Thanksgiving Wine Pairing & Shopping Guide
kathleen hall
Thanksgiving presents a special challenge in wine pairing.
Think about the typical foods served for Thanksgiving dinner: salty roasted turkey, savory turkey gravy, tangy cranberry sauce, creamy mashed potatoes, herbal chestnut stuffing, sweet candied yams, rich butternut squash soup, vegetal green beans…. so many contradictory flavors and textures ! Which wine should you choose?
Well… you will need a wine that is not too high in tannins because that will overwhelm the mild flavors of the turkey. A wine with medium to high acidity to cut through the fatty and creamy textures. A wine with an abundance of fruit flavor to complement the sweet side dishes.
The answer is: there is no ONE wine ! It’s all a matter of personal preference. The key is to pick a versatile wine that will harmonize with the many flavors of the meal.
Here are a few wine suggestions that I believe might just do the trick complete with a handy local FC buying guide for easy holiday shopping:
CHAMPAGNE/PROSECCO
Sparkling wine is the most food-friendly wine pick for Thanksgiving; the high acidity constantly cleanses the palate after eating rich foods while the subtle fruit flavors in the wine counterbalance the fruity flavors in the side dishes. If you’re having a small gathering, splurge for Champagne (it’s well worth it!). Should a large gathering be planned, requiring multiple bottles of wine, go with the more economical Prosecco.
My recommendations:
Marc Hebrart Champagne $38.99 - Castle Wine & Spirits, 1439 Post Road East, Westport CT
Le Colture Prosecco di Valdobbiadene $18.99 - Stewart’s Spirits, 227 Elm Street, New Canaan , CT
RIESLING
Whether choosing a drier Riesling from the Alsace in France or a slightly sweet one from Germany, the bold fruit flavors and crisp acidity pair well with all aspects of Thanksgiving dinner.
My recommendations:
Joseph Cattin Riesling, Alsace, France $17.99 - Horseneck Wine & Liquors, 25 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich
Sybille Kuntz Riesling, Mosel, Germany $22.99 - Stamford Wine & Liquors, 583 Newfield Avenue, Stamford
GAMAY
Beaujolais wine is made with the Gamay grape. Light, juicy, fruity and “fun", Beaujolais pairs well with cranberry sauce and other side dishes. For a more complex Beaujolais similar to a lighter version of Pinot Noir, go with a single village or “Cru” Beaujolais like Fleurie, Morgon or Moulin-A-Vent.
My recommendation:
Domaine des Grands Fers Fleurie, France $18.99 - New Canaan Wine Merchants, 36 Pine Street, New Canaan
PINOT NOIR
Either a red Burgundy from France or Pinot Noir from Oregon will pair well with the earthy flavors in the stuffing. Red Burgundy tends to be elegant, polished and more mineral; the Oregon Pinot will have brighter fruit while still maintaining a balanced acidity. Lower tannins and lower alcohol in both wines (vs most California Pinot Noir) won't overpower the delicate flavors of the turkey.
My recommendations:
Henri Delagrange Volnay, Burgundy, France $45.99 - Bottles of Westport, 1753 Post Road East, Westport
Pull Eighty Pinot Noir, Oregon $15.49 - Grapes of Norwalk, 10 Cross Street, Norwalk
ZINFANDEL
Full-bodied with fruit flavors of jammy raspberry, cocoa, notes of sweet spices and black pepper, Zinfandel pairs well with sweeter side dishes, and tastes great with the darker meat of the turkey and the savory gravy.
My recommendation:
Chatom Vineyards Zinfandel $22.00 - Nicholas Roberts Fine Wines, 1053 Post Road, Darien
Cheers, and Happy Thanksgiving !
Reader Comments (11)
Fleurie & Volnay sound nice! A rose Champagne would be fantastic, too!
My "go to" wine is a California Pinot Noir. Good to know that it might be too high in alcohol and tannins for the delicate turkey flavors. Thanks for the info!
Great sugestions as ever, thanks Kathleen.
succinct , descriptive and informative. Love the price range, also. Thank you!!
I only drink Romanée Conti with Thanksgiving turkey =)
No Syrah recommendations? Ooof! That goes well too
Love the suggestions. Pairing a wine with so many dishes and for so many people can be a real challenge. Pinot Noir is my all time favorite. Thanks for the Oregon pick!
Thanks for wine pairings Kathleen! I'm heading to the store right now to get some Gamay!!!
Many thanks Kathleen for a great article about Thanksgiving wines. It seems everyone has an article about which wines are best for Thanksgiving, but your article explains what goes good and why each wine pairs up well. I am a big fan of Prosecco so I'll be getting some of the Le Colture. The Beaujolais sounds like a fun wine to try also. Have you ever tried the Abraxas by Robert Sinskey in California?....also a great wine for the holidays!
I'm goin to MC's house for Turkey Day. I'll bring the Corton!
Nicholas Roberts has the Abraxas from Sinskey. That wine is outrageous. Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Riesling Blend. Tried it for the first time on Thursday. Quintessential Turkey Day wine. Might I suggest Dashe Sonoma County Zin and their L'Enfant Terrible Zin is divine.