So why do you need a Thanksgiving wine guide?
Is Thanksgiving wine pairing so difficult?
First off, have you started thinking about your Thanksgiving wine list yet? With the big holiday happening soon, the challenging task of matching your wine to the traditional feast should be well underway. No pressure!
Why is Thanksgiving so challenging? It's not just because it’s a big chore to put on. Or because you must deal with numerous friends and relatives vying for an enviable seat at your (socially distanced?) table. The biggest challenge and the biggest opportunity we see is successfully pairing wine with Thanksgiving dinner.
It's a major challenge because the traditional meal does not lend itself to one easy "Thanksgiving meal" wine pairing. That is why you need a Thanksgiving wine guide.
As a side note, it's always nice to have a few bottles of non-alcoholic wine on hand for family events. Click here to see a good option.
Here's why pairing wine with a Thanksgiving meal is so tricky
You’re having turkey (with both white and dark meat) or maybe a ham, along with savory stuffing, spicy potatoes, rich dark gravy, and a tangy cranberry sauce. Maybe you rub your turkey with Creole butter, or rosemary sprigs or prepare it with an orange glaze, or deep-fried with brown sugar. The point is there are many ways to prepare the traditional bird, and the meal itself can have a diverse mix of sweet, sour, salty, savory, and spicy components.
The secret to a perfect wine and Thanksgiving pairing
A perfect Thanksgiving wine needs to handle the diverse flavors and not overwhelm the focal point of the meal.
So what to do?
Here are some recommendations to cover all the bases.
Note: If you tend to cook with more seasoning and spices, red Thanksgiving wines might pair the best. However, we suggest that you offer both white and red options for your guests.
White Thanksgiving Wine Varieties
(Click the varietal to find great wines to order. Learn more about the varietals here)
Pinot Gris
A light refreshing Thanksgiving wine with pear, lemon, and tropical fruit flavors. It can be overwhelmed if your food is overly seasoned.
Click here to order Pinot Gris
Dry Riesling or Dry Gewürztraminer
These white wines work great with turkey. They have the right balance of slight sweetness and an aromatic, spicy, floral fruitiness. This works perfectly with the saltiness and fattiness of a traditional Thanksgiving day roasted turkey.
Follow this link to order Riesling and this link for Gewürztraminer
Chenin Blanc
Semi-dry wine with floral, grass, and honeysuckle aromas. Sometimes has a pleasant mineral or herbal quality that can add complexity. A solid wine for your Thanksgiving table.
You can order Chenin Blanc by clicking here.
Chardonnay or Pinot Blanc
Flavorful with flinty and fruity aromas made medium body and dry. These wines can stand up to well-seasoned poultry. Finding one with little or no oak may work best with turkey. We tend to look toward the French-style Chardonnay for Thanksgiving.
Red Thanksgiving Wine Varieties
(Click the varietal to find great wines to order)
Gamay Beaujolais
(Beaujolais Nouveau is very young) These wines are often made in a white wine style where the juice has little contact with the grape skins. These light wines are served cooled and exhibit fruity, soft, red berry flavors. You will see this wine featured at many retailers around Thanksgiving. It's become a tradition to serve Beaujolais Nouveau with the meal.
You can find a bottle by clicking here
Pinot Noir
The earthy, cherry, olive, and raspberry flavors of this grape tend to match well with seasoned poultry and meats. Good with savory stuffing.
We love Pinot Noir from Oregon. You can find our list of the best Oregon Pinot Noir producers here.
Want to order a few bottles of Pinot Noir? Click here.
