Let’s contemplate the Thanksgiving feast.

Turkey. Stuffing. Cranberry sauce. And wine, of course.

This year, we are serving pinot noir with the bird, a lovely red that compliments the roasted flavors of turkey. We recently sampled a pinot we are confident everyone will enjoy from Artesa Vineyards & Winery in Carneros, a spectacular setting in the Napa Valley.

Artesa’s 2012 Pinot Noir is fruity and complex, with good acidity and bright notes of cherry and strawberry that make it a good match with turkey, ham and roasted veggies. It’s vibrant and food friendly, with a pleasant long finish. MSRP: $24.99, but you can find it for a few dollars less at many stores.

Unlike most other reds, a pinot noir benefits from a bit of chilling. We pop our pinot in the fridge for about 15 minutes before serving. On winter holidays, when space in the fridge is at a premium, we set the bottles outside. We figure the pilgrims would have done it that way.