If you’re looking to take your Thanksgiving table to the next level, look no further than wine. The perfect wine pairings for your Thanksgiving dinner can make all the difference in the world when it comes to a special meal.
Now that your menus are set, we’re here to help with curating your wine list! No dinner table is complete without delicious sips, so we’ve rounded up our picks to complement the diverse flavors of the holiday and take the guesswork out of what to stock up on. Cheers!
Here are 6 of our favorite type of wines for Thanksgiving:
1. Bring the Bubbly with Sparkling Wines
When you sit down at the Thanksgiving table, you know you’re in for the long haul. Thanksgiving dinner is a big meal filled with a variety of flavors. Add the appetizers and desserts, and you’ve got yourself a real palatal challenge!
The answer, however, is very simple: Sparkling Wine. Dry Italian sparklers such as Lot 50 Prosecco or Lot 197 Prosecco Rosé are extremely versatile when it comes to food pairings, and can be enjoyed with just about anything you’ll face on Thanksgiving day. But, perhaps even more importantly, these sparkling, crisp, acidic wines act as a great palate cleanser to kick off a meal, move between stages of the dinner, or keep you refreshed for the next course.
Snacking on cheese and charcuterie before the big meal kicks off? Lot 172 Lambrusco is a must. Plus, what’s more festive than a sparkling red?
2. Please the Crowd with Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is another versatile wine when it comes to food pairings. It’s light enough that it won’t overpower dishes, but many Pinots (especially those from Burgundy, France or California) have an abundance of bright fresh fruit that compliments many flavors so well. Pinot Noir and turkey is a classic pairing. It’s not going to bend minds with creativity, but it will please everyone around the table. Especially if that Pinot Noir is a great Pinot Noir.
Our recommendations are Lot 160 Bourgogne Rouge, Lot 75 Russian River Valley Reserve Pinot Noir, Lot 137 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, and Lot 221 Sancerre Pinot Noir. Trust us when we say these selections are sure to impress even the wine enthusiasts around the table.
Lot 75 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Lot 137 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
3. Elevate the Elegance with White Wines
Every Thanksgiving dinner table needs a white wine. Period. The best rule of thumb is to have a variety of options for your guests. Bring your Thanksgiving feast to the next level with white wines that range from crisp to rich. We all tend to indulge this holiday, so keep your palate refreshed with these light whites with vibrant flavors that will complement instead of overpower your food!
Our Chardonnay selections are suitable for the Thanksgiving table, and their clean, balanced and rich flavors (thanks to just the right amount of oak) will pair splendidly well with turkey, gravy and mashed potatoes.
Lot 130 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
On the other hand, keep a few crisp, acidic options on the table. We suggest refreshing options like Lot 208 Vouvray, Lot 171 Pouilly-Fumé, and Lot 174 Albarino!
4. Bring on the Beaujolais
There's a reason Beaujolais wine is the staple of the Thanksgiving table. It's fun, fruity and most importantly, it's exceptionally food-friendly. When there are a lot of rich dishes being passed around the table, you might want to think about offering a red wine that isn't too full-bodied or tannic, something like Beaujolais that is easy to drink while also being easy on your wallet!
5. Ring in the Holiday with Rosé
Rosé, dear friends, is a wine for all seasons; and it’s especially fantastic on the Thanksgiving dinner table. The particular rosés we are recommending all pair very well with Turkey and its side dishes. Add some cranberry sauce to the mix, and rosé is a match made in heaven.
Lot 132 Cotes de Provence Rosé
6. Rise to the Occasion with Riesling
Yes, Riesling is an ideal Thanksgiving wine; it offers good acidity, lower alcohol and plenty of fall-friendly flavors (like apple, citrus and light touches of honey sweetness). Riesling also has body and texture that can stand up to the flavors of with rich meats and slightly sweeter Thanksgiving dishes. Sweet potatoes? Serve it up with a refreshingly juicy, slightly sweet Riesling. Done and done!
Lot 66 RieslingFind all of these wines and more at your local 90+ Cellars retailer!