Come find all the great flavors of the holidays in one store! Open Daily 8am-6pm • 799-3374 • 101 Ocean Street, South Portland Voted “Best of the Best” Butcher shops in Greater Portland for the Last Two years. Family-Owned, Old World Butcher Shop & Meat Market EvEryday SommEliEr N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 7 6 3 W hite: The 2016 Pinot Gris is the flagship white wine from the outstand- ing King Estate winery in Oregon. I’ve been a big fan since my days as Cellarmaster at Windows on the World in the mid-1990s. I love Pi- not Gris for its food-friendliness and versatility. Aromas of fresh cantaloupe and ripe pears with a balanced texture and racy acidity make this white an ideal accompaniment to Thanksgiving turkey. This wine sees no oak, so the full flavors of the Pinot Gris grape shine through. Red: Navarro Vineyards [above] is one of my favorite Pinot Noir producers in California. These folks have been growing grapes and making excellent wines since 1974, and this release is no excep- tion–especially given its 2013 vintage. The 100-percent Pinot Noir is aged in French oak barrels, imbuing the wine with aromas of cranberries, raspber- ries, and a touch of spice and va- nilla. Pinot Noir is the most versa- tile red grape for pairing with food. Unfortunately, so many inexpen- sive wines on the market are blend- ed with other grapes to keep costs down. To truly experience a deli- cious Pinot Noir, you need to spend a little bit of money. This 2013 Pinot Noir retails at $32. Zinfandel: One of the pioneers of Cal- ifornia zinfandel (their first vintage dates back to 1964), Ridge Vineyards is one of my all-time favorites. You might be think- ing, “Zinfandel? I don’t want any of that sweet, pink stuff on my dining ta- ble!” And you’re absolutely correct– neither would I! But this is the real deal: red Zinfandel. The 2015 East Bench Zinfandel from Ridge Vine- yards is the perfect wine to sip af- ter the Thanksgiving feast. Richer in style than the Pinot Noir, with aro- mas of black cherries, raspberries, and spice from 12 months aging in Ameri- can oak, this is a wonderful way to finish your meal. Happy Thanksgiving! n RalphHersomisasommelierandownerofRRHCellarsWine Consultancy.HewasformerlytheCellarmasteratWindows OnTheWorldandWineDirectorofLeCirque2000inNYC.