There’s no single wine that’s perfect for Thanksgiving. The mountain of sides on your plate has too many different flavors, and more importantly, your friends and family have too many different taste preferences. How should you deal with this quandary? Well, just get a few different types of wine. Specifically, get a few of the wines we’ve highlighted below. They’re all food-friendly and crowd-pleasing, while still impressive enough for the occasion.
Thanksgiving Pairing Hit List
7 perfect wines for Thanksgiving dinner, even when dinner is piled on top of itself and covered in gravy.
Traditional Red Wines
No matter the bottle, wine will never be the centerpiece of Thanksgiving. This is a food holiday, so the wines should, above all, be food-friendly. Light, tart, earthy reds like Beaujolais and Loire cabernet franc fit the bill perfectly.
Beaujolais
Guiberteau, ‘Les Moulins’ Saumur Rouge 2019
Traditional White Wine
With all the flavors and textures and extra spoonfuls of gravy, most white wines would get lost in the shuffle at Thanksgiving. Not chardonnay. Great chardonnay has enough acidity to act as a palate cleanser between bites, and enough body to stand up to stuffing or mac and cheese. Oh, and it also pairs perfectly with turkey.
Chardonnay
Mayacamas, 'Mt. Veeder' Chardonnay 2017
A White Wine That Works With All The Sides
With all due respect to turkey and Cowboys losses, side dishes are the best part about Thanksgiving. They’re also what makes wine pairing so difficult. Enter chenin blanc, one of the most versatile food-wines out there. From mashed potatoes and gravy to sweet potato casserole and cranberry sauce, drink chenin blanc with anything and everything on your Thanksgiving table.
Chenin Blanc
Château de Bonnezeaux, Chenin Blanc Frimas 2019
A Red Wine That Works With All The Sides
Whether you’re doing a vegetarian Thanksgiving, or one helping of your brother-in-law’s turkey tends to be more than enough, sides like green bean casserole, roasted brussels sprouts, and creamed spinach play major parts in Thanksgiving. For a crowd-pleasing red wine that works with all of them (as well as turkey or even tofurkey), go with pinot noir.
Pinot Noir
Chacra, Pinot Noir 'Sin Azufre' 2020
If Pie Is Your Favorite Part Of The Night (Besides When Your Annoying Uncle Passes Out On The Couch)
Thanksgiving is one of those rare situations when going back for thirds of pecan or pumpkin or apple pie – or all of the above – is the norm. Take advantage of it with some riesling, which complements the pie’s sweetness, and refreshes you so you can go back for another slice.
Riesling
Emrich-Schönleber, 'Niederberg' Riesling 2019
The Best Wine For Thanksgiving Leftovers
What’s your Friday-after-Thanksgiving leftover ritual? A turkey sandwich loaded with cranberry sauce? Stuffing for breakfast? Pies… all day? Whatever it is, take it to another level with great Champagne.
Champagne
Chartogne-Taillet, 'Les Couarres' Extra Brut 2016
