Prepping for Thanksgiving can be stressful. I get many questions around this time of year as to the best wine to pair with turkey and other traditional fare. This is my favorite holiday because its a true ‘Wine Holiday’ ; people stop and take time in making their wine selections, because getting the wine right matters.
Follow these easy rules for a fuss-free evening of perfect wine and food pairings.
- Start with Sparkling
A dry sparkling wine is a festive way to greet your guests, and pairs with every type of appetizer. Try:
Raventos I Blanc Cava, Spain, {$16.98} My go-to sparkling wine when I don’t have the budget for Champagne. Crisp and yet still creamy, this is all quality all the way.
Conca d’Oro Prosecco, Italy {$12.98} Our best-selling Prosecco for a reason. Tiny bubbles, refreshing flavors of white peach and honeysuckle.
Pierre Peters Champagne Blanc de Blancs, France {$58.99} A classic and favorite every year. 100% Chardonnay gives this a green apple richness, deserving of your holiday table.
These festive White wine spritzers are always a hit, too! Just mix white wine with club soda (or sprite), lime, rosemary and cranberries.
- Choose 1 White (or Rose!)
Keep your selections simple, with just 1 white selection and 1 red selection. For a white wine, we like a wine that will not overpower the vast array of flavors and spices in the classic Thanksgiving menu. Try:
Gerard Bertrand Hedonism Dry Rose, France {$14.98} Grenache and Mouvedre from Corbieres, a tiny wine village in Southern France. Juicy strawberry and rhubarb-bring out the cranberry sauce!
Mauperthuis Bourgogne Blanc ‘Les Truffieres’, France {$11.99} Aromas of white fruits, apple, pear, flowers and a mineral touch. Balanced and very fresh.
Cluster Off-Dry Riesling, Washington State {$8.98} Riesling is a common grape paired with Thanksgiving food, due to its bright acidity that pairs to many food. This wine from Washington delivers great bang-for-your buck.
Pine Ridge Chenin/Viognier, California {$10.99} Always a top-seller for Thanksgiving, a true equalizer that everyone enjoys.
Pike Road Pinot Gris, Oregon {12.98} Ranked #1 out of 644 wines tasted blind at the Great Northwest Invitational, this is round and melony with concentrated flavors ideal for Turkey pairings.
Champalou Vouvray, Loire Valley France {$16.99} Chenin Blanc is another classic pairing with turkey, since it helps to not dry out already (sometimes) dry turkey. This wine from Kermit Lynch is right in between sweet and dry, so I guarantee everyone will like it.
- Choose 1 Red
You don’t want anything heavy or tannic for this feast. Classic crowd-pleasing reds for the holiday include Gamay and Pinot Noir. Try:
Owen Roe ‘Sharecropper’s’ Pinot Noir, Oregon {$14.99} An Oregon Pinot for such a low price! Works well with both light and dark meat turkey.
Raphet ‘Passetoutgrains’ Gamay/Pinot Noir, Burgundy France {$13.99} An earthy and herbal option for those who enjoy an old-world style Pinot Noir.
GD Vajra Langhe Rosso, Piedmont Italy {$14.99} A blend of Nebbiolo, Pinot Noir and Dolcetto from the land of Barolo. A fantastic food-pairing wine, I enjoy this served slightly chilled.
St.Gregory Pinotrois {15.98} The first blend of its kind- Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinotage from grape guru Greg Graziano in Mendocino. Sure to be your new favorite.
- Don’t forget dessert wine!
Dessert wines are a fun way to cap off an incredible meal, and there are several that offer a ‘Wow!’ moment when paired with Pumpkin Pie and other desserts. Try:
Kopke Port, Portugal {$10.99} One of the oldest Port producers, this is a rich, caramel-like sipper.
La Fleur Renaissance Sauternes, {$13.99} Sticky honey and candied lemon.
Broadbent 5 Year, Madeira {$22.99} I like to call this a ‘thinker’ because you have to keep sipping to truly understand it. Smokiness, bitter coffee, and a praline candy note make this a crowd pleaser.
This is just a small list of favorites, stop in to either DEP’s locations and ask for one of our wine professional’s opinions.