Savory turkey with gravy, buttery mashed potatoes, tart cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie — there’s a lot to consider when picking the perfect wine to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. Instead of selecting a wine to go with just the turkey, we put together a list of the best wines to go with everything on your Thanksgiving plate.
​When choosing a good wine for your Thanksgiving menu, we recommend sticking to something light and fresh versus too robust and bold. Lighter-bodied red wines like Pinot Noir and Beaujolais are food-friendly choices with red fruit that will not overpower the rich flavors on your plate. If you want a red with a little more spice and body, try Zinfandel.
​For white wines, choose something young, fresh, and light. Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc are great options, featuring fresh fruit and acidity to cleanse your palate.
You can’t go wrong with sparkling, especially on Thanksgiving. Cava or Brut Champagne are great options that offer acidity and effervesce to complement a variety of dishes.
​While we love Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, consider an alternative to pair with your feast this year. The bold and sometimes oaky flavors of these wines can overpower traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Save your favorite Cabernet for your next steak or roast, instead.
​Browse our selection of guaranteed crowd-pleasers and give them a try for Thanksgiving this year. You might find a new favorite to enjoy all year long!
Good red wines for Thanksgiving
Pinot Noir
A classic red wine to pair with Thanksgiving dinner. Light body, red fruit flavors, and subtle earthy undertones make Pinot Noir the perfect match to complement and not overpower classic dishes like cranberry sauce, white meat turkey, and stuffing.
Beaujolais
Made from the Gamay grape, Beaujolais is a dry red French wine with fresh, fruity flavors and low tannins. These qualities make it a no-brainer to pair with roasted squash, cranberries, and white meat turkey. A specific type of Beaujolais, Beaujolais Nouveau is released from France on the third Thursday in November, perfectly timed to enjoy at Thanksgiving.
Zinfandel
If you’re looking for a fuller-bodied option, Zinfandel is the way to go. Jammy ripe berries, some dried fruit, and vanilla from oak aging make Zinfandel a great option to bring out the fall spices on your Thanksgiving table. It is also a great choice for fans of dark meat and gravy.
Good white wines for Thanksgiving
Riesling
A versatile white grape that can be made from dry to sweet, Riesling pairs well with a variety of dishes whether salty, sweet, or spicy. Apple and apricot fruit flavors, along with acidity help cleanse your palate as you go back for seconds, or thirds, of your favorite dishes, like sweet potatoes, turkey, stuffing, and even pumpkin pie.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a go-to white wine for many people — and should be served with your holiday meal. Herbaceous qualities like green pepper make Sauvignon Blanc a great pairing to green vegetable dishes like green beans and brussels sprouts. And high acidity and citrus fruit flavors cleanse the palate.
Good Sparkling Wines for Thanksgiving
Champagne
Beyond New Year's Eve, Champagne is one of the best options to choose when trying to pair wine with food. For Thanksgiving, go with a dry or brut style of Champagne. The biscuit flavors and effervescence pair well with salty foods, especially roasted turkey.
Cava
Crisp with apple and citrus flavors, Cava is a great choice to pair with your Thanksgiving dinner. Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine and comes from the Penedes region of Spain, near Barcelona. The wine’s bubbles and acidity make for a great companion to heavy and rich side dishes.
