Many hosts wonder what kind of wine goes best with Thanksgiving dinner. Fortunately, there are many wine styles and flavors, making it easy to choose a delicious wine that pairs perfectly with your appetizers or meal. When selecting a wine that goes best with your Thanksgiving dinner, consider your personal preference and what you will be enjoying during your meal. Simplify choosing a good wine by buying it in advance and storing the bottles properly until Thanksgiving. You can store wine in a cool place, such as a wine fridge, cellar or closet away from heat.
Best Types of Wine for Thanksgiving Dinner
What kind of wine to bring for Thanksgiving is an important aspect of planning your holiday meal. With many flavors being served on Thanksgiving, you want to select the wine that complements the delicious food. Many kinds of wine go well with Thanksgiving dinner like Pinot Noir, Prosecco, and Cabernet. Most pair well with appetizers and desserts too. When choosing what type of wine goes best with your Thanksgiving dinner, select one that complements a variety of foods rather than one specific flavor.
Consider these wine types:
1. Beaujolais
Beaujolais is a region in France, located near Switzerland’s border and north of Lyon. Beaujolais is a lighter-bodied red wine with low tannins and higher levels of acidity. In most cases, a Beaujolais wine features notes of various red berry flavors, including red cherry, cranberries, raspberry and red currant.
Beaujolais is a versatile wine that pairs well with a range of foods and dishes, making it a good drink for your Thanksgiving meal. Like other lighter-bodied red wines, Beaujolais pairs well with roasted light cuts of meat, including turkey, chicken and pork. Light salads are also a great dish to serve alongside a Beaujolais wine.
While you can serve a glass of Beaujolais wine with any course of your meal, it also is perfect for enjoying on its own before or after your dish. Beaujolais wine often goes well with a cheese course featuring Camembert, Brie and more flavorful cheeses. One rule for pairing Beaujolais wine with dinner is it complements almost anything served off a grill.
2. Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a light-bodied wine with red fruity flavors and spicy aromas for a smooth, delicious finish. The flavor profile of Pinot Noir varies based on the region where it was produced. Pinot Noir from France often has flavors of rose petals, cherry, hibiscus and more. On the other hand, California Pinot Noir often features notes of raspberry, vanilla, allspice and more.
Pinot Noir is known for its silky tannins and red fruit flavors. It is an excellent wine with your Thanksgiving meal if you are serving grilled meats or fish. Pinot Noir is a light-bodied and more delicate wine with higher acidity and lower levels of tannins, helping it pair well with lighter meats, including pork, chicken and duck.
Pinot Noir is one of the top wines that go best with Thanksgiving turkey. If you are serving a more robust Pinot Noir, you can also serve this wine alongside pheasant, partridge and even grouse. Grilled meats also complement the deep berry flavors of Pinot Noir. If you are serving smoky or sweet grilled or barbecue flavors, including venison, rack of lamb or beef tenderloin, a Pinot Noir can go well with these dishes.
3. California Cabernet
A California Cabernet is one of the best wines for Thanksgiving dinner because it features various fruit notes, including raspberry, red cherry, black currant and blackberry. You may also find notes of black pepper or vanilla, depending on the style of Cabernet. California Cabernets are typically dry, have high acidity and high levels of tannins.
California Cabernet is a fun drink to have for Thanksgiving dinner if you are serving lamb or a hearty cut of meat, including steak. California Cabernet can balance the fatty proteins of these meats and enhance the flavor of your meal. When choosing a cut of meat to pair with a California Cabernet, it is typically recommended to select a cut on the fattier side with richer flavors.
A Cabernet also pairs well with dishes featuring portobello mushrooms, especially when topped with fattier foods, including butter or cheese. If you are serving a cheese spread or board, a California Cabernet can balance these flavors. In general, avoid pairing softer cheeses with a Cabernet and opt for cheeses like gouda, gorgonzola or aged cheddar.
4. California Red Blends
A red blend is a red wine not limited to a single specific variety and blends two different types of grapes. If you wonder what wine to bring for Thanksgiving, a red blend can be a great choice to pair with your meal. California red blends are prepared from various red grapes, which are fermented before any blending occurs.
Red blends can vary in body, flavor, alcohol content and acidity depending on the grapes used. In most cases, a California red blend is ideal for pairing with meat dishes or richer entrées. Red wines are typically stronger in flavor and bolder, making them perfect for more robust meals and cuts of meat. A heavier red blend can complement a rack of lamb or rich cuts of steak.
More moderate red blends may complement less robust dishes, including pasta. Because red blends are so versatile, few dishes will not pair well with a red blend. One rule of thumb to know is a more robust red wine often does not go well with lighter dishes, including salads and seafood. While red wines are a delicious choice for dinner, their strong flavor profiles may easily overwhelm a dish’s more delicate flavors.
5. Dry Riesling
A dry Riesling is an aromatic wine with high acidity levels and is often a good wine to bring to Thanksgiving to complement the flavors of your vegetable dishes, especially those with light sauces. A dry Riesling also pairs well with seafood and chicken, as well as pasta dishes. Avoid pairing with stronger sauces, including marinara or tomato-based sauces.
