The traditional Thanksgiving feast combines so many different flavors that it is a challenge trying to find the perfect wine pairing for the meal. I usually recommend choosing a wine that is a personal favorite and running with that. If you love Zinfandel from Paso Robles, rock it out. There are few things more American than a big red from California.
Having said that, there are some wines that will pair with the wide array of dishes better than others. Generally speaking, medium bodied wines suit the meal better than heavy tannic ones or light wimpy ones. Below are some categories (and producers) that I’d highly recommend for your Turkey Day feast.
Sparkling wine is always a great choice for a holiday celebration. Champagne is the best. (Pierre Peters Blanc de Blanc, Renne Geoffrey, Pehu Simonet Blanc de Noirs are some of my favorites).
Try a Cremant de Bourgogne (sparkling from Burgundy). Bailly-Lapierre is a personal favorite producer. Bubbles always put everyone in a festive mood.
Rose style wines also work really well with Turkey, especially from Provence, France. (Chateau des Annibals).
If you want white wine, off-dry whites such as a Riesling (Molitor) from the Mosel, Germany, Chenin Blanc from Vouvray (Huet) in the Loire, and Pinot Gris from Alsace (Weinbach) or Oregon (Anne-Amie) work really well. They have the body to stand up to some of the stronger flavors but also refresh the palate. If you don’t want to fall asleep in front of the football game in the afternoon then these are a great option as they generally have lower alcohol levels than most red wines.
For Thanksgiving reds, I love Pinot Noir from anywhere – Burgundy, New Zealand, Oregon or Sonoma Coast. Other perhaps lesser known varietals like Cabernet Franc (Chinon) from the Loire Valley, Gamay from a good Cru Beaujolais producer (Trenel), and Grenache based blends from the southern Rhone are tremendous and really good value.
Whatever you decide to drink with your special meal, I hope that it will be memorable. Please let me know if you discover the perfect pairing with your sweet potato/marshmallow casserole and we will publish it!
Cheers,
Patrick
