Did you know that more wine is sold on Thanksgiving than any other holiday? With so many different flavors on the Thanksgiving menu, selecting the right wine to pair with dinner can be difficult. There are many wines that will pair well with turkey and all of the trimmings. Here are some successful pairings that will complement and enhance the flavors of your Thanksgiving feast.
Sparkling Wine & Fried and Salty Foods
Start Thanksgiving off with a good sparkling white wine. Sparkling wines add a layer of sophistication, elegance and versatility to any Thanksgiving dinner. Regional sparkling wines are best paired with fried, salty food, but any delicious fare you prepare with turkey and a dressing-rich salad goes well. Since turkey is sweet, it pairs perfectly with a sparkling white wine. Remember bubbles go well with everything!
Pinot Noir-Balancing Acidity and Flavor-Rich Meat
The rich but tempered acidity of Pinot Noir goes perfectly with traditional cream based Thanksgiving dishes including casseroles and mashed potatoes as well as side dishes with herbs and spices. It also works well with both dark and white meat turkey and accentuates that tartness in cranberries. Commemorate the holiday tradition while enjoying subtle but earthy undertones that you may not be able to find elsewhere. Pinot Noir is any wine lover’s top pick for Thanksgiving, be sure to pick up a bottle for your guests.
Riesling and Sweet Foods
If the Thanksgiving meal you prepared has spice and sweetness, you may want to pair with a Riesling. Wines from Alsace, Germany or Washington are all good regions for Rieslings. The innate flavors of a Riesling are robust but they also have fruity notes of honey, apricot and apples. A Riesling pairs perfectly with a spice-laden or herb-stuffed turkey.
Gewurztraminer and Gravy
Gewurztraminer goes perfectly with turkey and gravy. This pairing will not only make you feel the aromatic gusto of the wine, but its sweetness will also make you appreciate the rich spice-laden flavors of the turkey, gravy and stuffing.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is light-bodied and its crisp apple and citrus flavors goes well with turkey and gravy. This pairing will highlight the fresh herbs, while retaining the comforting, rich flavors of turkey and mashed potatoes. The light acidity of the Sauvignon Blanc will also perfectly balance your sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce.
Pinot Grigio
Pair your garlic-rich and onion-heavy flavors of your Thanksgiving feast with Pinot Grigio. This wine has an aromatic feel that goes exceptionally well with the potent flavors of onions and garlic in your turkey stuffing.
Albarino and Viognier
Pair your Thanksgiving turkey and pies with a good Albarino. Most wine drinkers may be a bit unfamiliar with this white wine selection. Albarino is a variety of white wine grapes that originated in Spain and Portugal. It has a clean, rich, ripe fruit taste, making it the perfect pair for seafood dishes as well as dessert. Make your Thanksgiving dinner a fun celebration with your friends and family with this wonderful wine selection.
Zinfandel
Another good wine you can drink during Thanksgiving is Zinfandel. This red wine has a full-bodied flavor that can compete with the rich, intense taste of pinot noir. You can get the right balance of acidity and flavor when you pair this red wine with traditional side dishes and pies. This red wine would also be good with sweet and savory dishes with a bitter or spicy taste profile.
Safe Bet Wines for Any Type of Food
If you want a good wine that pairs well with anything, try syrah, zinfandel or red wine, Gewurztraminer and Viognier. These wines would go with any type of grilled food. The crisp, effervescent feel goes a long way in making any guest feel like the Thanksgiving you prepared is made by a well-renowned chef.
There are so many excellent wines to choose from to celebrate a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast. Make your guests feel happy with these perfect wine pairings (always remember the wines listed above.) This list will be an excellent reference in case you have no idea what kind of wine to buy, prepare and show off during Thanksgiving or the holiday season.