One of the best pairings for dry Riesling is sides or dishes with roasted root vegetables. The simple flavors of roasted vegetables pair well with the crisp taste of a dry Riesling. A heavier wine could easily overwhelm the simple flavors of a light vegetable dish. A unique side to pair with a dry Riesling is a broccoli apple salad, which uses mustard, complementing Rieseling’s flavor profile.
You can also serve lemon caper halibut with a dry Riesling, an excellent complement to a dry Riesling. This combination allows the flavors of both the dish and wine to stand out. Chicken piccata is another popular dish to enjoy, which features much of its flavor from briny capers and acidic lemon juice. The clean flavors of a dry Riesling enhance these simple flavors without overwhelming them.
6. Bordeaux
A Bordeaux wine refers to wine originating from Bordeaux, France. Most Bordeaux wines are red and made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Bordeaux wines are generally medium-bodied to full-bodied wines with notes of plum and black currant. At first, Bordeaux wine has notes of fruit and earthy tones that turn into a more savory flavor.
There are many styles of Bordeaux wine ranging from sweeter ripe fruits to more tart fruit flavors. There are two regions of Bordeaux, France, where the wine is made. Bordeaux wines originating from the left bank pair well with saltier, fattier or spicier meals of lamb or steak. If you serve leaner types of meats with your Thanksgiving meal, such as pork or duck, Bordeaux wines from the right bank complement these types of meat.
7. Prosecco
Prosecco wine is a sparkling wine often served before meals or with appetizers. Prosecco wines range from dry to sweet and are typically light, clean and refreshing, making them ideal wines to enjoy before a large meal. If you are considering what wine to bring to Thanksgiving, you may want to consider prosecco wine because it is perfect for a pre-dinner toast or with hors d’oeuvres.
The bubbles in prosecco wine are often finer than the bubbles in traditional Champagne because of the unique way this sparkling wine is made. Prosecco is a good Thanksgiving wine because it pairs well with Thanksgiving turkey and herbed turkey breast.
How to Decide What Wine Goes Well With Thanksgiving Dinner
When deciding what wine pairs best with Thanksgiving dinner, consider your personal preference as well as your guests. A good white wine for Thanksgiving dinner should have well-balanced acidity. A good red wine for Thanksgiving should feature tame tannins that support your meal’s various flavors.
If you are wondering how to pick a bottle of wine for Thanksgiving, you can also consider the appetizers, side dishes and entrees being served. If you are looking for a wine that pairs well with turkey or chicken, consider white wine to complement these flavors. For steak or lamb, choose a red wine to enhance these flavors.
The best wine for Thanksgiving depends largely on personal preference and what is on the menu. If you are unsure of exactly what may be served at a Thanksgiving meal you are attending, consider sparkling wine, such as prosecco, which complements many foods and can be perfect for a toast before or after dinner.
How Much Wine Should You Buy for Dinner?
When determining how much wine to buy for Thanksgiving dinner, one of the first things to consider is the number of guests attending. Overall, the ideal amount of wine varies from guest to guest, so you can always buy an extra bottle to be safe and have a little more than needed than running out of wine during your meal.
The size of wine bottles also varies greatly depending on brand and style. In many cases, your Thanksgiving dinner guests may also drink a little bit more wine if it is served before dinner than only being served during your meal.
In general, four guests may be satisfied with one to two bottles, eight guests with two to three bottles and 12 guests with four to five bottles. For parties larger than 15 guests, you may need six to seven bottles of wine.
How much wine you need also depends on if you want to offer multiple styles of wine or just a particular flavor. Some hosts enjoy offering just white or red wine to their guests. Others provide many wine types, including red, white, blush, sherry, fruit and different wine styles.
One of the most important things about choosing the perfect wine or wines for your Thanksgiving is not to overthink them. Wine is a fun aspect of your Thanksgiving meal that guests will always enjoy. Choose styles and flavors that sound delicious, or your guests would like to try. Fortunately, wine is versatile and delicious, making it easy to select a wine that complements your Thanksgiving dinner.
Best Food and Wine Pairings
When preparing for your Thanksgiving meal, you may wonder what kind of wine is good with Thanksgiving dinner. While there are many rules and advice to follow when crafting food and wine pairings, one of the most important things to remember is having fun and knowing you can enjoy virtually any wine style with any meal you choose.
Some wines may complement specific flavor profiles better, but all wines make for a tasty addition to your holiday spread. While you have the freedom to experiment with different flavors and types, there are many popular food and wine pairings that wine and food lovers agree complement one another perfectly. Some of the best food and wine pairings include:
- Pinot Noir: Pinot Noir complements a wide range of Thanksgiving dishes, with fruitier versions being an ideal pairing with salmon and fatty fish, pasta dishes and roasted chicken. Pinot Noir with more tannins may be better for game birds like duck or beef bourguignon or casseroles. Some vegetables Pinot Noir pairs well with include asparagus, beetroot and brussels sprouts.
