Eat, drink, and give thanks. Whether you’re celebrating with family or friends, Thanksgiving is not complete without wine. While there are so many delicious varietals, it’s hard to narrow down which selections are best for your turkey day enjoyment. We’ve put in the hard work and selected our must-have Thanksgiving food and wine pairings for this delectable celebration. Let’s dig in. (Updated 11/3/2022)
Perfect Poultry Wine Pairings
Gobble, gobble. Go big with turkey or keep it casual with roast chicken. Either way, we’ve got you covered.
Is there anything more quintessentially Thanksgiving than turkey? Pair your bird with our Bronze Medal 2018 Steeple Street Chardonnay. This juicy yet acidic wine is the perfect companion for all things Thanksgiving, especially to complement the richness of your roasted turkey or chicken.
Side Dish Wine Pairings
Hope you brought your stretchy pants to the table. If you’re like us, Thanksgiving is all about the sides. Dig in to your turkey day dreams with the wine perfect pairing.
This carb-o-licious side is a staple for Thanksgiving. Give your palate an adventure with our Silver Medal Tanglerose Backyard Red Lot 22A. It’s the perfect sip for a savory side.
Okay, we had to throw in something green — even if it’s covered in crispy onions, creamy mushroom soup, and butter. This rich veggie dish is best complemented by a crisp full-bodied white wine companion like our American Wine Society Bronze Medal winner, 2021 Jitterbug, Sauvignon Blanc.
It doesn’t get any butter than this—mashed potatoes that is! Eat your way to the bottom of the bowl but don’t forget the wine. A full-bodied red has what it takes to stand up to mashed potatoes. We recommend our Bronze Medal 2019 Bailando, Malbec, for a velvety pairing you won’t forget.
The best part of Thanksgiving is that there are no rules. Yams with sugar and marshmallows? Sure! Why not? Pair this sweet and creamy side with an equally sweet yet spicy wine—our Vaycay, Pendes Sangria. The sweet, fruity flavors from this pairing will have you going back for seconds.
Thanksgiving’s tartness has arrived! Pair this sweet and sour side with our Silver Medal World Wine Champion, 2020 Santoreggia, Sangiovese. The juiciness of this red will round out the tartness of the cranberries.
Sweet Pumpkin Pairings
Let’s give ‘em pumpkin to talk about. You can’t wrap up your Thanksgiving feast without pumpkin desserts. Find a little room for a sweet ending.
Pumpkin, whipped cream, and cinnamon—we’ll take two! Wrap up your festivities with this pumpkin trifle and our Fissata Red, for a fizzy and fabulous finish.
This is what you’ve been waiting for—Pumpkin. Pie. All your Thanksgiving pie-in-the-sky dreams are coming to fruition. Pair your pie with our Silver Medal 2020 Screaming Goat, Gewürztraminer for a show-stopping finish to Turkey Day.
The juicy, sweet berries in this cobbler are complimented perfectly by a medium-to-full bodied red, like our 2021 Rayado, Cabernet Sauvignon. On top of that, when you purchase a full-priced bottle of Rayado, $1 will be donated with love to Living Beyond Breast Cancer.
The final word on wine for the bird
Okay, so now that you know which wines were made for your Turkey Day faves, it’s time to reveal the wines that are versatile enough to cover all the bastings, er … bases. Our best picks for Thanksgiving? Choose a Petite Sirah or Montepulciano for red lovers, and choose a Rosé or a Pecorino for white lovers. Now, take a sip to de-stress, and then prepare to impress. You got this!
Trying one of these delicious Thanksgiving food & wine pairings? Share your photos and stories with us on social! Tag us in your Thanksgiving festivities @travelingvineyard. Gobble, gobble!
