Pair big dinner with aromatic white wines, lighter reds

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/10/2024 (388 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This edition of Uncorked will be the 18th to land on a Thanksgiving weekend, so you’ll excuse me if I don’t once again do a dish-by-dish breakdown of ideal wines for your big turkey dinner.

Generally speaking, for Thanksgiving I tend to drink/suggest aromatic white wines such as dry to off-dry Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Viognier or Grüner Veltliner; for reds I lean towards lighter, fruit-driven and not-too-tannic reds such as Gamay, Pinot Noir or Zinfandel — and perhaps a little bubbly to get things started.

If you’re heading out to pick up some Thanksgiving vino, The Winehouse (1600 Kenaston Blvd.) has put a dozen wines on sale that are potentially tantalizing turkey wines.

The 12 wines have been posted on the store’s social media accounts under the #turkeytwelve hashtag; they’re 25 per cent off until end of day Monday. Of that lot I’d recommend the Castell Blanc Cava for sparkling, either the Weiss Riesling or the No es Pituko! Viognier for whites, the Le Roc Ninette Rosé for a pink wine and the Rudi Rüttger Spätburgunder (a.k.a. Pinot Noir) for a red to serve as turkey tipples.

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If you’re looking for a dinner option on Thanksgiving Monday, Passero (774 Corydon Ave.) and Kenaston Wine Market have teamed up for a wine-and-food event that looks fab.

The five-course menu features wines paired by Steven Kotelniski of KWM. There are two seatings — 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. — and tickets are $222 for two people plus taxes/gratuity. Visit passerowinnipeg.com/winedinner to view the menu and email info@passerowinnipeg.com to book your spot.

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A wide range of beverage events and new product roll-outs continue in Winnipeg throughout the coming weeks.

A pair of events are being held on Friday in the West End — one featuring sustainable wines and the other launching some sinister-sounding brews.

The Pourium (942 Portage Ave.) is hosting a Conscious Corks & Cuisine tasting starting at 6:30 p.m. which will feature sustainable, natural and organic wines paired with plant-based eats from Baraka Pita Bakery and Restaurant. Tickets are $75 plus taxes at wfp.to/C0v.

Blocks away, Good Neighbour Brewing Co. (110 Sherbrook St.) leans into its dark alter ego as Bad Neighbour, with a series of dark, spooky-ish brews being released during the event from 4 to 11 p.m.

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The following day (Saturday, Oct. 19), Barn Hammer Brewing Co. (595 Wall St.) rolls out their new dark brew, the Black Mass black pilsner. The beer is a collaboration with local digital creator @beerandbaphomet, with a portion of proceeds from the sale of Black Mass benefiting 1JustCity.

The same day, things get eerie at Torque Brewing Co. (830 King Edward St.) as the brewery holds a Season of the Witch party starting at noon. There will be a DJ, local vendors, food from La Taqueria and new merch to go with Torque’s Witching Hour Dark Pumpkin Ale (see beers of the week review).

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On Oct. 22, Low Life Barrel House (398 Daly St. N) welcomes Vancouver chef Billy Nguyen (Bar Sodalite, Pizza Coming Soon), who has prepared a five-course tasting menu. The dinner gets underway at 6:30 p.m.; tickets are $100 per person plus taxes and fees, with curated drinks from Low Life available with every course for an additional $30. For tickets and more information see wfp.to/C0b.

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Saturday, Oct. 26 sees the return of Beastmas, a dark, stout-driven celebration at Sookrams Brewing Co. (479 Warsaw Ave.). As usual, the brewery will roll out the latest iteration of the Star Beast imperial stout as well as some tasty variations on the brew. Brizzy Boys will be on site hosting a perogy pop up starting at 2 p.m.

 

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Beers of the week

Here are a half-dozen fall brews made in Winnipeg, and which would work well with your typical Thanksgiving dinner.

Oxus Runner’s Reward Paul’s Saison ($4.00/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

This Belgian-style rye saison is named after Paul Wawryko, who loved running (and beer) and who died in December 2023. The beer was brewed in conjunction with the recent 5k run (which I ran) named after him, with a portion of proceeds going to the International Conservation Fund of Canada. It’s pale gold and slightly hazy in appearance, with loads of spice aromas and some earthy, wheaty and malty notes before a hint of banana candy. It’s dry and light-plus bodied, with earth, spice and wheat notes dominating flavour-wise and with secondary malt and slightly bitter notes showing well before the 4.5 per cent alcohol finish. Tasty stuff for a good cause. 4/5

Half Pints Oktoberfest Märzen ($4.49/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors)

Deep gold in colour and clear, the rich malt, dried fruit and caramel notes show well aromatically. It’s mainly dry and medium-bodied, with rich malty flavours coming with those dried fruit notes, modest bitterness and, at 6.2 per cent alcohol, a bit of kick on the finish. Slide into your lederhosen and enjoy — and if you can’t find this beer in the wild, Little Brown Jug, One Great City, Devil May Care and Nonsuch are among other locals with Oktoberfest-themed brews this fall season. 3.5/5

Sookram’s Brewing Co. Old Familiar English Special Bitter ($3.99/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

Made with English yeast, malt and hops, this ESB is bright medium gold in colour and clear, delivering bright, intense malty notes as well as earthy, herbal aromas. It’s light-plus bodied and dry, bringing balanced herbal and earthy notes with hints of apple, pronounced malty flavours, moderate bitterness and, at 5.3 per cent alcohol, a not-overpowering finish. It’s a style that’s more crisp and less sweet than a märzen, and Sookram’s has nailed it here. 4.5/5

Torque Brewing Co. Witching Hour Dark Pumpkin Ale ($5.00/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

Cola brown in colour, there’s a fair bit of vanilla showing here aromatically to go along with the baking spice (cinnamon, clove and nutmeg) and dark roasted malt notes. It’s medium-bodied and slightly off-dry, with initial vanilla and baking spice flavours followed by subtle pumpkin, Tootsie Roll and dark malt flavours, with modest bitterness and, at 6.5 per cent alcohol, a gutsy (and spooky?) finish. 3.5/5

Good Neighbour Brewing Co. Pumpkin Spice Latte Stout ($4.60/473ml cans, brewery, beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

Featuring coffee, pumpkin, baking spices, vanilla and milk sugar, this deep chestnut-coloured stout brings rich dark malt, vanilla and spice aromas — and there’s even a discernible pumpkin note here. On the medium-bodied, slightly sweet and somewhat creamy palate all those flavours work well together, and the 6.5 per cent alcohol is hardly noticeable. An ideal brew to pair with Thanksgiving dessert. 3.5/5

FullGeek BrewLab Potter’s Porter ($4.49/473ml cans, Oxus, beer vendors, Liquor Marts)

Inspired by that broom-riding, glasses-wearing wizard-in-training, this porter is deep brownish-black in appearance with a beige head. There’s a lovely cola note aromatically that comes with dark roasted malt, dark chocolate and toffee notes, with just a hint of a smoky component coming through as well. On the off-dry, medium-plus bodied palate, the dried fruit and dark roasted malt flavours carry that hint of smokiness along for the ride with dark chocolate, black licorice and a touch of espresso, while medium bitterness and a long, warm eight per cent alcohol finish add a punch. For sipping around fires or under a blanket in fall. Delicious — 10 points awarded to FullGeek. Brewed at Oxus. 4.5/5

 

 

 

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@bensigurdson