5 Essential Wine Styles for Your Thanksgiving Table
You might not be hearing it here first, but Thanksgiving is a nightmare of a meal to pair wines with. We throw so many textures and flavors together on one table and somehow it works, but when we try to add another element with the wine, it can be tough.
If you don’t feel like caring much and just picking up some of your go-to bottles for the meal, do it! There’s no shame in that, and like I always say, if you enjoy it, then it’s a good pairing!
But if you’re up for putting just a little effort in to make your meal that much better, stick with me.
Plus, I have to tell you a little secret about food and wine pairing...when you find a pairing that works, both the food and the wine will taste better as a result. It’s like they work together to build each other up and show off their best sides. And it’s magical.
Having various styles of wine on your table opens up a world of possibilities. For one, it caters to more people because there’s always bound to be at least one person with a “I only drink [insert wine style here]” mentality. And more importantly, it allows you to experiment with the different pairings and see what you enjoy best.
I’ve done the work for you, so all you have to do is grab at least one bottle of each of these styles and you’re set for an incredible night with amazing food and wine.
5 Essential Wine Styles for Your Thanksgiving Table
If you ever make it to my house for Thanksgiving, you’ll find at least one bottle from each of these categories on the table and ready to be enjoyed. I’ve selected these styles because they are versatile enough to pair with all ten thousand different dishes at your Thanksgiving meal.
If you can’t get all five, no stress. Pick the one that sounds most delicious to you and you’re set. And don’t worry, I’ve listed all of my recommendations for each style, too!
Hope you enjoy. :)
Bubbles
I love to start any meal with some bubbly. It sets the tone for the evening and automatically makes you feel like you’re celebrating something ~special~.
Start your (socially-distant) guests off with some bubbles to kick off the celebrations.
Bubbles work great with most appetizers because they’re palate-cleansing, and they have high acid which allows for easy food pairing.
If your family is anything like mine, no holiday is complete without a festive cheese and charcuterie board to snack on as we finish cooking the rest of the meal. Bubbles work great with fatty cheeses, including another crucial holiday appetizer for us...baked brie.
Champagne
For a special occasion, you can grab a nice bottle of Champagne, or traditional method sparkling wine from California. For Champagne, you can’t go wrong with Veuve Clicquot, Champagne Rendezvous (use code Lexi 10 for 10% off), and I also love Champagne Gremillet.
From California, my favorite is Brick & Mortar’s Sweet Water Springs Vineyard Sparkling Rosé. It’s nutty, with creamy bubbles, red fruit flavors, and a refreshing herbal character. Check out this Thanksgiving bubbly package they’re offering right now.
By the way, you can read more about how Champagne is made and the Traditional Method in this blog post linked here.
If you’re looking to save a few bucks, try Prosecco, Cava, or Crémant.
Prosecco
Prosecco is sparkling wine from Italy. It’s produced differently than Champagne, so you’ll get different flavors and textures. Prosecco bubbles are not as fine as Champagne (it’s a bit more of a mouthful), and the typical flavors include little white flowers, citrus, green apple, and pear.
Believe it or not, my go-to Prosecco is La Marca because it’s affordable, always at the grocery store, and you can make a mean spritz with it. Speaking of, check out my favorite Aperol Spritz recipe (another holiday favorite) here.
Cava
Cava is sparkling wine from Spain. Cava is actually made using the Traditional Champagne Method, so it’s always my go-to if I’m looking for a wine like Champagne, but I don’t want to break the bank. It has a similar toasty bread quality that I love about Champagne.
Try any cava from Parés Baltà - an organic, biodynamic, vegan, women-run winery in Penedès, Spain. My favorites are the Brut Cava and Brut Pink Cava.
Crémant
Crémant is sparkling wine from France which is produced in the same way as Champagne, but originates from any region outside of Champagne (that’s right, Champagne is a place). The wines are similar in quality to Champagne, but a lot more affordable and accessible.
Look for Crémant de Loire, Crémant de Bourgogne , Crémant de Bordeaux, or really any bottle labeled as Crémant.
Also, if you’re a bubbly-lover or looking for a great gift, We Drink Bubbles is the perfect wine subscription. Every month, you get bubbly delivered to your door for just $100, and all of the wines are sourced from boutique wineries. Plus, you can use code Lexi10 for 10% off your order!
Ok now that you’ve enjoyed some bubbles, it’s time to get into the meal…
White Wine
With your white wine options, you have a little bit of freedom. Based on your preferences, you really won’t be able to go wrong with almost any style of dry white wine.
