The WineMadeEasy Blog

One of my favorite restaurants in Hamburg is located in an unassuming house on Evans Street.  It’s called Cozy Thai cozythaihamburg.com  and it offers a delightful respite from the usual Western fare. The menu is large and versatile enough to intrigue carnivores, seafood lovers and vegetarians alike. Several enticing dishes with ingredients ranging from shrimp, pork, chicken, beef, eggplant, peanut sauce, basil leaves, bell peppers, bamboo, coconut, rice and hot pepper sauce make this a top of the list culinary adventure.

Okay, I admit it. When I go to Hoaks out on the lake, I usually order a simple lager or pilsner beer with my fish fry (still my favorite since childhood) because it is such a classic match. But (duh) I do like my  wine and I was pondering what would I pair with a fish fry take-out at home?

Our final wine pairing with East Aurora take out will lead us to 189 Public House on Main Street. 189  (www.oneeightynine.com) is a relatively new comer to East Aurora and is owned and operated by John Crook whose family also runs the Bar Bill next door. The pub, known for excellent live music, has a warm, dark wood atmosphere which includes a well appointed bar and is a great place for lunch, dinner and pub fare later in the evening. 

Ponder this: Only in America could you munch on Ethiopian spiced chicken wings from a Ethiopian restaurant that is run by a couple from the small village of East Aurora , while drinking a Shiraz-Viognier from Australia with a French producer and Napa, California winemaker.

With the Super bowl coming up in less than two weeks, I thought this would be a good time to start a new feature for the blog that pairs take out favorites with wines. In these particular blogs, a selection of favorite restaurants from various locations in the South towns will be mentioned along with some of their take out gems. I will then pair them with a wine that we carry.

To pick a film to discuss with this Cabernet was way too easy, but obviously fun. The wine itself is also fun in that it should not be taken too seriously. I don’t mean that it’s not very good, on the contrary. But you won’t confuse this with a $100.00 cabernet.

If you are someone who is looking for a quieter, smaller, more intimate New Years Eve that doesn’t involve loud crowds and boy bands, I have a suggestion.  Why not have a few friends over and enjoy some champagne with traditional appetizers, and watch a classic film to boot?

Here is my list of some favorite wines for Thanksgiving. Some of these are typical choices, while others may seem out in left field. All are interesting and worth your time. With a couple of exceptions, these wines will fall under $15.00 a bottle.

WHITES

1. Les Lys 2014 Vouvray - There are apricot, almond and slight honey notes complemented by a fair amount of acidity, yet this wine still is very creamy and has a round finish. It will be a crowd pleaser at Thanksgiving.
2. Dom Lafage 2014 Centenaire Cotes du Roussane - A light straw colored blend of Grenache Blanc and Roussane, this wine is crisp and has peach and green apple notes with good minerality.
3. Ressia 2014 Evien Bianco - This wine is very aromatic with intense flavors of peach, apricot, orange blossom, lychee (somewhat reminiscent of a Vouvray) and a hint of anise in the finish.
4. Willm 2013 Gewurtztraminer - a bit creamy and juicy, with smoke, apple, melon, lime, and ginger flavors.

If you go on line looking for wine pairings for Thanksgiving, you’ll either walk away with some great ideas or come away overwhelmed with the diverse choices coming from every direction. I’d like to tell you that I can simplify the process, but frankly, I can’t. In fact I am about to add to it.  But hey, this is a meal about family which as many of us know can get a bit messy, physically as well as emotionally. So relax and embrace the crazy.

I love Austrian wines and feel they deserve more attention, and three of their major wines are actually great choices for Thanksgiving. These wines have the ability to pair with a variety of dishes served on this special day including turkey, yams, stuffing, and even Brussel sprouts.

Now that it’s November, we can put away the plastic skeletons, rubber monster masks, finish off the candy corn and toss away the rotting pumpkin.  Before you go jumping on the Christmas shopping and decorating bandwagon, take a chill and remember Thanksgiving.