Sticky mash potatoes? Undone turkey? Blasé cranberry sauce? These disasters are pretty bad, both nothing’s worse than pairing the wrong wines with your Thanksgiving feast. When you spend this many hours on a single meal as this, you want every aspect to shine with glory and gravy. This year, get smart, savvy, and streamlined with these five Turkey Day Hacks. Oh yeah. You got this.
Hack: Fluff up your taters
Is there anything a dash of everyday baking soda can’t do? You knew 
it worked wonders whitening your teeth and polishing tarnished wedding rings to a brilliant sparkle, but did you know it can also make your mashed potatoes extra fluffy? Add a pinch to your traditional mix and be amazed at how a simple chemical reaction ups this signature dish’s fluff-appeal.
Pairing: Light, fluffy mashed potatoes call out for a crisp, yet gentle Chardonnay! Go for Riverstar Vineyards 2013 Chardonnay, with fruit notes of pear and lemon citrus, and a light vanilla finish. Seconds, please!
Mapping and Directions: speedfind.com/RiverstarVineyards
Hack: Banish mushy stuffing
No one likes mushy, soggy stuffing! It’s just wrong. Maximize the 
crispy factor of your stuffing by cooking batches in a handy muffin tins (this method also helps keep portions sane).
Pairing: The warm, savory spices in Thanksgiving stuffing beg for a spicy, earthy Grenache. Try Sculpterra Winery’s 2014 Grenache, bursting with wild cherry and boysenberry allure and laced with herbaceous undertones.
Mapping and Directions: speedfind.com/SculpterraWinery
Hack: Snooze while your turkey cooks
How have we not heard of this earlier?!! We’re not crazy: you can 
actually catch some precious Z’s while your turkey slow roasts overnight, freeing up time for spending time with friends and family on the day of! Roast that bird slow and low and you’ll be enjoying a happy, stress-free morning leading up to a pleasantly juicy dinner.
Pairing: Dark meat, white meat—no matter what you prefer, consider pairing with a clean, vibrant white that won’t overpower the meat’s delicate flavor. A fab idea: LXV Wine’s 2016 Summer Sartine Viognier, which is bright, floral, and totally celebratory.
Mapping and Directions: speedfind.com/LXVWine
Hack: No fuss biscuit bliss
Bet you never noticed that the base of your favorite wine glass is the 
perfect size and shape for cutting out biscuit dough, right? Go ahead and check, we’ll wait. Is this proof that the wine gods love us? I think so! Grab a glass and bake up those flaky biscuits everyone loves so much, then kick back with a libation. You earned it.
Pairing: Bubbles and biscuits are a match made in T-Day heaven. Pick up a bottle of Opolo Sparkling this holiday, which hints of peach and apple effervescence.
Mapping and Directions: speedfind.com/OpoloVineyards
Hack: Zest now, smile later
From dad’s caramel apple pie to grandma’s ambrosia salad, every 
bit of sweetness at your Turkey Day table needs a little bitterness to balance out the flavor. Zest a hefty portion of lemon the night before and keep the fine shards in an air-tight Tupperware container. All that’s left to do is use a pinch here and there while cooking throughout the big day. Weird but true: Sweet potatoes are brighter—more second plate-worthy—when brightened with a squeeze of Meyer lemon juice.
Pairing: Make room for dessert and break out the Jada Vineyard & Winery’s 2015 1149 Rosé, which smacks of cherry pie, rose petal, and warm holiday spice.
Mapping and Directions: speedfind.com/JadaVineyard
This blog was written by Hayley Thomas, food and wine writer for SLO New Times and PasoRoblesWineries.net. You can reach her at hthomas@newtimesslo.com or follow her on instagram @flavorslo.
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photo credit: fuchsia.berry Thanksgiving Day turkey via photopin (license)
photo credit: veganLazySmurf Mexican Mashed Potatoes via photopin (license)
photo credit: Another Pint Please… Stuffing in Bowl via photopin (license)
photo credit: rainy city Simba in his wooden nest ! via photopin (license)
photo credit: garlandcannon Homemade Biscuits via photopin (license)
photo credit: Another Pint Please… Lemon Zest via photopin (license)