Thanksgiving foods by nature are typically paired best with white wines. If you’re sticking to the classics, turkey goes great with white wine because it’s lighter in flavor and intensity than red meats. And overall, since you have so many flavors going on with the food, a white wine is the perfect way to wash down the meal.
Grab your go-to bottle of dry white wine, or try something new. Below are some classic white wines that won’t be missing from my Thanksgiving table this year.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is not only one of the most refreshing wines in my opinion, but it also goes well with some of those almost-impossible-to-pair-with foods (think: green veggies and herbs).
Often when paired with these bitter veggies, wines will lose their fruit characteristics, but since Sauvy B has some green, grassy, peppery notes to it, you can complement the wine nicely with a green bean casserole, brussels sprouts, or dishes with fresh herbs.
Sauv Blanc’s high acid also works to cut through the fat of the meal (gravy, mac & cheese, butter, you name it), and cleanse your palate for the next bite.
A few Sauvignon Blanc wines I love are Rimapere, Kim Crawford, Trinchero Mary’s Vineyard, Pyramid Valley Vineyards, and Orin Swift’s Blank Stare.
Viognier
Viognier is a white wine grape grown prominently in France. It’s usually full-bodied, creamy, and can have some oaky flavors like vanilla. The grape itself provides a perfumed nose with floral notes, along with stone fruits and citrus on the palate.
Like Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier can pair well with herbaceous dishes, and its high acid works to cut through the fattiness of the meal.
You can go with a classic, oaky style which will show notes of baking spices and cream and pair well with bolder components of the meal like sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, or mac & cheese.
Or, if you’re like me and prefer an unoaked style, try this one from Illahe Vineyards in Willamette Valley, Oregon. It’s bright and light, with notes of citrus, tropical fruits, white peaches, and orange blossom. This will wash down any component of the meal.
Chardonnay
Similar to an oaked Vioginer, Chardonnay is typically medium-to-full bodied, with ripe stone fruits and toasty oak aromas and flavors of vanilla, butter, cream, and honey.
If you enjoy a classic, buttery style of oaked Chardonnay, try Chalk Hill, Longford Estate, Roco Gravel Road, or Dutton Estate.
However, I would suggest going with a crisp, less oaky style of Chardonnay for Thanksgiving to cut through the fat of your dishes.
If you’re looking for unoaked, try Chablis, or any new world style that blatantly states “unoaked” on the label. I love the unoaked Diatom Bar-M Vineyard Chardonnay.
Rosé Wine
Just like with the white wine, you have some freedom when selecting your rosé for the Thanksgiving table.
Rosé is one of the easiest wines to pair with food - this all thanks to its high acid, light-to-medium body, and flavors that aren’t too overpowering. These qualities of a rosé make it refreshing and thirst-quenching between bites of rich mashed potatoes and gravy.
Rosé is perfect for pairing with white meats like chicken and turkey, and it also goes well with lighter fares like salads or roasted butternut squash.
You can check out my list of top rosé wines of the year here.
Red Wine
I know the white and rosé options seem like smooth sailing, but when it comes to red wine for Thanksgiving, we need to be a little bit pickier.
Thanksgiving needs a red wine that is not too full in body, not too high in alcohol, and not too intense on the tannins...something just right.
You might already know where I’m going with this…I’m talking Pinot Noir or Gamay.
These cousin grapes are perfect for Thanksgiving because they are usually medium-bodied, medium-to-high in acid, medium on the alcohol, and low-to-medium on tannins.
Both wines typically show silky, smooth textures that won’t overpower or complicate all of the textures you’re already being hit with from the food.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is elegant, floral, and shows bright red fruit aromas and flavors that will match perfectly with some roasted turkey smothered in tart cranberry sauce.
Some Pinot Noirs I’m loving this year: Joseph Jewell from Humboldt County in CA, Hartford Family Winery from the Russian River, and Illahe Vineyards from the Willamette Valley of Oregon.
Beaujolais
Gamay is a grape primarily from Beaujolais, which is right below Burgundy, France. Wines that are labeled Beaujolais, are typically 100% Gamay, and show similar characteristics to Pinot Noir.
Here’s a tip: if you’re looking for a wine like a Pinot Noir, but you’re on a budget, go for Beaujolais. One of the best things about wine from Beaujolais is that you don’t have to spend much to get a great quality wine.
