• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Vindulge

BBQ and Grilling Recipes with Wine Pairings

  • Home
  • About
    • About Mary
    • Portfolio
    • TV Appearances
    • Work With Me
  • Cookbook
  • Wine
    • Food and Wine Pairing
  • All Recipes
  • Travel
  • Resources
    • Fundamentals For Learning How to Grill
    • Guide to Pellet Grills – Common Q and A
    • Best Pellet Grill – MAK Two Star General – Versatile American Made Pellet Smoker
    • Blogger Resources
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop Wines
  • Cookbook
  • All Recipes
  • Travel
  • Wine Guides
  • Blogging Resources
  • Connect with us!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    You are here: Home » Holidays

    Thanksgiving Wine Guide

    November 20, 2019 By Mary 9 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    100 shares
    • Facebook62
    • Twitter
    Thanksgiving Wine Guide Pin
    Thanksgiving Wine Guide Pin
    Thanksgiving Wine Guide Pin
    Thanksgiving Wine Guide Pin

    Trying to figure out what wines to serve with Thanksgiving Dinner this year? You’re not alone. Below is a fool-proof guide to finding great wines in all budgets for your holiday meal.

    A Thanksgiving tablescape with a smoked turkey and a glass of wine

    I am a traditionalist when it comes to this meal, and my advice has remained the same year after year. The most important piece of advice I offer –> don’t stress about the wine! I mention this on TV appearances, social media, and here. Instead, focus on a variety of options based on the meal.

    Jump to:
    • Thanksgiving Wine Pairing & Buying Guide
    • Pairing Wine with Thanksgiving Turkey
    • Sparkling Wine
    • Riesling
    • Chardonnay
    • Rosé
    • Pinot Noir
    • Zinfandel
    • Dessert Wines
    • How Much Wine Per Person?
    • Thanksgiving Recipes with Wine Pairings
    • Sommelier Tips for Pairing Wine with Thanksgiving Dinner

    Thanksgiving Wine Pairing & Buying Guide

    Right around this time of year many people begin to stress about what wines to pair with Thanksgiving dinner. If you’re one of those people, you’re not alone. It can be daunting when thinking about what to pair with all of the many dishes that go into this celebratory meal. Why is this?

    When it comes to your standard traditional Thanksgiving dinner you have a lot going on (spice, richness, fruit, salty, sweet, savory) and you’re typically not eating each dish in individual courses, but instead loading it all up on one plate, so it is not necessary to bother finding a wine for each individual dish. It’s a smorgasbord of flavors. Really good, comforting flavors. And the star of the day is really the company you’re with, not any particular wine you might open.

    Two turkeys cooking on a smoker

    Pairing Wine with Thanksgiving Turkey

    “But what about the turkey?” they ask. Again, there’s no need to burden yourself with the question, “What wine should you pair with the bird?”

    My answer to that is to not worry about the turkey, for it’s honestly not the star of the meal (and contains somewhat neutral flavors compared to all the side dishes, unless you’re making this Smoked Turkey. In that case, yes, yes it is the star of the show!).

    Think about Thanksgiving as an ensemble performance with an all-star eclectic cast. Focus more on the flavors that dominate the entire meal (cranberries, gravy, sweet potatoes, stuffing) and finding wines to simply help balance out those flavors.

    Cooking a beef roast? Check out our full wine guide on pairing with your holiday prime rib roast.

    Smoked Bourbon Brined Turkey dinner with a glass of Thanksgiving Wines to pair
    Pairing wine with Thanksgiving is about the ensemble of food versus one dish.

    I’ve spoken at events and news television programs throughout the years on pairing wines with holiday food, and preparing for my first engagement allowed me to sit down and really think about ways to keep things simple, straightforward, and stress-free. Most of my events have been in Oregon, in the Willamette Valley, so I tend to focus mostly local and value-driven options for the upcoming holidays.

    So for Thanksgiving I offer a few standard recommendations to have at your dinner. They are by no means your only options, but intended as solid and carefree recommendations that should pair nicely with your dinner without taking away from the multitude of flavors of the day.

    One final note: I like to keep it local (or at least domestic) for this American holiday. But if that is not accessible or desirable for you I offer some widely available alternatives that should be available wherever you are, at any budget.

    Sparkling Wine

    Sparkling Wines for Thanksgiving

    I always begin any dinner or event (whether Thanksgiving, a holiday party, friendly get together, brunch, or just a Friday night) with sparkling wine.  It is festive and goes with everything, especially appetizers and salty foods, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money on it. You can find some really good bubbly between $10 – $20.

    For great values seek out Cava from Spain, or if you want something elegant and amazing for a great value seek Prosecco Superiore DOCG (this isn’t the same as something labeled just Prosecco). Seek the ones that specifically say “Prosecco Superiore” and have the initials DOCG after it. You should find great options in the $15-$25 range. You won’t be disappointed.

    DOCG Prosecco Label
    Look for DOCG on the capsule.

