NYC friends!
Come drink delicious organic, women-made Italian wine, snack on light bites, and connect with an incredible group of women on 12/4: including a reality TV producer, investor, data scientist, attorney, founders, and more.
🎟️ Use code WWW15 for $15 off your ticket. Get all the details here!
How is it already Thanksgiving?
While I can’t believe it’s almost December, I am excited for my favorite holiday.
Autumn is elite (hello jackets, foliage, and boots). And the whole point is to stuff your face, take a post-meal nap, then stuff it again. There’s zero pressure for gifts. Just carbs, more carbs, and couch time.
But…the before and after? That’s a different story.
Aaaalllll the planning, shopping, cooking, cleaning.
Even if you have a dishwasher, there are always somehow 20 more things that need to be hand-washed or wiped down.
And who’s doing the majority of that?
You. Me. The ladies.
Meanwhile, the men are busy “watching the grill” or “starting the fire” or being very focused on the game.
Studies actually back this up.
And I want you to have an amazing, zero (okay, low) stress Thanksgiving full of good food and good wine. So today, I’m bringing you:
What wines to get to make your Thanksgiving hosting & guesting easier
Some stats you can use to get the men in your life off their butts and into the kitchen with a rag
Pour Decisions
Many of us are navigating multiple Thanksgivings: family, in-laws, Friendsgiving, the other Friendsgiving.
That’s a lot of menus! So here’s your don’t-think-about-it wine guide:
A handful of bottles that work with almost anything, won’t break the bank, and people will actually like
1. Start with Bubbles
Even if someone claims they “don’t like bubbles,” they like the idea of bubbles.
They’re festive, easy to pair, and make a great host gift. Plus, even if they don’t get opened, they’ll definitely get used (or regifted) later. Win-win.
If you don’t want to splurge on Champagne, here’s what to ask for at your wine shop:
🇫🇷 Crémant (France)
Made just like Champagne, but from other French regions. Most common:
Crémant de Alsace: Produces more than 50% of crémants
Crémant de Loire: Often produced with chenin blanc, or with cabernet franc for their rosé
Crémant de Limoux: Made with chenin blanc and chardonnay, this region in Languedoc-Roussillon claims to be the first French region to produce sparkling wine
Crémant de Bourgogne: Made in Burgundy, literally right next door to Champagne. They have a shorter aging requirement which can mean less complexity, so look for Eminent and Grand Eminent on the label, which means more aging
🇪🇸 Cava (Spain)
Made in the same method as Champagne, these bubbles are made from varietals like chardonnay, pinot noir, and indigenous grapes like Macabeo and Xarello
Look for Reserva or Gran Reserva on the label which indicates higher quality
If you’re lucky, you’ll find Paraje Calificado, which is rare and top-tier!
🇮🇹 Metodo Classico (Italy)
Franciacorta: From Lombardy, northern Italy, about an hour west of Milan. These bubbles are made in the same method as Champagne with chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot blanc. Look for Millesimato or Riserva on the label which indicates more aging
Trento DOC: An alpine valley about 2.5 hours northwest of Franciacorta specializing in sparkling chardonnay and pinot noir. The most famous is Ferrari Brut, established in 1902 by Giulio Ferrari (no relation to the car)
🇿🇦 Cap Classique (South Africa)
Made in the traditional method with predominantly chardonnay and pinot noir
Due to the warmer climate, these wines tend to have more juicy fruit flavors
2. Wines that Go with Everything
You don’t need a spreadsheet to pair wine with stuffing, cranberry sauce, and the weird vegan, gluten-free dish that one person made (why?!).
You just need wines with high acid, low tannins, and a little fruit.
Lambrusco
Yes, it’s more bubbly (but red this time!). No, I will never stop recommending it.
From Emilia-Romagna, Italy: the same region that brought us Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, bolognese sauce, and balsamic vinegar of Modena
Make sure to spend at least $20 and ask for a dry Lambrusco
Whites
Champagne
Dry Riesling (try one from the Fingerlakes, NY)
Chablis or other unoaked Chardonnay
Albariño
Sauvignon blanc
Reds
Gamay (like Beaujolais)
Barbera
Schiava (found in northern Italy)
Carignan and grenache from Languedoc-Roussillon, France (blend or solo)
Pinot noir (Burgundy or Willamette Valley, OR for earthier, California for fruitier)
A Final Reminder: Temperature Matters
Pull your bubbles, whites, and rosés out from the fridge ~20 minutes before serving
Put your reds into the fridge for 10-15 minutes before serving
At the end of the day…
Bring wine you like, drink it, and enjoy the damn meal.
Sip Happens
A YouGov poll from 2021 found that:
Women are more likely than men to do all of the Thanksgiving cooking (27% vs 16%)
60% of women do at least half or more of the Thanksgiving cooking or more
38% of men say “others” do most of the cooking, but they “help”
25% of men say they do none of the Thanksgiving work (murder)
It gets better:
Almost half of the women reported they do most or all of the cleaning
Almost half of the men say they do none or just “help” a little
Note: No word on how helpful these men actually were…
And while I couldn’t track down the original source, I came across a stat that said 52% of women report doing the Thanksgiving food shopping, compared to 32% of men.
Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a Friendsgiving invite from a man. It’s always the girlfriend or wife sending out the invite, organizing the spreadsheet, and making sure we don’t end up with four sweet potato dishes.
And when the meal’s done, it’s usually the women again: chatting in the kitchen while packing up leftovers, washing dishes, and wiping down the counters.
And look, I don’t have a solution.
Should we gang up and force the men to clean?
Do we trust a male-organized Friendsgiving?! (Kidding. But maybe not.)
If you’re a guy reading this:
Don’t ask what needs to be done. Just do it!
You’re a grown adult. Look around. Start washing things.
If you’re a woman…sigh. I feel you.
I admit I do get fidgety. I can’t help but start cleaning up, but maybe this year…I’ll pour myself another glass. Wait a bit longer. Nudge the guys to clean so we can rest.
If you have advice (or just want to vent…), hit reply and let me know!
I’m off next week (I’ll be cooking and drinking), but I’ll see you in December (!!!).
Cheers,
P.S. Know a friend hosting Friendsgiving? Forward this to her! Sharing is caring.
