BILL BENTLEY OF SIX89 GIVES EXPERT ADVICE FOR HOLIDAY WINE PAIRING

Carbondale, COLO. – Holiday decorations are aglow, friends and family are gathered and festivities abound. With holiday cheer comes the holiday decision: What wine goes best with the classic turkey dinner and all of the fixings? SIX89 floor-king Bill Bentley has expert advice for holiday wine pairings. Bentley’s picks include the following:

The Bubbly. According to Bentley, champagne is always appropriate for a celebration. Argyle’s Brut from Oregon’s Willamette Valley ($25) has a rich toastiness and spicy yeasty bite.

White, Please. For white wines, Bentley looks for richness without overt oakiness.

· Chehalem’s Pinot Gris Reserve from Oregon’s Willamette Valley ($25) has a touch of sweet pear fruit.
· German Rieslings also pair well with a turkey dinner, and Bentley says the Simple Kabinett by Joseph Leitz ($15) stands out with a streak of racy acidity and enough sweetness.
· Bentley also sees a Semillon being a great pairing, especially with turkey and cranberry sandwiches the day after. Stanley Brothers from Barossa Valley, Australia ($15) is an excellent choice for the holidays.

Recommended Reds.
· While red Zinfandel is often suggested, Bentley’s first recommendation for a red wine is a Grenache. D’Arenberg from Barossa Valley has a beauty called “The Custodian” ($25), which is a very ripe style full of strawberry jam and spicy earth.
· Bentley’s second choice would be a Cabernet Franc in a softer style. He recommends S. Rhodes Cabernet Franc ($17) from Hotchkiss, Colorado, a terrior-driven style of wine, with enough dried berry fruit for balance and a depth of smoky, earthy flavors.
· A third choice is a Grenache from Domaine Mas Amiel, a famed producer of sweet wines from the Rousillon region of France, which makes a lesser known dry, red wine made from the Grenache Noir grape called “Hautes Terres” ($18). Bentley served this wine for Christmas last year, and it was a huge success.

***Wine prices are estimated retail.

SIX89 received rave reviews in the 2002 Zagat Guide, including the highest food rating of any restaurant in the Aspen area. Mark Fischer’s cooking and Bill Bentley’s wine lists have received glowing reports from Gourmet, Food & Wine and other national publications. 5280 magazine named SIX89 the best mountain restaurant in Colorado, and Wine Spectator magazine recently awarded the Award of Excellence to Bentley’s wine list.

SIX89 is located at 689 Main Street in Carbondale, Colorado. SIX89 is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 5:30 p.m. Reservations are suggested. For more information on SIX89, call 970.963.6890 or visit the website at www.SIX89.com.

www.SIX89.com