Wine is a crucial component of any celebration, and selecting a wine that complements your food is just as important as the food itself. A good wine pairing may enhance both the meal and the wine while also providing flavor elements that you might not have encountered otherwise. That said, by knowing your wines, selecting one for any celebration would be a walk in the park.
Given the range of dishes and flavors, choosing the best wine for Thanksgiving dinner might be tricky. After all, it is a feast! With the traditional turkey and steak served at the dinner table and for the drinks, you can choose from red or white wine with Thanksgiving dinner. For dessert, there are sweet yams, tangy cranberries, creamy mashed potatoes, stuffing made with various ingredients, and spicy pumpkin pie.
Before purchasing your wines, you can ask yourself, what do you drink on thanksgiving dinner every year? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with sticking with your favorite wine for Thanksgiving. Fortunately, choosing your particular favorites instead of trying to please a crowd is accepted and even expected during Thanksgiving. Even if you’re limiting your Thanksgiving feast to family members, you may still select wines that complement the classic Thanksgiving foods.
There are no hard and fast rules for the finest wine pairings for Thanksgiving dinner. So, if you’re still on the hunt for Thanksgiving wines to complement your sumptuous meals, you can always go for the ones you’ve already tried and liked. If, however, you really don’t have a clue on which ones to choose, here are some of our recommendations:
Red Wine for Thanksgiving
Red wine’s berry-like sweetness pairs well with the hearty traditional Thanksgiving feast. If you’re looking for the perfect red wine for Thanksgiving, try one of these:
Pinot Noir
It’s customary to serve Pinot Noir on Thanksgiving dinner tables. Pinot Noir’s earthy overtones and flavors, sometimes reminiscent of mushrooms, complement the wine’s fruity qualities. To a large extent, it complements the classic tastes of turkey and stuffing.
Zinfandel
It is a bolder wine to pair with thanksgiving dinner than Pinot Noir. If you’re seeking a robust red wine that can handle spicy, bitter, and sweet notes, this is the bottle for ou.
Beaujolais Nouveauy
It is a red wine made from the Gamay grape that is both light and fruity and is an excellent complement to the turkey and trimmings served for Thanksgiving. On the third Thursday of every November, the French release this wine, just in time to bring it to your Thanksgiving table.
Syrah
The Syrah (or shiraz) grape can add spiciness and meatiness to a dish. Though more intricate, it respectfully defers the plethora of tastes that characterize the traditional Thanksgiving feast. White and brown turkey meat, as well as stuffing flavored with herbs, pair beautifully with the peppery flavors of Syrah.
Sparkling Wine for Thanksgiving
If you’re looking for a sparkling wine to go with Thanksgiving dinner, here are three suggestions:
Prosecco
It is crisp and citrusy. This Italian selection is typically inexpensive and more accessible than its Champagne-related cousin.
Cava
Cava is often called the “Champagne of Spain” because most are produced in Catalonia, Spain. Thanks to its fruity aroma and a hint of saltiness, this high quality beverage adds depth and complexity without overpowering bold flavors.
Champagne
It can range from sweet to dry. Due to how wine is aged, Champagne might be more wheaty than fruity. It usually pairs well with salty, nutty, and creamy flavors.
White Wine for Thanksgiving
Select a white wine with crisp acidity and a fruity finish to complement the Thanksgiving meal’s lighter fare, such as salads and other side dishes. Try some of these recommendations:
Riesling
Riesling wines from Alsace, Germany, or Washington are excellent choices for Thanksgiving dinner. This white wine can be either dry or somewhat sweet and pairs well with spicy, salty, or sweet dishes. Riesling’s natural notes of apple, apricot, and honey, together with its clarifying acidity, make it an ideal complement to foods such as sweet potatoes, turkey, and spiced or herb-laced stuffing.
Sauvignon Blanc
This crisp white wine, known for its lemony flavor with herbal or mineral undertones, is an ideal match with turkey and mashed potatoes.
Gewürztraminer
This wine is typically fragrant and peppery, making it a treat to drink. When paired with turkey and gravy, Gewürztraminer shines.
Pinot Grigio
This white wine is a perfect choice for the needs of Thanksgiving Day since it can handle garlic, onions, herbs, and rich, delicious foods with a lot of fat.
Albariño and Viognier
While it may not have the same brand recognition as chardonnay, they provide the ideal opportunity to spruce up the Thanksgiving table.
Rose Wine for Thanksgiving
This wonderful light pink wine is crisp, light, and fruity, making it a potential candidate for the best Thanksgiving wine for a sumptuous holiday meal. Serve the following chilled:
Provencal Rosé
This French alternative is the gold standard when it comes to rosé since it is crisp, refreshing, and citrusy.
Rosé of Pinot Noir
The rosé version of the traditional red wine keeps the depth of a full-bodied red with a little bit more acidity.
Brut Sparkling Rosé
This sparkling rosé is light, fruity, and bubbly.
Dessert Wine for Thanksgiving
Begin the celebration with dessert and a glass of sweet wine. Sweeter than your average wine, dessert wines come in various colors and textures, including red, white, and sparkling. Choose from these selections:
Muscat
It can range from white to dark in color and sweetness. Aromatic and musky, like orange perfume.
Asti Spumante
This is a sweet or semi-sweet sparkling wine from Italy. This is best served chilled.
Port
It is a fortified wine that is sweet and relatively robust. Older ports have less fruit flavor than their younger counterparts. The longer a port is aged in wood, the less sugar it contains and the nuttier the flavor becomes.
Sauternes
This French wine is delicious and sweet, with hints of vanilla, pineapple, and peach.
Conclusion
Wine selection is one of the most challenging aspects of preparing a Thanksgiving meal. Almost everyone has experienced being torn in deciding between red or white wine with Thanksgiving dinner. With so many distinct flavors on the menu, pairing wines with all the traditional meals may be simplified with some assistance. Consider all the suggestions mentioned above to lessen the stress of preparing for this wonderful celebration.
Be Grateful and Celebrate Thanksgiving With Village Warehouse Wines and Spirits.
Selecting the best wines for Thanksgiving dinner does not have to be a daunting experience. With the help of our expert staff at Village Warehouse Wines and Spirits, your go-to liquor store in Avon Colorado, you can confidently pop the cork on delectable, food-friendly wine selections. With our vast array of choices of wines, you’ll surely find the pairing you’re looking for. Celebrate Thanksgiving with us. Visit us now!
