Wine Pairing for a Traditional Thanksgiving

As you know, Thanksgiving is around the corner. We know that multiple decisions have to be made for this grand holiday: planning decor, the feast, and who might have to sit at the kids table.

If you were the family member chosen to host, we know the stress is to impress. The turkey must be cooked to perfection, the mash potatoes must be blended into submission and of course the pie selection must be as sweet as can be. The big question is, what will you be pouring besides gravy?

We always have that one guest who lives and breathes Napa Valley Cabernet and is hard to impress. We came up with a little guide to help make you look like that wine guru we know you can be.

There’s so much that goes into wine pairing, variety of tastes, textures, flavors, and aromas that uniquely present themselves on Thanksgiving Day. Should you choose one white and one red wine to carry you from appetizers through desserts (a tough request but doable)? Or should you opt for several wines to accent different components of the meal and cater to a variety of palate preferences? The choice is entirely up to you.

Thanksgiving Wine Pairings that don’t break the bank

Cabernet Sauvignon (and Blends)

Cabernet Sauvignon, full bodied, with notes of black currants, oak, eucalyptus with a heavy tannin finish (dry pucker in your mouth). You’ll find that Cabernet is often blended with Merlot, Petite Verdot and Cab Franc. These blends are more approachable, or can be considered table wine. This varietal pairs great with turkey, cranberry sauce and all those other wonderful rich sides.

Noble 337 Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (Lodi, CA; $11)

The Stag, Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (North Coast, CA; $21)

Galvo Garage, Cabernet Blend 2013 (Adelaide Hills, Australia; $25)

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir, light to medium body, aromas of red cherry, raspberry with sometimes a subtle hint of leather or barnyard characteristics. Some may have a bright or subtle fruit finish. This red can refresh the pallet but still leave you with a wonderful warm finish. Pinot Noir can be that one red wine you choose to drink from start to finish. It pairs wonderfully with pumpkin pate, turkey and every pie you can imagine.

Mt. Beautiful Pinot Noir 2017 (North Canterbury, New Zealand; $20)

Carmel Road Pinot Noir 2016 (Monterey County, CA; $20)

Banshee Pinot Noir 2016 (Sonoma County, CA; $24)

Chardonnay

Chardonnay can be offered in many different styles. Mostly known for having that malolactic, buttery finish. Some Chardonnays can have softer acidity, with tropical fruit flavors, and a slight hazelnut or vanilla oak finish. On either the refreshing side or the buttery side, Chardonnay pairs wonderfully with cheeses, fish, poultry, butter herbs and creamy sauces.

Souverain Chardonnay 2016 (Anderson Valley, CA; $10)

Maison L’Envoye Bourgogne Blanc Chardonnay 2017 (La Roche Vineuse, Bourgogne; $20)

Mt. Beautiful Chardonnay 2017 (North Canterbury, New Zealand; $24)