“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill
The theme for this month’s Julien’s Journal is Philanthropy. And, with Thanksgiving happening this month, it’s a time for giving thanks for what we have. This year when you are gathered around the table, let me suggest that before the opening toast, you each take a moment to express your personal thanks for things throughout the year. Further, this is the time of year for giving more than thanks! If you haven’t already, give what you can to your favorite local non-profit, or a national organization that supports something important to you.
TeamWine gets together once a month to converse, share stories, express opinions and yes, taste wine. We do enjoy this task, and we do take it seriously as we know that we are passing along our thoughts and recommendations to you on wines we have discovered that we think you would enjoy. We hope you do, anyway!
Sips
Our white this month was a 2024 Diatom Chardonnay from Santa Barbara, California (14.5% abv $20). It was purchased at Hy-Vee. With the higher ABV you might think the Chardonnay was “oaky”, but it is an unoaked wine aged entirely in stainless steel and no malolactic fermentation. The color was a light straw yellow with fine clarity. Aromas we sniffed were honeysuckle, brioche, a bit of floral, and a hint of lemon curd. The wine was crisp with noticeable minerality. Acidity was medium-high, which made for a very refreshing Chardonnay. Mouthfeel was silky and a suggestion of sweetness surfaced on the finish. TeamWine found this wine to go well with everything we had on our table and felt this would go well for the beginning of a Thanksgiving meal. We suggest that roasted vegetables, sweet potatoes or squash soup would be excellently paired with this wine. That said, however, this wine would be perfect for a back porch get-together with friends or family. It’s easy drinking, and pairs with almost anything you have in the house.
To read the remainder of this premium article and other premium articles in their entirety, pick up the Julien’s Journal November 2026 issue. Single issues are available in print for free at area newsstands, or click here to read the entire article for free in the digital version of the magazine.
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