- Sauvignon Blanc: Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent alternative to chardonnay and is a crisp white wine. Because Sauvignon Blanc is versatile, it is a flexible choice that complements cheese platters, especially goat cheese, oysters, fresh herbs, mild vinaigrettes and delicate fish. Fresh or roasted green vegetables, including artichokes, zucchini, asparagus and peas, are scrumptious Thanksgiving sides that pair well with Sauvignon Blanc.
- Champagne: Champagne is one of the most versatile wines and often contains a small amount of sugar and high acidity levels. Because Champagne is so versatile, it pairs well with many dishes, including Thanksgiving dishes with nuts or mushrooms. Cheese is commonly paired with Champagne, especially aged, hard cheeses, including gouda, parmesan and cheddar. You can also pair Champagne with seafood, including lobster, risottos and pasta.
- Chardonnay: In general, a medium to full-bodied Chardonnay pairs well with any food you typically put butter on. Some of the most common flavor combinations with Chardonnay include halibut, polenta, sage-butter chicken and seafood with butter. If you are serving grilled or baked chicken, salmon, lobster, crab or shrimp for Thanksgiving dinner, you may want to consider pairing this with a Chardonnay.
- Pinot Grigio: Pinot Grigio is generally considered to have a fairly neutral flavor profile, making it an ideal choice to serve before a Thanksgiving meal begins. Pinot Grigio does not draw away from the flavor of any main dishes as it does not typically have any overbearing flavors. You can pair it with seafood, chicken, salads and light risottos and pasta dishes. You may want to avoid heavy creams or sauces when pairing your meal with Pinot Grigio.
- Cabernet Sauvignon: Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with steaks, especially fattier cuts like sirloin or ribeye. When paired with Cabernet Sauvignon, these steaks are best served rare to medium-rare. Cabernet Sauvignon also pairs excellently with Thanksgiving dishes including braised beef and beef short ribs for a decadent meal. Pair it with slow-braised beef, venison, lamb meals and portobello mushrooms. Crab or shrimp salad, poached salmon, calamari and grilled halibut are also delicious meals complemented with a Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Dry rosé: Dry rosé pairs incredibly well with lighter dishes, especially light seafood dishes. You can also pair cured meats and a cheese spread with a bottle of rosé during your Thanksgiving meal. Rosé also pairs well with spicy foods, as well as barbecue foods while still retaining their refreshing and light notes.
4 Tips on Choosing Wine to Bring to Someone’s House for Dinner
A bottle of wine is a lovely gift for someone hosting a dinner that can be a delicious addition to any meal. Because there are so many styles and types of wine, you may wonder what wine goes with Thanksgiving dinner, especially if you are visiting a family member or friend for dinner. When considering what wine pairs with Thanksgiving turkey and dinner, consider these four tips:
1. Consider Wine Preferences
Chances are, if you like a specific wine, your host or Thanksgiving dinner guests may also enjoy this wine. If you know a particular bottle of wine your host enjoys, bring a bottle as a nice gift. You may also want to note if any guests dislike a particular style of wine, as this is best to avoid if you are providing wine for all guests at dinner.
2. Think of Flavor Profiles
In both cooking and wines, there are almost endless flavors and combinations to think about. Think about the different ingredients in a Thanksgiving meal, especially the main flavors of a dish, usually the protein. The secondary flavor source to consider is the cream or sauce.
When selecting a wine, match the food’s intensity with the wine’s intensity and flavor profile. For example, you would not want to pair a light wine with a hearty ribeye steak. A salty dish will reduce your ability to perceive acidity, so a highly acidic or sweeter wine may be ideal for a dish with higher sodium levels.
3. Understand the Difference Between Wines
If you are not very familiar with wine, you want to understand the difference between sweet and dry wines. One of the main differences comes down to grapes. Grapes used for sweet wines are harvested later, making them less acidic and much sweeter than those in dry wines. Dry wines use grapes that are often gathered much earlier when they are more acidic. Sweet and dry wines have distinct flavors and are often paired with different foods.
4. Choose a Fan Favorite
If you are unsure of a particular wine you or the host enjoy, you can always choose a fan favorite. Champagne or sparkling wine is often a common choice because of its versatility, which can be incredibly useful if you are unsure what meal will be served on Thanksgiving.
There are many dishes and flavor profiles that pair well with Champagne and sparkling wines. Even if sparkling wine is not served with dinner, it can be a great addition to appetizers or as a pre-dinner toast. When deciding what kind of wine goes good with Thanksgiving dinner, start with classic wine styles and flavors.
Browse Our Wines and Order Online
When looking for what wine goes good with Thanksgiving dinner, look no further than Marketview Liquor. We are proud to offer a wide variety of wines perfect for your Thanksgiving dinner. While many of our wines are ideal for Thanksgiving dinner, they are also versatile and a great addition to any meal or party. Browse our selection of wine and plan your holiday meal.