The Ultimate Guide to Pairing Wine with Your Thanksgiving Feast

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, bringing a feast of abundance with tables set with a colorful assortment of flavors, textures, and (hopefully) perfectly paired wines. Today, we’re taking on the challenge of choosing wines that won’t just complement your favorite Thanksgiving dishes but will, ideally, elevate the diverse flavors of your Thanksgiving spread. We’ll cover some of the classic pairings, along with a few unique options you may not have heard of before. I always love discovering new and unexpected flavor combinations, and because of this, I wanted to share a few of my favorites that I've gathered from over the years. Each pairing will also have a link to some of my personal recommendations from Wine.com. Now let's get into my Thanksgiving pairing guide to the classics, plus some unique picks that are sure to make you the talk of the table.

Classic Pairings for Thanksgiving

1. Champagne – High acidity, subtle fruit, and bubbles that refresh your palate with each bite. For me, rosé Champagne, with its red fruit undertones, is like the Swiss Army knife of Thanksgiving wines. It’s a beautiful pairing with a slice of turkey as it is with stuffing. One of my personal favorites that is both interesting and budget-friendly, is Gruet Brut Rosé. Hailing from New Mexico, this bright and delicious sparkling is a happy pairing alongside the previously mentioned dishes.

   
   

2. Riesling – Riesling brings a bright acidity that cuts through the heavy richness of mashed potatoes and gravy. Yet its subtle sweetness plays nicely with sweet potatoes or even some tangy cranberry sauce. My go-to Riesling for when I want something bright and tart is usually Dr. Loosen Blue Slate Riesling Kabinett.

   
   

3. Chardonnay – A versatile player. Go for unoaked if you want a bright, refreshing companion, or choose a creamy, oak-aged variety to bring out the buttery bliss of those mashed potatoes or rich gravy. A household staple for many years has been Kendall-Jackson Avant Unoaked Chardonnay. My wife and I do not tend to drink many Chardonnays on the regular, but we make an exception for this one. Bright, delicious, and price friendly make this an easy choice.

   
   

4. Beaujolais – Light, fruity, and low in tannins, Beaujolais (especially Beaujolais Nouveau) feels like a festive red that can keep pace with everything from turkey to cranberry sauce. One of my personal favorites is Domaine Diochon Moulin-à-Vent Cuvée Vieilles Vignes. While not a Nouveau, it pairs beautifully with the lighter cuts of Turkey.

   
   

5. Zinfandel – Bold and rich, Zinfandel loves to be put next to a good roasted turkey. Its medium tannins and slight spice make it a natural match for the more savory dishes, pairing well with many of the dishes you normally find in your Thanksgiving Spread. A favorite of ours is Bedrock Wine Company Old Vine Zinfandel. We are a house that thoroughly enjoys its Zinfandel and this is an incredible representation of Sonoma County Zinfandel.

   
   
   
   

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Unique Wine Pairings for more Adventurous Palates

If you're ready to switch up some of the more well known varietals for some of the more unique, then you will enjoy some of these lesser known gems. While they may not be on the front of your local wine shop’s display, they will bring something unique to the Thanksgiving table.

1. Lambrusco – The Festive Sparkler

   Lambrusco, a sparkling red from Italy, is a bold yet still approachable choice. It has a light effervescence that adds a celebratory vibe. While the gentle sweetness (in some versions) pairs beautifully with Thanksgiving’s wide range of flavors. For those who might shy away from sparkling reds, think of Lambrusco as the Thanksgiving version of a party starter. Its bubbly and fruit-forward profile act as a palate cleanser, allowing you to move from dish to dish with ease.

   
   

   Why it Works: Lambrusco’s combination of bubbles, acidity, and subtle fruit sweetness complements everything from savory stuffing to sweet cranberry sauce. The wine’s light tannins make it less overpowering, so it harmonizes with turkey rather than overwhelming it.

   
   

   Perfect Pairing: Turkey with cranberry sauce is a standout here, as the Lambrusco’s mild sweetness complements the tartness of the cranberries. It also pairs beautifully with a honey-baked ham if you’re adding one to the menu, as its acidity cuts through the ham’s richness, again, without competing.

   
   

   My personal recommendation: Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco di Sorbara Vecchia Modena

   
   

2. Chenin Blanc – The Versatile All-Rounder

   Chenin Blanc is an adaptable pairing in the wine world, with its high acidity and range of sweetness levels. From dry to off-dry and even sweet styles, it’s wonderfully delicious and versatile. In a dry style, Chenin Blanc’s crisp notes of apple, pear, and stone fruit bring brightness to richer dishes, while a slightly sweet version from France’s Loire Valley can carry you right into dessert.

   
   

   Why it Works: The acidity in Chenin Blanc makes it ideal for cutting through the richness of Thanksgiving dishes, like buttery mashed potatoes or a creamy green bean casserole. Its fruit-forward character will enhance the earthier flavors on the table without overwhelming them.

