Thanksgiving is undoubtedly the biggest food holiday of the year. Nothing inspires images of loose-fitting pants and afternoon naps—or “food coma’s”—quite like Thanksgiving. But while you are pulling out Grandma’s recipes and meticulously planning your menu, have you thought about the wine?
The abundance of foods and flavors from savory turkey and stuffing to tart cranberries and buttery potatoes can make wine pairing a tricky endeavor. Fortunately, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to Thanksgiving wine pairings, but we have some tried and true suggestions that are sure to please a crowd.
Wine Characteristics For Thanksgiving
| Characteristic | Detail |
| Acidity | High |
| Tannins | Low |
| Fruitiness | Medium – high |
| Spiciness | Low |
| Body | Light – Medium |
Best Wine With Thanksgiving Appetizers
Is there a better way to kick off a holiday than with bubbles? A sparkling wine like Champagne or Prosecco can be a great drink to pair with salty appetizers like nuts, cheese, and charcuterie. The high acidity will quench your thirst and the effervescent bubbles will put you in a celebratory mood.
Best Wine to Pair with Thanksgiving Dinner
For the start of the day, there’s no wrong answer when it comes to choosing a red or white. The best option is going to be a wine that is light to medium in body, with moderate to high acidity and lower in alcohol content. These styles make great pairings with several different appetizers and won’t be too filling.
Champagne
Champagne is often overlooked as an option for meal pairing, but it is a great choice for Thanksgiving. It pairs well with so many dishes and the acidity acts as a palate cleanser against all the rich dishes. Just make sure to choose a dry variety.
Rosé
For those who are on the fence about red or white wine. It is highly versatile when it comes to food pairings as it has enough body to stand up to a turkey, but light enough to not overpower the side dishes.
Best White Wines for Thanksgiving Dinner
If your guests prefer white wine with dinner, here are a few of our favorites that complement many traditional Thanksgiving dishes.
Viognier
Viognier is often compared to an unoaked Chardonnay. This white is medium-bodied with low acidity and can be a great option for those who like the balance of fruity, floral notes without the crisp acidity.
Sauvignon Blanc
The bright acidity and medium-bodied texture of Sauvignon Blanc will offer balance to many of your Thanksgiving dishes. Its herbaceous qualities will also complement the herbs commonly found in sides like stuffing or salads.
Riesling
For white wines, it doesn’t get much more food-friendly than Riesling. This light-bodied white is highly acidic and refreshing which will be a welcomed counterpart to the rich, savory dishes that comprise a Thanksgiving meal.
Best Red Wines for Thanksgiving Dinner
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is the ultimate food-friendly red and can make a great companion to your Thanksgiving meal. It is light enough to pair with turkey and the bold fruit flavor will complement the earthy, herbaceous flavors of the side dishes.
Beaujolais
Beaujolais is similar to Pinot Noir in that it pairs well with so many foods. Slightly more earthy, this wine will pair well with your savory dishes and provide balance to the sweeter dishes like yams.
Zinfandel
This medium-bodied red is low in tannins and has enough to heft to stand up to a roasted turkey without overpowering it. It’s smoky, jammy flavor profile brings complexity and elevates the flavors of the meal.
Syrah or Shiraz
The peppery notes of Syrah or Shiraz can elevate your Thanksgiving meal by bringing in some complexity, but it won’t overshadow the meal. Its dark fruit flavors also complement the savory dishes in the meal.
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon is very popular, but it will overpower your Thanksgiving meal. If you are a Cab fan, we recommend Cabernet Franc. Franc is similar in flavor profile but is much lighter, lower in tannins and higher in acidity making it a great option for pairing with multiple dishes.
Best Dessert Wines for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving would not be complete without dessert. Whether your dessert of choice is Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, or another family staple, the main rule when it comes to wine pairing is the wine should be sweeter than the dessert.
Port
With flavors of caramel, plum, raisin, and walnut, a Tawny Port is a delicious match for your pie, especially Pumpkin pie with its spiced notes.
Muscat
A perfect companion to all things dessert, Muscat (also known as Moscato) is a sweet, fruity wine that pairs well with many sweets, but really highlights flavors of apple, caramel, and vanilla.
Sauternes
This blend of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle is a sweet way to finish a meal. The notes of marmalade, honey, baking spices, and ginger complement your sweet dessert.
The Perfect Thanksgiving Wine Flight
When planning your Thanksgiving gathering and the wine to go with, there are a few simple rules to follow. Of course, if you aren’t sure what your guests will like, you can just stick with Pinot Noir and Riesling as safe choices to serve the entire day. But if you would like to get more adventurous and have more detailed pairings throughout the day for your guests, here are some rules to follow and our recommendations.
- Start the day off with bubbles or your lightest wine.
- Serve from the simplest wines to the most complex wines.
- Drink dry wines before sweet wines.
Wine 1 – Sparkling White Wine or Champagne – goes great with deviled eggs.
Wine 2 – Off-Dry or Dry Riesling – perfect with veggie trays, salads and many other light appetizers. Most wine drinkers will enjoy this wine. Another fantastic choice is a nice Rosé, which pairs well with a lot of different foods, and is a light wine that won’t fill you up.
Wine 3 – Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon – pairs well with turkey, ham and many other traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Most wine drinkers will enjoy these wines as well.
Wine 4 – Tawny Port – is fantastic with Pumpkin Pie and many other desserts.
