Take your Thanksgiving meal one step further this year and pair it with a local wine. Taylor Simpson, sales and marketing director of her family’s Good Harbor Vineyards located in Lake Leelanau, Michigan, provides us with suggestions of flavor friendly Northern Michigan wines for Thanksgiving dinner.
Good Harbor Small Batch Dry Riesling 2011
 A white wine that may either be dry or sweet, excellent with any dishes that are spicy, salty or sweet. Whether from Germany, Washington, or the Leelanau or Old Mission Peninsula – Riesling is an excellent white wine for pairing with Thanksgiving dinner. Riesling’s classic flavors of white peach and honey along its balanced acidity give it a significant pairing edge with sweet potatoes, turkey meat and herb-filled stuffing.
Good Harbor Small Batch Gewurztraminer 2011Â
Another wonderful option for Thanksgiving and produced throughout both the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsula, this white wine tends to have the bold aromatics and spicy palate appeal that give it a solid standing with turkey and gravy, bringing out the best in both.
Good Harbor Pinot Grigio
Delicate fruit aromas paired with a lovely acidity, this variety is capable of handling garlic and onions, herbs and rich, flavorful, high-fat dishes. Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris is perfect pairing for any Thanksgiving day meal.
Good Harbor Moonstruck Blanc de Noirs
Sparkling wine is an increasingly popular pairing partner, and not just for the holidays. Sparkling wines bring both elegance and phenomenal food-pairing versatility to virtually any meal.