Thanksgiving and Hanukkah are exciting holidays all on their own, but when they fall on the same day (like this year), we really have a reason to celebrate. The fourth Thursday of November has been reserved for Thanksgiving since 1942, but the Jewish calendar is lunar, so Hanukkah has the potential to fall on any number of days. Everyone seems to have a different opinion as to when these two holidays will meet again – some say 2070, others say 2176, while additional groups say it may not be for thousands of years. Either way, this isn’t going to happen again for a long time, folks.
If you’re one of the lucky people that will be celebrating Thanksgiving and Hanukkah together this year, you need some very special wine to serve your guests. Here are a few kosher wines you may want to consider purchasing for your ‘Thanksgivukkah’ festivities:
Champagne
Champagne, or sparkling wine, is always a good bet when you’re hosting an event because it’s such a celebratory beverage. You don’t have to worry about red vs. white, because most people are more than happy to enjoy a flute of the bubbly stuff.
Try: Herzog Selection Reserve Brut ($18) or Laurent Perrier Brut ($83)
Zinfandel
It’s not uncommon to think of zinfandel as a strictly white wine, but it can actually come in many different shades of red as well. Some of the more red versions pair extremely well with a hearty Thanksgiving meal.
Try: 2011 Landsman Lodi Zinfandel ($40) or 2006 Herzog Special Reserve Zinfandel ($25)
Pinot Noir
The Baltimore Jewish Times notes that Pinot Noir has elegant and complex flavors that make it a great pairing for the Thanksgiving turkey.
Try: Cantina Gabriele Pinot Noir 2010 ($15) or Barkan Classic Pinot Noir 2010 ($10)
Cheers to Thanksgivukkah. Soak it up; it’ll be a while before it’s back.