A Beaujolais I recently discovered is this Beaujolais Villages Premices Le Millésime from Laurence et Remi Dufaitre. It has concentrated red and black fruits, earthy notes, and a little bit of umami to match with your food. (The “Villages” is an indication of higher quality, and it only retails for around $24...like I said, more bang for your buck with Beaujolais).
You might also reach for a Beaujolais Nouveau, which is a younger expression of Gamay, with delicious flavors like candied cranberry, cinnamon, Maraschino cherry, bubblegum, and even banana. This style is lighter and more fruit-forward.
If you’re looking for a Beaujolais Nouveau, try Louis Jadot or Georges Duboeuf, both of which you can most likely find at your local grocery store.
Throw your Beaujolais in the fridge an hour or two before the meal. Light-bodied red wines like this become even more refreshing with a nice chill.
And now that you’re stuffed to the brim…
Dessert Wine
Lastly, we’re gonna end things on a sweet note.
For me, this is the best part of the meal. Dessert gets served without a wine complement way too often in my opinion, and it’s time we change that. You’ll be changed after the experience, too.
I might sound like a broken record with this one, but when you’re pairing wine with food, always make sure the wine is sweeter than the food! This is super important, or else your wine is going to taste more astringent and bitter with each bite of pie.
Some common dessert-style wines are port, sweet sherry, and late harvest wines. You can experiment with the different versions depending on what you’re serving for dessert.
Port
If you’re serving rich cheeses or dark chocolate delights after the meal, try a port. Port is a fortified wine from the Douro Valley of Portugal. It’s sweet because alcohol is added to stop the fermentation before all of the sugars have been eaten up by the yeast.
This rich, sweet wine usually has flavors of red and black fruits, caramel, and chocolate...I’m drooling just writing about it.
Port and blue cheese are an iconic pairing that everyone must experience at least once in life, but also try pairing it with any chocolate-based dessert. YUM.
Sherry
Sherry is a fortified wine from Spain that is completely underrated IMO.
If you remember from my posts during #SherryWeek, most sherries are actually dry (not sweet). In case you missed sherry week, you can check out all of my posts in this IG guide here.
When searching for a sweet sherry, get one that is labeled “Cream” or “Medium”. Also, any sherry made from Pedro Ximenéz or Moscatel grapes will do the trick (this will likely be indicated on the label).
These sweet sherries are perfect for pairing with your classic Thanksgiving desserts - pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cheesecake…I can go on. Alongside these pumpkin delights, the nuttiness and baking spices of sweet sherry are enriched by the spicy cinnamon and nutmeg characteristics of these desserts.
I’m a big fan of Emilio Lustau sherries. You might be able to find them at your local wine store, or you can purchase them online.
Late Harvest
Late harvest wines are sweet because the grapes hang on the vines until they turn into raisins, with their sugars concentrated and almost no water left. When the grapes are pressed to make wine, a sweet, syrupy juice seeps from the raisins and is fermented into a dessert-style wine.
Late harvest grapes result in luscious flavors and aromas of honeysuckle, caramel, almond, dried apricot, and orange marmalade. These flavors match nicely with blue cheese, fruity pies, or tarts.
My current favorite late-harvest wine is from Tokaj, Hungary. This region is most famous for their dessert wines, and they make some of the most highly regarded sweet wines in the world.
Try this one from Oremus, which is actually owned by the famed Vega Sicilia of Spain. They obviously know a thing or two about how to make wine.
And there you have it, my friends. The complete guide to having the perfect wine lineup for your Thanksgiving dinner. For more tips on the best wine pairings for Thanksgiving, plus some unique ideas for Friendsgiving, check out this article.
I hope this helps take the stress out of your holiday preparation at least a little bit. Just grab 5 bottles (one of each style), and you’re set for an exceptionally delicious food and wine pairing experience. And hey, if you can’t get all five, pick one and you’ll still have a great time.
Wishing you all a wonderful and peaceful Thanksgiving this year! And know that if you’re reading this, I’m SO grateful for you.
By the way, I know Thanksgiving is going to look a little different this year and some of us might not be able to spend time with family like we’re used to.
If you’re looking for a fun activity to reunite with your friends and family you’d typically spend the holiday with, book a wine tasting with me! I’ll provide a personalized wine list and food pairings for each wine, and walk you through the basics of wine tasting so you can discover wines you love.
And if you’re ready to up your cheeseboard game for the holidays, check out this blog post where I break down the art of cheese and charcuterie board making into 6 simple steps.
Ready to further your wine education? Enroll in a WSET class today and use code LexiStephens for a discount.