Every Thanksgiving, my wife and I experience the same crisis. It has nothing to do with who we invite or even what size turkey to buy, but rather what wine to serve. Yes, in our house, it’s a big deal, mainly because my spouse and I differ on the style of wine to serve. I take a modern approach to wine and food pairings while Cindy likes to take a more traditional approach when it comes to her selections. In order to keep the peace this year, we decided to employ the advice of four “neutral” wine experts in D.C. to play referee and keep our Thanksgiving day wine choices stress free. Retail prices are approximate.

Mark Wessels, is the managing director at MacArthur Beverages in D.C. His palate usually tends towards old-world styles, but this Thanksgiving, Mark steps outside his traditional choices with two domestic selections, including the 2009 Girard Chardonnay ($19) from the Russian River region in Sonoma, California. This chardonnay has a nice body to go with the Thanksgiving meal, but it is not too oaky.