   
   

   Perfect Pairing: For the main course, a dry Chenin Blanc balances well with mashed potatoes and gravy, while a slightly sweeter version from Vouvray works beautifully with baked apples or an apple tart, bridging the gap between dinner and dessert.

   
   

   My personal recommendation: Domaine Huet Le Mont Sec

   
   

3. Pinot Gris – A Fresh Twist on a Classic

   For those who usually go for Chardonnay, Pinot Gris offers a fresh perspective. The medium body of a good Pinot Gris, especially from regions like Alsace or Oregon, provides enough weight to stand up to Thanksgiving’s richer dishes while still offering a clean, slightly acidic finish. Its flavors of peach, apple, and mild spice give it a holiday feel that’s both refreshing yet thoroughly indulgent.

   
   

   Why it Works: Pinot Gris has a rounded acidity that pairs well with the Thanksgiving table without overpowering it. The stone fruit and mild spice flavors of Pinot Gris highlight both savory and subtly sweet dishes, making it an excellent choice for the meal's many layers of flavor.

   
   

   Perfect Pairing: This wine shines with creamy dishes, like mashed potatoes and green bean casserole, where its acidity adds balance to richness. It’s also lovely with a more herbaceous stuffing, as the fruity notes highlight the earthiness of sage, thyme, and rosemary.

   
   

   My personal recommendation: Zind-Humbrecht Domaine Pinot Gris

   
   

4. Frappato – Light and Fruity with a Sicilian Twist

   Frappato is a lesser-known Sicilian red wine. It is light and easygoing with soft strawberry and herbal notes. Unlike heavier reds, Frappato is much less intense, allowing it to complement rather than compete with much of the meal. It’s a delightful option for those looking to explore lighter bodied reds beyond traditional Pinot Noir.

   
   

   Why it Works: Frappato’s light body and fresh red fruit character make it a seamless match for turkey. Its acidity is high enough to keep your palate refreshed but mild enough to avoid overpowering delicate flavors. The herbal undertones also bring out the autumnal spices in traditional Thanksgiving sides.

   
   

   Perfect Pairing: This wine pairs excellently with roasted turkey and herbed stuffing. Its strawberry and earthy flavors add a pleasant contrast to the savory notes of the stuffing, making each bite feel even more seasonal and satisfying.

   
   

   My personal recommendation: Planeta Frappato

   
   

5. Mission (País) – A Historical Revival

   The Mission grape—also known as País in Chile and Lístan Prieto in Spain’s Canary Islands—brings a piece of wine history to the table. Light-bodied and fresh, with bright red fruit flavors, this wine is enjoying a resurgence thanks to old vines found in California, Mexico, and Chile. Its easygoing style and soft tannins make it a gentle, food-friendly red that’s a fitting nod to historical winemaking traditions.

   
   

   Why it Works: Mission wines are low in tannins and big on acidity, making them a versatile choice for Thanksgiving. They offer a freshness that complements the range of Thanksgiving flavors without overwhelming them. Mission’s fruitiness pairs well with both savory and slightly sweet dishes.

   
   

   Perfect Pairing: Turkey and stuffing are great matches here as well. Mission’s brighter red fruit flavors highlight the savory herbs in stuffing and the turkey’s mild meatiness. It also works well with sweet potato dishes, where the fruit notes echo the natural sweetness of the potatoes.

   
   

   My personal recommendation: Pedro Parra Vinista

   
   

Balancing Flavors: What I Look for in a Thanksgiving Wine Pairing

Many Thanksgiving dishes offer a unique blend of sweet, savory, creamy, and spiced flavors, making versatile wine pairings essential. Wines with good acidity will help refresh the palate between bites, allowing each dish to shine without one flavor overshadowing the next. This acidity will also enhance richer foods like mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy, while balancing out their weightiness.

A touch of sweetness can be incredibly useful in Thanksgiving pairings, as it softens the salty and herbaceous notes found in many dishes. Wines with subtle sweetness, such as an off-dry Riesling or Chenin Blanc, create harmony across the sweet to savory spectrum, complementing cranberry sauce, glazed sweet potatoes, and turkey.

For reds, lower tannins are key. Tannins add a drying sensation that can clash with delicate flavors, so lighter reds like Beaujolais and Frappato provide just enough structure without overwhelming the turkey or creamy side dishes. Lastly, sparkling wines like Champagne and Lambrusco add an element of festivity to the table. Their bubbles add a refreshing quality that lifts the palate. Perfect for lightening up heavier dishes and keeping the meal balanced and enjoyable from start to finish.

A Final Toast and What’s Next

Enjoying wine with your Thanksgiving meal is all about balance and embracing the mix of flavors on your plate. Whether you stick with the classics like Champagne or try something new like Lambrusco, there’s joy in the exploration and discovery. And speaking of exploring, stay tuned for our next post where we’ll guide you through pairing Thanksgiving dishes with some stellar cocktails. Because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a festive cocktail to kick off the holiday season?

Cheers to a Thanksgiving filled with warmth, laughter, and, of course, incredible wine!