Thanksgiving has a strong case for being the perfect holiday: It centers around food, family, and football. And miraculously, it remains untouched by the forces of commercialism that dominate every other facet of American life. Avoid the testy conversations, and Thanksgiving is pure pleasure.
But there’s one thing that many wine lovers see as holding Turkey Day back: The food can be a bear to pair. But our Wine Team is up to the challenge, so from first course to food coma and most everything in between, we’ve got the pairings—some expected, others adventurous—to elevate your meal, dish by dish.
Arrival and Appetizers
We’re all about Champagne—every day of the year, sure, but especially on Thanksgiving—because who better to pop a bottle of bubbly with than friends and loved ones? But Champagne doesn’t just work because it’s festive, but because it’s dry and has great, zippy acidity, which is a formula for a fantastically versatile food pairing wine. Whether you’re starting the meal with a cheese plate, chilled seafood, or just about anything else, Champagne can’t go wrong.
Turkey
A powerful Pinot might fare best when you need a red to contend with a fully loaded Thanksgiving plate (turkey, gravy, stuffing, Brussels sprouts with bacon…), but try this: Pick out a delicate, nuanced Burgundy, match it with a mild but rich piece of dark meat turkey, and enjoy the subtle and sublime flavors. Lush red berry fruit, cleansing acidity, and deep earthiness make Burgundy perfect with fowl like squab and duck, and the same virtues will shine with the hearty parts of the Thanksgiving bird.
Ham
This is known as a first-call red for Thanksgiving: Cru Beaujolais. With ham, we consider how the tang and richness of cranberry sauce play off the umami flavors of the meat, and Cru Beaujolais works really well.
For something unexpected, try Friulano—we’ve dubbed it the “ultimate prosciutto wine” before, and it’s our top unexpected match for holiday ham. With beautiful florality, a silky texture, and tons of stone fruit richness, this white wine is a super-drinkable match for a savory slice of ham.
Stuffing
Thanksgiving stuffing–it’s the hearty bounty of the cool winter months: root vegetables, chestnuts, mushrooms, roasted game, and highly seasoned gravy. It begs for a wine that brings richness and spice to the table. Our pick is Châteaunuf-du-Pape and the surrounding Southern Rhône appellations (Gigondas, Vacqueyras, even Côtes du Rhône) because they all have the fruit concentration, the cracked pepper, and the dried floral tones that bring so much versatility to the Thanksgiving table.
Everything in One Bite
Let’s be real: The overloaded plate is the essence of Thanksgiving, and each forkful of food is likely to deliver a little bit of everything. No problem for a wine with richness and spice. Go with an American classic for the Thanksgiving table, and that’s Zinfandel! Old-vine blends that are balanced and nuanced are ideal to uplift the trio of Turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Zin is also the perfect foil to accentuate wild rice-stuffed pork shoulder preparation.
Pumpkin and Apple Pie
The second football game’s on, you’re stuffed, and you’ve got no room left… except perhaps for a piece of pie and some vanilla ice cream. There’s nothing better than a cup of black coffee, but if that’s a bit boring, go with Sauternes. With a touch of sweetness, complex nuttiness, and bright acid, Sauternes works extremely well with challenging desserts.
Take Your Pairings To The Next Level
We’ve curated a variety of Thanksgiving Wine Sets that will complement any holiday feast perfectly. It’s a delicious way to turn down the stress on the biggest meal of the year, freeing you to focus on the bird!
With warmth, richness, and spice for the reds, and keep the whites dry and high (acid, that is). Maybe the best part of Thanksgiving is that there’s likely to be a pretty decent-sized group on hand, and the more people you’ve got, the more wine you can try. That’s the Wine Access way of saying the more (wine), the merrier (we are).
Cheers to a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday!
