No Thanksgiving Table Is Complete Without an Expertly Paired Bottle of Wine

• By WineBottleMag
• November 16, 2024
• Bottle Complete Expertly Paired Table Thanksgiving Wine
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Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate around the table with family, friends and (of course) a lot of food. From the traditional carved turkey and creamy mashed potatoes with gravy to stuffing, cranberries, buttered rolls and a slice of pie, there’s something on the menu for everyone. But with all of that rich comfort food, what should you be pouring alongside it? Drinks, too, are an essential part of the meal.

“Wine brings people together and is a joyous part of the celebration,” says Laura Koffer, advanced sommelier and VP of Wine at Wine Access.

Pairing a few bottles of wine with your favorite Thanksgiving foods doesn’t have to be tricky. There are plenty of options that will enhance the meal, whether you need something to pour with everything on the table or you’re looking for specific pairings that can stack up to vibrant cranberries or all of that wonderful butter. 

“Food and wine are inseparable,” says Logan Griffin, certified sommelier and director of food and beverage at Blackberry Mountain. “They enhance the flavors, aromas, textures and overall enjoyment of a meal.”

To find the best bottles to pair with Thanksgiving foods, we asked industry experts and matched their suggestions with top-rated bottles we love.

Wines to Go With Everything

If you’re searching for a bottle or two that can stack up to anything on the table, Koffer says to think about versatile qualities including a medium body, moderate tannins and earthy flavors.

Acidity is also a crucial component. “Acidity is the lip-smacking character that makes your mouth salivate,” says Janeen Jason, certified sommelier at Atlanta-based wine shop VinoTeca. “A wine with balanced acidity will help wash away cream, cut the richness of stuffing and pair great with homemade cranberry sauce.”

Keep in mind that wines should also reflect the tastes of you and your guests. “If mom loves bubbles, make sure to have that on hand,” says Koffer. “If your family isn’t really into wine, don’t make them feel awkward as you parade out bottles of vintage Grand Cru Burgundy, save those for your wine friends.”

And it’s best to avoid bottles that have overly oaky flavors. “If a wine spent a long time aging in a wood barrel, there’s a chance those tannins could clash with most of the dishes typically seen for Thanksgiving,” Jason says.

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White recommendation: Sauvignon Blanc

A nice Sauvignon Blanc is a balanced pairing for just about any food, and the same applies to a Thanksgiving meal.

 “With a nice brace of acid and fruit forward notes, Sauvignon Blanc will complement just about everything around the table,” says Paul Durant, owner of Durant Vineyards.

Red recommendation: Pinot Noir

“Pinot Noir is a thin-skinned red grape that creates a wine with moderate tannins and higher levels of acid,” says Jason. With those qualities, she adds that it’s the perfect catch-all red wine that can pair with lighter fare while also being able to stand up to hearty flavors in the meal.

“I would tend towards a richer, more robust style of Pinot Noir with long tannins and dark fruit notes such as cherry and blueberry,” says Durant.

Sparkling recommendation: Blanc de Blancs

Any sparkling wine, no matter where it’s from, provides the ideal pairing for a Thanksgiving meal. 

“For a wine to go well with everything on the table, it needs to be able to blend in, not overwhelm or take over,” notes Griffin. A Chardonnay-forward Blanc de Blancs is versatile with its own distinctive traits but can still stand up to flavors and aromas in a variety of foods.

Rosé recommendation: Pinot Noir Rosé

Pair something vibrant with all of the food on the table, without the flavor taking over. Jason notes that Pinot Noir rosé, especially a bottle from Oregon, is sure to deliver.

NA recommendation: NA Cava

Griffin says Spain is producing some excellent NA Cavas that are worthy of a holiday meal. Bubbles can cut through anything, and this is a great option for those around the table who aren’t drinking Champagne or sparkling wines with alcohol.

Wines Made for Turkey

According to the experts we interviewed, the ideal match for turkey is something juicy with a medium body. It should meet the bird’s rich texture while balancing its earthy flavors. 

White recommendation: Chardonnay

Traditional roast turkey is a rich meat. To match that richness, Koffer suggests choosing a buttery Chardonnay with a medium body, a bit of oak and a touch of earthy herbal notes.

Red recommendation: GSM Blend

A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre is sure to bring richness and depth to pair with turkey. Durant suggests choosing an option that is heavier on Grenache and Mourvèdre and lighter on Syrah. “Try it with dark meat that has a nice slather of gravy on it. The richness and depth of the GSM will enhance the interplay of the turkey and gravy,” he says.

Sparkling recommendation: Xarel-lo Cava

Grab a bottle of bubbles from Spain to stand up to your Thanksgiving bird. Jason notes that Cava offers notes of savory orchard fruit, especially if Xarel-lo is the dominant grape. The sparkling wine’s white pepper quality is unique and brings a slight savory tone for roast turkey.