    If it’s something domestic you want, Gruet Blanc de Noirs is one of my favorite budget-friendly sparkling, at around $14, or splurge with Soter Brut Rosé from the Willamette Valley priced at around $60. A few others to consider:

    • NV Gruet Blanc de Noirs  (New Mexico) ~ $14
    • NV Nino Franco “Rustico” Prosecco Superiore (Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, Italy) ~ $18
    • Argyle Vintage Brut (Willamette Valley, Oregon)  ~  $25
    • Soter Brut Rosé (Willamette Valley, Oregon) ~ $60

    Riesling

    Can be dry or sweet, spicy, fruity, and fragrant. Think comfort flavors (honey, apple pie, baking spices/nutmeg/cinnamon) and look for a dry to semi-sweet Riesling. If you are buying a German Riesling look for a Kabinett or Spätlese (because these are drier options). 

    Riesling is a great wine for folks who are new to wine and would be fun to offer. It will pair well with the sweetness of the potatoes, richness of gravy, and has enough acidity to stand up to stuffing, turkey, etc. Great Rieslings can be found domestically in Oregon and Washington as well as the Finger Lakes region of New York.

    • Yamhill Valley Vineyards Estate Riesling (McMinnville, Oregon) ~ $18
    • Brooks Willamette Valley Riesling (Willamette Valley, Oregon) ~ $20
    • Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington) ~ $12, or their Eroica ~ $15
    • Fox Run Dry Riesling (Finger Lakes, New York) ~ $18

    Chardonnay

    For starters, Chardonnay is crowd pleaser. So it won’t be too hard to make people happy with this choice. The grape is a blank canvas that can take on characteristics from where it’s grown and made. They can be steely, bright, light and clean, or rich and buttery. They can be fruity and they can be spicy. Unoaked versions will have a zestiness that allows it to pair nicely with side dishes that may have a bit of a kick to them, and the richer, oaked styles will go great with those mashed potatoes and the turkey.

    You can’t go wrong with Chablis, from France, for something fresh and minerally. Or go domestic for a more fruity style or those with that oak backbone.

    • Stoller Family Estate Dundee Hills Chardonnay (Dundee Hills, Oregon) ~ $20
    • Etude Chardonnay, Grace Benoist Rance (Carneros, California) ~ $28
    • Stags’ Leap Winery Chardonnay (Napa Valley, California) ~ $28
    • Kundsen Vineyards Oregon Chardonnay (Oregon) ~ $45

    Rosé

    glasses of rosé wine

    Rosé is known for being a summer wine, but I enjoy dry rosé year round. This is the wine for all seasons. Rosé everyday, my friends! Light, refreshing, and fruity most rosé’s are amazingly food friendly and will pair well with almost everything you are likely to have on your table this Thanksgiving. True story.

    Rosé availability will vary from state to state as many are consumed throughout the summer months and often sell out by fall. That being said, you can still find some great rosé wines that your favorite wine store may have stocked up on! Look for dry rosés for your Thanksgiving dinner.

    Pinot Noir

    A traditional favorite for Thanksgiving, and if you’re in Oregon, like me, then there is no shortage of great Pinot Noir around these parts. Pinot Noir is a solid option because they typically have bright fruit (think cherries, cranberries, raspberries) and earth (think mushrooms) so they are perfect for the fruity, earthy, and spicy foods of Thanksgiving. This wine will compliment, without overpowering, almost all of the flavors of the day. Gotta go Oregon for this!

    • Planet Oregon Pinot Noir, by Soter Vineyards (Willamette Valley, Oregon) ~ $20
    • Ruby Vineyard Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon) ~ $25
    • Child’s Play Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon) ~ $30
    • Stoller Family Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills (Dundee Hills, Oregon) ~ $35
    • Penner Ash Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon) ~ $40
    • Buy Pinot From Oregon Here

    Zinfandel

    A red wine that is bigger and bolder than Pinot Noir, but still maintains a balancing effect on many traditional dishes. Zinfandels can be rich, but not very tannic, with great fruit and spice characteristics and still compliment richer flavors of the day (like sweet potatoes, gravy, and roasted vegetables). This would be a great option for your guests who may be looking for a heartier wine with deeper flavors.

    • Berryessa Gap Zinfandel (Yolo County, California) ~ $20
    • Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel (Sonoma County, California) ~ $20
    • The Pines 1852 Zinfandel (Columbia Gorge, Oregon) ~ $35
    • Robert Biale “Black Chicken” Napa Valley Zinfandel (Napa Valley, California) ~ $45
    • Armida Winery “Maple Vineyard” Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley, California) ~ $44 (buy the wine here from our wine store)

    Dessert Wines

    Look for Ports, Cream Sherries, Sweet or dessert Rieslings, and even more Sparkling Wine.

    How Much Wine Per Person?

    • The standard bottle of wine is 750 milliliters (or approx. 25 oz). The standard serving size is 5 oz per glass. This works out to roughly five glasses of wine per bottle. Plan on guests drinking at least 3-5 glasses throughout the duration of this lengthy holiday dinner (from appetizers at arrival, to the dinner, and the wait time before dessert).
    • So to be on the safe side, it’s best to plan on at least one bottle per wine drinker (considering the fact that some guests will not be partaking in this delicious beverage, so think about those who *will* be drinking wine).

