Thanksgiving Wine Blog! 🦃 🍷
Thanksgiving Wines That Go With Everything
Thanksgiving Wines That Go With Everything on the Table
Thanksgiving might be the hardest meal of the year to pair wine with. You’ve got turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top, and three kinds of pie. No single wine is going to be a perfect match for all of that, and honestly, it doesn’t need to be.
The trick is to pick wines that are flexible. You want bottles with good acidity, not too much heavy oak, and enough fruit to stand up to a plate that’s piled high with a little bit of everything.
For red wine, Pinot Noir is the easy answer for a reason. It’s light enough that it won’t overpower the turkey, but it has enough earthy, cherry flavor to work with stuffing, gravy, and mushrooms. Oregon and California both make great options at a range of prices.
Beaujolais is another one worth grabbing, especially since Beaujolais Nouveau is released the third Thursday of November, right before the holiday. It’s juicy, light, and fun, and it’s great to serve slightly chilled. If you want something a little more serious, look for a Beaujolais from one of the named villages like Morgon or Fleurie.
If your crowd likes bigger reds, Zinfandel is a solid pick. It’s fruity and a little spicy, and it handles ham, dark meat, and sweet sides really well. Just keep an eye on the alcohol, because some Zins run pretty high and it’s a long day.
On the white side, Riesling is the most underrated Thanksgiving wine out there. A dry or slightly off-dry Riesling has bright acidity that cuts through rich food and enough fruit to play nicely with sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce. Chenin Blanc is another great choice if you want something similar.
If someone at the table only drinks Chardonnay, go for one that’s crisp and lightly oaked rather than a big, buttery style. It’ll feel a lot fresher next to all that heavy food.
And don’t skip the bubbles. Sparkling wine is probably the most food-friendly wine you can buy. It’s great when people are walking in the door, it works with appetizers, and it cleans up your palate between bites of everything else. Prosecco, Cava, and Crémant are all budget-friendly ways to go if Champagne isn’t in the plan.
Rosé deserves a mention too. A dry rosé sits right between red and white, so it makes everyone a little bit happy, and it looks great on the table.
As for how much to buy, a good rule of thumb is about one bottle for every two wine drinkers. A standard bottle pours around five glasses, and Thanksgiving tends to last a while. It’s always better to have a couple extra bottles than to run out before dessert.
The best plan is to grab a mix: a red, a white, and something sparkling, and let people pour what they like.
Stop by Boone’s Wine & Spirits before the holiday rush and we’ll help you put together a lineup that fits your menu, your guest list, and your budget.