NA recommendation: Apple Cider

Apple cider makes for an excellent brine for turkey, but it’s also the ideal non-alcoholic drink pairing. The drink’s freshly pressed orchard fruit flavors offer a rustic touch for the table.

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Wines That Can Stand Up to Cranberries

Whether you’re enjoying fresh or canned cranberry sauce, finding a bottle to stack up to the fruit’s vibrant flavor is important. “The acidity of the dish needs to be matched in the wine or they both will fall flat,” says Koffer.

White recommendation: Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio offers crisp acidity and a light body. “Pinot Grigio’s naturally high acidity complements the tartness of cranberries, creating a refreshing and balanced palate that prevents either the dish or the wine from feeling too sharp or sour,” Koffer says.

Red recommendation: Langhe Nebbiolo

Choose a red with light fruity notes and tannins that aren’t overwhelming. Durant says that while Nebbiolo is known for firm tannins, Langhe Nebbiolo often shows a softer tannic profile. That profile provides just the right amount of structure. 

“The wine’s bright red fruit flavor and elegant structure make it great for cranberry dishes,” he adds. “The wine’s notes of cranberry, cherry and raspberry harmonize beautifully with the cranberry’s natural flavor, creating a complementary and cohesive flavor experience.”

Sparkling recommendation: Crémant de Loire

Jason suggests choosing a bottle of bubbles that presents ripe fruits and moderate tannins. This will help stand up to the crunchy tannins from the skin of the punchy cranberries. 

“Cabernet Franc is the dominant grape,” she says. “It shows a richer character in the red fruit than lighter grapes like Gamay or Pinot Noir.”

NA recommendation: Sparkling Apple Juice

There’s a reason you see big displays of sparkling apple juice around the holiday season. The fruity juice can stand up to a number of different foods while adding a light effervescence. 

Wines to Cut Through All That Butter

A key ingredient to providing flavor and creamy texture to many Thanksgiving dishes is butter. Pair a bottle with bright acidity that can stand up to all that richness. That way, all of the flavors of the meal can come through harmoniously. 

White recommendation: Chablis

Pair buttery stuffing with a beautiful bottle of Chablis with bright acidity. “Acidity in wine has an amazing ability to refresh and reset the palate, particularly if your palate is coated from rich foods,” says Koffer.

Red recommendation: Beaujolais

If you gravitate towards reds with acidity, Durant suggests reaching for a bottle with bright fruit notes with raspberry, cranberry and red currant like the Gamay-based wines of Beaujolais. “The elevated acidity will help cut through the butter and cleanse your palate as you reach for a second helping of mashed potatoes,” he says.

Sparkling recommendation: Champagne

Ready for a bottle of bubbly? Koffer suggests bringing Champagne to the table to help cut through the fat. Plus, its acidity makes it a versatile pairing for just about everything else on the table. 

NA recommendation: Sweet Tea

Make a batch or buy a jug of sweet tea for your holiday meal. Griffin says the tannins from the tea will help to cut through anything on the table.

The Best Pairings for Pies

Thanksgiving often means a slice of classic pumpkin, apple or pecan pie to round out the meal. Koffer suggests pairing your pie with a dessert wine made from white grapes. The key is to balance the dessert’s sweetness with the chosen wine.  

Sweet Sparkling recommendation: Moscato d’Asti

Pair your slice of pie and a bottle of something with plenty of fruit, like Moscato d’Asti. This sweet wine has a blend of citrus, orchard and tropical fruits and a slight effervescence. “The refreshing acidity is great after the long savory meal,” says Koffer.

Cognac recommendation: VSOP Cognac

Choose a sipper that complements baking spices found in desserts, like cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. Griffin says the VSOP Cognac category is aged in oak barrels for at least four years. That brings forward those spice aromas to pair with a bite of apple, pumpkin or pecan pie.

Fortified Wine recommendation: Cream Sherry

Jason says cream sherry is a blend of dry, nutty Oloroso-style sherry and sweet, luscious Pedro Ximenez. Their notes of salted caramel, dried fruits and molasses are the ideal match for seasonal spiced pies with buttery crusts.

Late Harvest recommendation: Riesling

An especially great pairing for apple pie, late-harvest Riesling is Durant’s go-to choice for the dessert course. Apple pie tends to be a bit more on the tart side with a hint of sugar and more subtle spices compared to pumpkin or pecan pie. Those qualities lend themselves well to a touch more sweetness from this easy-sipping white.

More Thanksgiving Coverage

• Thanksgiving wines under $20 that won’t bust your budget.
• Read our guide to pairing wines with Thanksgiving sides.
• Hold the turkey—these cocktails take inspo from Thanksgiving sides.
• Love pecan pie? It’s even better with bourbon.
• When Thanksgiving gives you leftovers, make turkey tacos.
• The original Thanksgiving drink is none other than hard cider.

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