    Thanksgiving Recipes with Wine Pairings

    Check out our full round up of Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas for the grill or smoker. It ranges from entrees to sides and desserts.

    Sommelier Tips for Pairing Wine with Thanksgiving Dinner

    Mary Cressler, sommelier, opening up  a bottle of wine for a Thanksgiving dinner spread
    • Have at least three wine options:  sparkling, a white, and a red. Don’t worry about having too much. There are plenty of things to do with leftover wine (should you have any), like making mulled red wine.
    • Magnums are great for larger crowds (6-10 people).
    • Sparkling wine goes with everything (it’s true). EVERYTHING!
    • Don’t stress about finding the perfect wine for every dish. There’s no such thing… well, except for sparkling!
    • You don’t need to spend a lot of money on Thanksgiving wine. The flavors of the food and the company of your family and friends are the focus of this day. You can find good wines in *any* budget.
    • Most importantly, have a fantastic time enjoying good food, good wine, family and friends. After all, that’s what this day is about, giving thanks for the good in your life (and hopefully that includes the awesome people you choose to surround yourself with… or those you’re forced to be with… and hey, they’ve got redeeming qualities too!).

    Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. I’m ridiculously thankful you’re here, and still reading this post!

    Mary (a certified sommelier) and Sean (backyard pitmaster) are co-authors of the critically acclaimed cookbook, Fire + Wine, and have been curating content for the IACP nominated website Vindulge since 2009. They live in Oregon on a farm just outside Portland.


    This post was originally published November, 2009.  Edited and updated November, 2019.

    « Porchetta Sandwich with Jalapeño Chimichurri Recipe
    Red Wine Cranberry Sauce Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Erin @ Platings and Pairings says

      November 21, 2018 at 10:29 am

      Why has Riesling not been on my Thanksgiving wine radar?! That sounds like such a great pairing! I need to try that one out for sure!

      Reply
    2. Kelsey says

      November 20, 2018 at 11:28 pm

      Sparkling wine is such a good idea for complimenting all the flavors at a Thanksgiving feast, and it’s festive too!

      Reply
    3. Marlynn | Urban Bliss Life says

      November 20, 2018 at 5:21 pm

      Fantastic wine suggestions, Mary! I, too, love kicking off any gathering with sparkling wine, and there are so many delicious affordable options, as you mentioned. Love the Oregon Pinot Noir suggestions you’ve listed. Happy Thanksgiving to you & the family! Cheers!

      Reply
    4. Aaron Edwards says

      November 20, 2018 at 5:18 pm

      Thanks for including some affordable wines in yiur recommendations. I always feel weird buying a ten dollar bottle… As I never quite know I’d people are saying they like it becwtheyre just heing nice. Half the time, I resort to just bringing Charles Schaw!

      Reply
    5. Catherine @ To & Fro Fam says

      November 20, 2018 at 5:10 pm

      I so agree: bubbles bubbles and more bubbles! (which reminds, me, I have to put my sparkling wine in the fridge soon so it’s ready! 🙂 )

      Reply
    6. Forward Head Posture Fix By Mike Westerdal says

      January 16, 2017 at 4:58 am

      Usually I don’t learn post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to take a look
      at and do it! Your writing taste has been surprised me.
      Thank you, quite nice article.

      Reply
    7. DOWNLOADS MUSIK GRATIS says

      February 16, 2015 at 12:15 am

      Superb, what a blog it is! This web site provides valuable data to us, keep it up.

      Reply
    8. Pamela Heiligenthal says

      December 21, 2013 at 2:30 am

      PBR! :,) OMG! Love the recos, happy holidays Mary!

      ~Pamela
      http://enobytes.com

      Reply
      • Mary says

        December 26, 2013 at 4:57 pm

        Thanks Pamela! Happy Holidays to you too 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Mary-Cressler-Sept-2015-smI'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, and founder of Vindulge and author of Fire + Wine cookbook.  Thanks for stopping by!

    Learn More...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Fire and Wine Cookbook Cover.

    Get Ready for Summer

    Smoked Brisket

    What’s on our Grill

    Tri Tip fajitas and peppers in a cast iron skillet.

    Easy Grilled Tri-Tip Fajitas Recipe

    Verde chicken tacos on a serving platter

    Super Easy Verde Chicken Tacos

    Vegetarian Chili in a bowl with cheese and a spoon.

    The Ultimate Vegetarian Chili Recipe

    Pulled pork breakfast hash in a cast iron pan.

    Pulled Pork Breakfast Hash

    More

    As Seen On

    Products we love

    taking the temperature of a porchetta roast on the grill
    We use Thermoworks Signals BBQ Alarm to monitor the internal temperature of the meat while it’s cooking, then double check with an instant read thermometer, like the Thermapen One.

    Vindulge Wine Club

    join the wine club side bar

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Portfolio
    • TV Appearances
    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Vindulge

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    100 shares
    • 62