Italian Sangiovese, and Australian Shiraz will likely overwhelm the food unless they are very mellow.

2. Don't go too sweet. Riesling is actually one of the best wines to pair with turkey, but don't go too far with the sugar level. Avoid most Late Harvest Rieslings and Ice Wines. The ultra high suger content will make it tough to taste the flavors of your meal.

3. Go for balance. Wines that complement the food and help bring out the meal's natural taste are the best way to go. More mellow reds and slightly richer whites seem to work best.

4. Offer a diverse selection. Usually a table has a large family or group of people who probably have differing preferences for wine. Make sure you have three of four options for them, including different varietals (type of grape).

Here's some of my favorite wines to enjoy with turkey:

White:

Hogue Columbia Vellay Riesling $11

Columbia Crest Two Vines Riesling $9

Loredona Vineyards Riesling $10

Raymond Reserve Chardonnay $18

Sebastiani Sonoma County Chardonnay $11

Yalumba "Y Series" Viognier $12

Red:

Robert Hall Merlot $20

Trinity Oaks Merlot $9

Ridge Three Valleys Zinndel $22

Castle Rock Pinot Noir $10

Landmark Vineyards Grand Detour Pinot Noir $30

Norton Privada Red Blend $24

Have a great holiday weekend and make sure vino is a fun and safe part of it! As we move toward the holidays, stay tuned to this blog and in print on December 5th when we finish the year with our big Champagne and Sparkling Wine feature!

Cheers and Bon Appetite!