Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate the harvest and other blessings the past year has provided to you and your loved ones. Anything on the table is negotiable, but turkey and wine are two staples you simply need to have for this momentous occasion.
Does Turkey Go with Red or White Wine?
Figuring out the best wine to pair with turkey is a little tricky. Its low fat and high protein content matches white wines’ flavor profile a little more, but light and medium reds are also beautiful for this meat. The lower alcohol content and fewer tannins add depth to the overall taste of your dinner rather than overpowering it.
Generally, white meat like chicken matches well with white wines, while dark meat like pork and beef tastes better with a red. While turkeys and chickens are birds of a feather, they are not necessarily the same.
Other Aspects to Consider When Choosing Thanksgiving Wine
Before jumping into the best wine to pair with your turkey, there are other considerations to make. Here are a few examples:
- Other dishes: If you have mashed potatoes with your turkey, they may call for a red wine to create a more complex flavor palette. If you’re having a fruit cake as a Thanksgiving dessert, you may want to shift more toward white ones instead. Think of what part of the meal you’re going to drink the spirits during and make your choice around that.
- Mixing the wine: Wine is delectable on its own. However, some people mix it with cranberry juice, maple syrup and other ingredients to create a Thanksgiving punch. Aside from adjusting the taste, adding fruit slices and diluting the color provides an appealing appearance.
- Personal preference: As crucial as flavor pairings are, you should also consider your personal enjoyment. If you like red wines more than white wines or vice versa, you can pick a bottle of that instead. If you have other avid wine drinkers at your Thanksgiving party, though, remember to request their input, too!
Thanksgiving Wine Recommendations
Whether you’re hosting or attending a dinner party, you can offer these Thanksgiving wine recommendations and impress all your friends and family.
1. Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is the perfect red wine for the mild taste of turkey. The grape’s fruity notes cut through all the other berries incorporated into this wine variety. However, don’t be fooled by this flavor profile, as it has a certain earthiness. Take sips of this throughout the main course and enjoy the interesting blend.
2. Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris is a beautiful white wine counterpart for your turkey. Unlike Pinot Noir, it has more robust fruity notes and leans a little more toward its citrus flavors. The result is slightly sweeter and more acidic, which adds a slight freshness. It’s ideal to drink this while the evening is young.
3. Riesling
Riesling has a delightful, fruity aroma. This white wine pairs great with turkey because it has a sweet profile to balance herbaceous dishes. If your meat has been roasted or glazed with garlic, sage, rosemary, and thyme, have this semi-sweet apple-like bottle ready for an exquisite dinner experience.
4. Beaujolais
Champagne is the piece de resistance of French spirits, but Beaujolais also deserves recognition. This lighter red wine is produced in a little province of the same name and comes from Gamay grapes, which are vibrant and fruity. It’s a beautiful wine for first-time drinkers at the Thanksgiving table.
5. Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc is a wonderful white wine to pair with turkey. It’s a little dry compared to other white wines, but it brings out the acidity to balance out most meats. It also has a complex variety of tasting notes, ranging from pear to apple to honey, and a beautiful floral scent to get a whiff of in the middle of dinner.
6. Bordeaux
Bordeaux is another incredible French wine. It has a medium body, so it offers a richer taste upon sipping. Try to find one that has aged for a little bit for the best results.
7. Grenache
Grenache is an underrated red wine, despite how perfect it is for Thanksgiving. It has hints of cinnamon and other spices to warm you right up. However, there is a fruity aftertaste thanks to the strength of the berries.
8. Sparkling Rose
Pink and bubbly wine may seem more like a birthday treat, but it goes pretty well with turkey and the rest of the Thanksgiving spread. Its light and sweet taste — infused with strawberry and florals — makes it easy to drink glass after glass.
9. Zinfandel
Zinfandel is a fantastic red wine for your white meat, known for having notes of berry and white pepper upon the first sip. It does have a slight kick to it, which makes it better for more adventurous and seasoned drinkers.
Find the Best Wine to Pair with Turkey
There are so many wine choices that pair well with turkey. Bigger parties could certainly have multiple bottles and host a taste test of the different varieties. However, there’s a certain beauty to having one larger bottle to pass around with your loved ones.
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