The big question - which wine or wines to go with the variety of tastes, textures and aromas that uniquely present themselves on Thanksgiving day? Should you choose one wine to carry you through appetizers to desserts – a tough request, but certainly doable. Or should you choose several wines to accent different components of the meal and cater to a variety of guests’ palates? The choice is entirely up to you, but here are some options to get you started.
From appetizers, to white and dark turkey meat, mashed potatoes, yams, herb-filled stuffing, cranberry relish, pickled this and peppered that, all the way to pumpkin or pecan pie – is there truly a single wine that can take you seamlessly from start to finish? The art of pairing wines with food is largely a matter of personal preference, but some tried and true Thanksgiving wines are Pinot Noir and Syrah/Shiraz and Zinfandel for red wine lovers and Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Riesling, Gewurztraminer for those who prefer white wines. Typically wines that offer a light-medium body and present themselves with lower tannin levels and less complexity are better suited to the vast array of flavors they are meant to complement. However, if pressed to pick a single varietal that could handle the traditional Thanksgiving spread from start to finish, it would hands-down be a Riesling.
- Sauvignon Blanc – a crisp white wine that is noted for its earthy, herbaceous flavors – a prime candidate specifically for turkey and herb-filled stuffing.
- Viognier – a white wine with low levels of acidity and characterized by light floral flavors often surrounded by delicate touches of peaches and pears.
- Riesling – a white wine that may either be bone dry or fairly sweet, excellent with any dishes that may have a bit of spice to them.
- Gewurztraminer– another white wine that may present itself dry or sweet, depending on the style. This wine has a zestiness that allows it to pair nicely with side dishes that may have a bit more kick to them, but also settles well with a variety of dessert options.
- Pinot Noir – this red wine is a traditional favorite for Thanksgiving. It is easy going enough to complement just about any flavor you can throw at it.
- Zinfandel – a red wine that ups the intensity from a Pinot Noir, but still maintains a balancing effect on many traditional side dishes. This would be a great pick for those looking for a heartier wine with deeper flavors.
- Syrah/Shiraz – another red wine that picks up the intensity and flavor, yet graciously handles the cornucopia of flavors in a traditional Thanksgiving meal. The peppery notes will accent a flavorful helping of stuffing as well as both the white and dark turkey meats.
- Beaujolais Nouveau - a light, fruity red wine that goes very well with turkey and all of the fixings. This wine is released from France on the third Thursday of November, just in time to highlight your Thanksgiving feast!
Other key considerations if you are looking for a single wine to serve this Turkey day, take a look at a sparkling, a rosé wine or a Sherry wine. They all provide a capable go between for those that are not firmly camped in either the red or white wine trenches. If you are considering a sparkling wine you may choose one labeled as “extra dry” – which will offer a touch more fruit flavor than a "brut." As for rosé wines, a drier selection will be the most versatile for pairing with virtually any part of the Thanksgiving feast. Keep in mind that if you are hosting 5 or 50 guests this Thanksgiving that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to offer a lovely selection of wines. There are many well-received, well-rated value wines that you can obtain for $10 or less.
Pumpkin and Pecan Pie Pairing Recommendations
There are several outstanding options for both pumpkin and pecan pie pairings. The first option is a Pedro Ximénez or a Cream Sherry and the second contestant would be a late harvest Riesling. A tawny Port could also stake quite a claim on a slice of pumpkin or pecan pie. All three options offer the sweetness and the viscosity to support the rich flavors and robust spice of the pumpkin pie as well as the caramelized flavors found in a pecan pie. Sherry, late harvest Rieslings and tawny Ports are all fairly accessible, especially at this time of year and most merchants will carry plenty of producers in all three categories.
