Turkey & Wine with Chef Joshua Hebert

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By Chef Joshua Hebert

When the weather finally cools off enough to call it fall (even here in Arizona), and we see Thanksgiving right around the corner, our evening glass of wine turns from white to red.  This can present a little bit of a challenge for turkey dinner, however.  With so many things on the table, the choice of ‘red or white’ becomes a big decision.  

Turkey begs for light and clean wines, while sweeter, side dishes need hearty wines. Reds like Pinot Noir with lighter flavor profiles may seem like an obvious choice, but so many Pinot Noirs intended as cocktail wines, to be consumed by themselves, they may be too heavy for the lighter food. 

The best answer makes most wine geeks blush, but we irreverent few at into the Soup are not afraid to say it… the pink wines and the “el cheapos” are great for Thanksgiving. There, we said it.

A nice Rose such as Wild Horse will do justice to just about everything as will the oft ridiculed Beaujelais!  A nice glass of Beaujelais that is slightly chilled as a red doesn’t really compete with anything on your plate, and with almost no tannins, it becomes a refreshing foil to sweeter dishes on the table. At the same time, it is light enough not to overwhelm turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and gravy. 

So start the turkey, and raise a glass of nice Rose or a Beaujelais and feel confident in your decision.  Fall tastes better when we start it off light.  The colder temperatures and heavier wines are right around the corner.  Wait for the snow to pull those out!

Happy Holidays,

Josh

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About Josua Hebert

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Chef Joshua Hebert is Executive Chef at POSH Restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona. He is the winner of this years C-CAP Heavy Medal Culinary Competition and a Sommelier. He is nearly a native of Scottsdale.  He began his career at Tarbell's in Phoenix and spent his 20's in San Francisco and Tokyo. He returned to head the kitchen at Tarbell's, North and Dual, before making POSH his obsession.  Joshua is married, has no kids, but an awfully cute pound puppy named Kassy.