When hosting a Thanksgiving dinner, remember that wine can be as important as the turkey and stuffing! It is important to pick & pair wines for Thanksgiving that appeal to the masses so you don’t have to open that bottle of Barolo you have been saving. Having at least one type of white wine and one type of red wine is necessary, but throwing in bubbles is never discouraged to start off a fun dinner with family and friends.
Here are a couple of Spuntino’s favorite wines to pair with a Thanksgiving feast:
White Wine
Pinot Gris
Fresh green apples, pear and citrus flavors with some aromas of almond, clove and honey pair excellent with turkey and is a very food-friendly wine.
Find Pinot Gris on Spuntino’s wine list: Hugel Pinot Gris from Alsace, France
Riesling
You can’t go wrong with serving a Riesling with your Thanksgiving dinner. The fruity flavor is refreshing and the high acidity helps balance the rich flavors that go along with Thanksgiving dinner.
Find Riesling on Spuntino’s wine list: Dr. Hermann Kabinett Riesling from Mosel, Germany
Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc, especially from South Africa, has pleasant flavors of baked apples, apricot and tangerines with aromas of honey, caramel, and orange blossom. This wine has great acidity and inherently sweet flavors that can moisten up even the driest turkey.
Find Chenin Blanc on Spuntino’s Wine List: Simonsig Chenin Blanc from Stellenbosch, South Africa
Red Wine
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is the perfect varietal for turkey. The medium tannins and cranberry and cherry flavors makes for an easy drinking wine that all of your guests will enjoy. When looking for a pinot noir to pair with your feast try one from Willamette Valley.
Find Pinot Noir on Spuntino’s Wine List: Bergstrom Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
Zinfandel
Even though most tend to select wines without too many tannins, there are several medium bodied reds like zinfandel that work very well. The primary flavors are jam, blackberry, cherry, plum and licorice. It often has a front flavor of candied fruitiness followed by spice and a smoky finish. These flavors will pair well with the turkey along with all the delicious accompaniments.
Find Zinfandel on Spuntino’s Wine List: Valran Zinfandel from Sonoma, California
Amarone
Expect bold aromas of cherry liquor, black fig, cinnamon and plum. This combination of fruit and earth is the perfect wine when wanting a bolder wine to pair with your turkey dinner.
Find Amarone on Spuntino’s Wine List: Zenato Alanera Baby Amarone from Veneto, Italy
What are your favorite wines to pair for Thanksgiving?
