Top 10 Thanksgiving Day Wines

Packing ripe, red berry fruit, yes largely cherry, but also carrying a solid dose of blackberry and raspberry along with warm spice, sweet earth and a velvety finish all work together to mark this Pinot with a distinct style and exceptional depth. Vivid concentration, balance and refined elegance all swirling together to make Woodbridge's Cherry Pie picture perfect for serving at Thanksgiving, whether as a hostess gift or the host's poultry pairing pick.

Talk about a perfect turkey and all the fixings wine, this '09 Quivira Zin brings plenty of bold blackberry and dark cherry to the glass with black pepper spice. Super food-friendly with lots of fruit, nice structure and a decent price, make this a Thanksgiving Day wine to find.

The 2009 La Crema Chardonnay is a delicious blend of fresh cream and zesty citrus, a decadent delight from start to finish. Lively aromatics, well-honed acidity, a full body with rich, creamy textures and a powerful palate presence make this reasonably priced Chardonnay a top "go to" wine for Thanksgiving and beyond.

Focused ripe, red fruit notes are surrounded by sweet, smoky spice on the nose, giving plenty of aromatic appeal to the 2007 Stollar Vineyards Pinot Noir. This medium-bodied, well-balanced Pinot Noir delivers silky textures and vibrant fruit on the palate, merging together in an ongoing, elegant finish.

For those that believe all special occasions call for a Cab, the 2005 Smith-Madrone is the perfect all-American Cab to call on for celebrating Thanksgiving. Limited production, dry-farmed and crafted by two brothers, Stuart and Charles Smith, this Cab is remarkable for its concentration, intensity, overall balance and final finesse. Bringing a truly artisanal wine to the table with a mix of red and black fruit, plenty of power and an undeniable presence, this is a top pick for the holidays.

Highly aromatic, the 2010 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier brings an "out-of-the-box" blend of two white grape varieties with loads of spice and full-blown florality on the nose and gobs of exotic, ripe fruit on the palate. This wine is a sensory theme park with enticing smells and flavors from start to finish. A touch of residual sugar brings the zippy acidity into complete harmony and the off-dry style is downright refreshing.

From the makers of Silver Oak, the 2007 Twomey Merlot is a delicious, food-friendly red wine that is incredibly supple and well-rounded. With bright berries and mocha on the nose, followed by high impact fruit, dark chocolate and silky tannins on the palate, this red wine star is ready to drink now, but will also cellar well for another decade.

Ruby red, elegant and complex, yet fresh with an engaging mix of classic, nut, fruit and spice, quite versatile and downright delicious, the Sandeman 10 Year Tawny is a full-bodied Port that is perfect solo or for pumpkin and pecan pie pairings.

I am a big fan of fresh, vibrant, somewhat grassy with plenty of citrus Sauvignon Blanc on the Thanksgiving table, and this 2010 Simi Sauv Blanc is just that. Great minerality, super citrus, awesome acidity and that down to earth fresh factor make this a very food-friendly wine.

If you are looking to shake things up, then you might want to consider this bright pink sparkler from Spain. You will find a good dose of citrus on the nose and buckets of strawberry mingling with raspberry on the effervescent palate. Good acidity, a surprising finish and a great price make this Brut Rose a perfect pick wine for any occasion.