Giving Thanks! We cannot spell community without UNITY! The 53-year-old California winery I represent, Fisher Vineyards, has been producing its Gen2 wine brand, UNITY, for 20 years. I always share this sentiment when bragging about them: We cannot spell community without UNITY, and this is one more reason I am so proud to work for this wonderful family.
This Thanksgiving, I wish for more UNITY in our COMMUNITY, everywhere. More UNITY wines, well, yes, of course, but in general, more UNITY…among people…both in our country and around the globe. The feeling of commUNITY was on full display last weekend after my work trip to DC: an unplanned stopover in Colonial Williamsburg and attendance at the 41st year of the Farm Aid concert on Virginia Beach. Both experiences deeply moved me. I didn’t realize until I returned home how much they had in common, especially at this time of year. Whether in a town that displays history for us to learn from or at a concert that raises funds and awareness for America’s all-important farmers, both focus on a thriving Community and on the importance not only of belonging to a Community but also of contributing to it. Our physical and mental well-being depend on it. In the 1960s, my grandfather was a professor at the College of William & Mary, chartered in 1693. Until my visit, I didn’t realize it was in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg!
As celebrations continue for the USA’s 250th birthday, I started wondering about life long ago in this critical community during our nation’s founding and how they might have celebrated the Thanksgiving Holiday. So I turned to the renowned travel and food journalist, author, and creator of the public television series Travels & Traditions, Burt Wolf, who we lost this past January at the age of 87. From his series “A Taste of Freedom,” he shared: The idea of a specific day on which an entire society offered thanks goes back thousands of years in European history. The King would declare a holiday, and everyone was expected to offer prayers of thanks. The “thanks” could be for a victory in battle, the end of a plague, or someone in the Royal Family recovering from serious illness. But it was always a “one-time” event. It happened on that day, and that was it. The United States of America, however, changed all that. We declared a national Thanksgiving Day, and we decided to have it year after year after year.
While I was listening to 93-year-old Willie Nelson and his three sons perform the closing act at the Farm Aid concert he started 41 years ago with Neil Young and John Cougar, I was thankful for how far we have come to recognize the importance of our farming community and to cherish the bounty of their sacrifice and hard work that fills our Holiday Table. There was a sweet chalkboard mural at the concert that welcomed attendees to answer this question: Who is woven into your Community? Along with the names of the region’s farmers, some of my favorites also included People, Peaches, CSA’s, Horses, Seasons, Co-ops, Mentors, Neighbors, Lemon Balm, and to Stay Green! All of these topics contribute to a community. Whether you live in Virginia Beach, Colonial Williamsburg, or NE Tallahassee, our community is made up of similar values and all ones worth being thankful for this Thanksgiving.
I guess I should also share some wine stuff, right? Over time, some wines have become the Thanksgiving Wines! They pair perfectly with the richness and variety of this unique holiday table. On theme, UNITY delivers in every category, and you can find all UNITY wines at Market Square on Timberlane Road.
UNITY Chardonnay, Sonoma
UNITY Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
UNITY Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa/Sonoma
In addition, the day must include a Rosé, of course! My husband’s winery, Immortal Estate, makes a fabulous, estate-grown, dry, and sophisticated one, and it is also available at Market Square: Immortal Estate Rosé, Sonoma.
For most wine-loving folks, from collectors to porch pounders, the following wines (at any price point) pair perfectly with a gracious, delicious Thanksgiving table! And always, we focus on “Farms, Not Factories,” both for your table and your glass.
In order of service for the day: Start with any dry sparkling wine to begin the celebration, pour to welcome, and keep pouring for the feast!
Riesling: This regal and revered grape can range from dry to sweet. Stay on the drier side for the perfect pairing with turkey and all the fixings. Chenin Blanc: A lesser-known white wine, but an equally perfect pairing with Turkey and Ham! Pinot Noir: The MOST perfect red wine for the entire meal! Whether from Burgundy, France (its homeland), California, or Oregon, you cannot go wrong pairing Pinot with this day-long meal! Port or Dessert Wine. With a holiday featuring as many sweet dishes as savory, there is no better day of the year to ask your favorite wine merchant for either or both of these delicious wines to complete your celebration!
Cheers, Lizz
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