Thanksgiving Wine Pairings From The World’s Most Famous Wine Regions
Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate with family, friends, and a lot of food. If you do it right, there’s something at the dinner table for everyone. Pairing a couple bottles of wine with your favorite sides doesn’t have to be tricky. Use this guide as your foolproof defense against the dreaded faux pas of wine selection, even if you don’t actually know the difference between a Pinot Noir and a Pinot Gris. Below, you’ll find a selection of wines that are sure to please your family, and make you out to be a sommelier in training. As a bonus, discover the destinations that put each bottle on the map.
First, some rules of the wine-pairing road:
For red wine, the lighter, the better. Heavy red wines such as Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon are full of tannins that will overpower the mildness of a roasted turkey.
For white wine, aim for un-oaked and citrusy. Like a bold red wine, oaky whites will dominate the flavor of the food. Kendall Jackson lovers may want to sit this one out.
The most important thing to remember is that there are no true rules when it comes to wine drinking and pairing, just personal preference. If you’re reading this thinking “you’ll have to pry this Josh Cabernet out of my cold, dead hands,” I’m certainly not going to stop you.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is probably the most well-rounded bottle you can show up with on Thanksgiving. It’s full of red fruit flavors and earthy undertones that will stand up to the table’s most hearty dishes without overpowering the lighter ones.
📍Your favorite Pinot Noir can be found in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Pinot Noir thrives in Oregon’s cool climate, and here you’ll taste elegant wines with red berry, earthy, and floral notes. This destination combines wild-class wine with a relaxed and outdoorsy vibe.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvy B lovers, this one’s for you. Sauvignon Blanc will complement just about everything around the Thanksgiving dinner table. The acidity balances the richness of heavy dishes like gravy and mashed potatoes, and its grassy undertones act as a natural pairing for stuffing and turkey.
📍For the perfect bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, you’ll want to head down under to Marlborough, New Zealand. If you go in late summer or fall (February through April in New Zealand), you can visit any of the many family-run wineries just in time for harvest season.
Brunello di Montalcino
For a more elevated bottle, look for a Brunello di Montalcino. Brunello is both rich and medium bodied at the same time. It has less tannins (what causes the wine to feel heavy in your mouth) than a Cabernet Sauvignon and high acidity. It won’t overwhelm your palate, so you can still enjoy Thanksgiving’s lighter foods, like those tasty veggies.
📍Brunello di Montalcino is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes grown around the hilltop town of Montalcino in Italy. Less than an hour’s drive from Siena, you’ll get a slower and less touristy experience compared to Chianti.
Riesling
Riesling is a very versatile grape that is made into both sweet and dry bottles. For Thanksgiving, lean towards the more dry side. The fruitiness and acidity will help cleanse your palate as you go for seconds of your favorite dishes, like sweet potatoes or stuffing.
📍For the dry rieslings, you should book a flight to the Mosel Valley in Germany. This is Germany’s crown jewel for riesling, with some of the best bone-dry bottles. A river cruise is the most scenic way to explore the Mosel Valley, stopping in small towns and tasting rooms along the way.
Just like food around the Thanksgiving table, wine has a way of connecting us to the places it comes from and the people we share it with. If you enjoyed learning practical ways to enjoy each wine – plus where in the world to find it – you’ll love my free Wine Pairing Passport. It’s a curated guide to some of the world’s most celebrated wine regions, complete with pairing tips and destination highlights to inspire your next trip. Download it here and start planning your next wine-filled getaway.
Hi, I’m Emily!
I’m the founder of Travel by Emily, a boutique travel agency focused on luxury itineraries, expert guidance, and authentic experiences for couples and groups.
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