With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we thought it fitting to suggest two wines that would not only pair well with your holiday turkey—be it roasted, smoked, fried or what have you—but also impress your guests with their authentically Texan flavor.

The November Texas Wines of the Month are: 

McPherson Cellars Viognier 2010 (About $14 at Spec’s, Twin Liquors, some Whole Foods and Central Markets, and at the winery.)

Fall Creek Vineyards “Salt Lick Vineyard” Tempranillo 2010 (About $30 at the winery only.)

Wineries:

Neither of these wineries are new to the world of Texas wine, in fact, the Auler Family of Fall Creek Vineyards and the McPherson family of McPherson Cellars  are some of the longest standing Texas wine families in the state. So it should come as no surprise that each of them have a selection this month from their portfolio.

We should also note that both of these wines have made the Texas Wine of the Month list with previous vintages, meaning that from year to year, these wineries have been able to build upon each vintage with these particular wines.

And it should come as no surprise that the grape varietal in both the red and white selections are the two of the leading grapes for Texas: Tempranillo and Viognier.

The Grapes:

Viognier—a grape that naturally has high toned, intense aromatics and moderate acidity, it does well in our sometimes difficult Texas growing climate. Most at home in the Northern Rhone valley, it is fantastic to see such classic examples of this variety grown here in Texas.

Tempranillo—one of the best grapes to grow in Texas Hill Country—it does well with dusty, higher temperature climates. Tempranillo is able to retain acidity and structure, while also developing a beautiful fruit profile.

Who Likes Them: David Keck, beverage director for Uchi Restaurants (Uchi Austin, Houston and Uchiko)

Keck has been in the service industry since he was 18 years old, first in his home state of Vermont, then New York City, and now in Houston, TX, and has traveled to taste wine all over the globe, from France and Austria to Texas and New Zealand. He is pursuing wine certifications with the Court of Master Sommeliers, having recently achieved his Advanced Sommelier certification in October of 2012, also winning the Rudd Scholarship for top honors in the exam.

Why They’re Good, According to Keck:

The McPherson Cellars Viognier jumps out of the glass with all of the classic aromatics—peaches, white flowers, and ripe apples. The wine has a palate coating richness and viscosity, while also having a well-balanced acidity. This would be perfect choice for a white-wine drinker on Thanksgiving, as it would stand up to the turkey and gravy, while beautifully accompanying all the sides.

The Fall Creek Vineyards “Salt Lick Vineyard” Tempranillo is softly tannic, with rich red fruit. Ripe raspberries and cherries are balanced with vanilla and spice from the oak, this single-vineyard Tempranillo is full of sweet fruit, but finishes dry. Just a little spicy, but round, with a long finish, I’d say this is a perfect Texas wine to grace any Thanksgiving table.

Pairing ideas from Keck:

McPherson Cellars Viognier will pair beautifully with yams, white meat of any variety, whether roasted pork or chicken, and anything with a stone fruit (apricot, peach, etc) or cream based sauce. It also shines with a bit of spice or curry, so lightly spiced Asian cuisine would also be a fantastic choice.

Fall Creek “Salt Lick Vineyard” Tempranillo will pair nicely with richer, braised meats, roasted game, and definitely with the Thanksgiving Day turkey! It has enough structure and acidity to stand up to more heavily sauced meats, but still the finesse not to overwhelm a simple standing roast.

Keck’s View of Texas Wine On Down the Road:

I’m really excited by the direction Texas wineries are going as far as variety selection. I won’t argue that there are some terrific Cabernets and Chardonnays being made here, but I think the truly exemplary wines are being made from grapes that traditionally thrive in warmer climates (not rocket science there!), so the Rhone varieties and varieties that excel in Central Spain and Portugal are already setting the trend in high quality Texas wine.