We write our honest review on each product, however, we might receive compensation on the products we review to support this website. See our full disclosures here

BLOG

Best Wines for Thanksgiving Dinner

One of the most daunting parts of the Thanksgiving dinner is choosing the right wine to go with it. There are many flavors on your menu, from cranberry sauce to mashed potatoes, so you want food-friendly wines to partner with the classic dishes you might serve. It can help you have some guidance when choosing a wine pair to go with various foods on your Thanksgiving table.

However, you’ve got various textures, tastes, aromas, and flavors, especially if it’s a traditional Thanksgiving for your household. This means you may need multiple wines to go from appetizers to the main course to dessert. Often, people ask us if one wine can work for all parts of the meal. The choice is yours, but we’ve come up with a few pairings to help.

Best Wines for Thanksgiving Dinner – Classic Tastes

Firstly, we want to talk about the most versatile of all wines to serve at Thanksgiving. You usually have an appetizer of sorts, then turkey, and side dishes like sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, red berries, stuffing, red fruit, and pecan, apple, or pumpkin pie for dessert with unique baking spice. 

With all of these different food items, you wonder if a single wine works for it all. One-stop wine options could include champagne or sparkling wines. These are highly popular for pairing all year round, but they work exceptionally well during the holidays. Typically, sparkling wines bring versatility and elegance to your meal. They’ve got plenty of acidities, but they also add a touch of festive flair. Plus, they handle various appetizers quite well.

You can use them with salty or fried foods, but they also taste great along with dressing and turkey. There’s a crisp effervescence, which cuts through those rich layers of desserts.

Thanksgiving Wine Pairing Options

The art of pairing your wine with various foods is often a personal preference. Generally, white wines need to be balanced with enough acidity, while red wines require tame tannins to support the food flavors you provide.

There are plenty of safe choices to pick for your Thanksgiving wine, such as Grenache Syrah, pinot noir, or Zinfandel if you love red wines. Those who prefer white wine might like a good Viognier, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, or Sauvignon/Chenin Blanc.

Preferred White Wines for Thanksgiving

These are the top white wine choices for your Thanksgiving dinner:

  • Riesling – You can find either sweet or bone-dry Riesling wine, and it pairs well with sweet, salty, and spicy dishes. Whether you choose one from Germany, Washington, or Alsace, these are a top choice for Thanksgiving dinner. You get a fruit flavor, such as apple or apricot, but honey tones are also noted. It also provides clarifying acidity, which helps it cut down on the herb and sweet flavors.
  • Sauvignon Blanc – You’re going to find that this wine is well-known for its citrus flavors, but mineral and herb undertones also exist. The crispness pairs well with mashed potatoes and turkey.
  • Chenin Blanc – This type of wine is from France and features a high acidity. Therefore, it can be used in desserts and sparkling wines. It can also produce neutral, bland wines with the right vine control. 
  • Pinot Grigio – This white wine is considered a natural choice for Thanksgiving Day because it can handle onions, garlic, herbs, and various rich and flavorful dishes.

Top Red Wines for Thanksgiving Dinner

If red wine is more your style, these go great with classic dishes:

  • Pinot Noir – This is probably the most sought-after red wine for Thanksgiving. It features earthy undertones with flavors that remind you of mushrooms, even with the fruit feature. It pairs well with almost all the traditional flavors you have.
  • Grenache Syrah – This type of wine can bring a meaty or spicy character to your table. It increases the complexities of the dishes while handling various flavors well. You’re going to find peppery notes here, which work well with turkey and stuffing.
  • Zinfandel – If you want a full-bodied red wine, zinfandel is highly intense but still balances with all the dishes. It works well for those who need a hearty red wine that accommodates sweet, bitter, and spicy flavor profiles.
  • Cabernet Sauvignon – The most recognized red wine grape variety is the Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a heavier and even more full-bodied wine and has smooth tannins and a nice body. It works well for various meats.

Wine Box Options

If you’re interested in affordable wines, you may want to consider a wine club delivery service. Most of them pick out the wines for you, so you don’t have to know much about them. It also saves time because you’re not rushing to your wine store or leaving the house. Many services allow you to customize your order to your specific needs, as well. If that weren’t enough, you could often get local and international wines from these companies.

Firstleaf

Firstleaf is a top wine club service, and you can rate the wines that you taste. This helps the company find out your preferences. All wines come from top vineyards and winemakers, but you do get to choose which ones you want to try. It recommends six wines to you, and you can try them all. Shipping is included, too.

Firstleaf Wine selection

California Wine Club

With the California Wine Club, there are five levels with different price ranges. Therefore, you’re sure to find something you can afford. This ‘wine-of-the-month’ club gives you two wines every month, and you can pay as you go. These wines aren’t showcased in regular stores, and the service often offers hard-to-find ones. You’re sure to impress your guests with this club.

WSJ Special Holiday Wine Box

The WSJ wine club subscription is one of the first to offer a 12-case wine subscription box at a super affordable price. The club has a massive selection of great local and imported wines to be delivered directly to your door.

And now, the WSJ wine club offers a unique holiday of 6 bottles for you to enjoy over Thanksgiving dinner!

WSJ Wine club

Bright Cellars Wine Club

Bright Cellars uses an algorithm to help you find wines that meet your preferences. There’s a seven-question quiz you take, and then you get four bottles of wine. These are from vineyards throughout the world, and they’re all designed to be unique. You can rate the wines that you get, making the selections even better.

Martha Stewart Wine Co. Wine Club

Everyone wants to be just like Martha Stewart, and now you can drink wines that she might drink herself. There are various subscriptions and services available, so everyone can get what they want. Whether you like white, red, or a mixture, it’s possible to have them with one of her many wine plans.

While you can’t choose the wines, you know they’re going to be delicious and pair well with your Thanksgiving meal.

See here all Wine coupons available

BLOG
You Might Also Like
How to Open Wine Bottle Without Opener
How to Open a Wine Bottle Without an Opener: 4 Best Methods
How to Remove Red Wine Stains
6 Best Tips on How to Remove Red Wine Stains Without Panicking
how to tell if wine is bad
How to Tell If Wine Is Bad Before Drinking? 6 Warning Signs
how to get cork out of a wine bottle
How to Get a Cork Out of a Wine Bottle Without Breaking It? 3 Best Strategies
How to Ship Wine as a Gift – What to Do and What to Avoid
How to Cancel Firstleaf Subscription: Everything You Need to Know
Top 5 Best White Wines for Beginners: A Starter’s Guide
How Many Calories in a Bottle of Red Wine? All About Red Wine Calorie Intake
Winc wine club
Our Winc Red Wines Review
VDay Wine and Food
Food and Wine Pairing for Valentine’s Day Dinner Date
choose wine club
How to Choose a Wine Club Service
Plonk Wine
Best Online Wine Clubs for 2023
Why is Wine so Popular
Why is Wine So Popular?
The 10 Best Non-alcoholic Wines of 2023
Father’s Day Wine Gifts
Decanting Wine: The whys, hows, and everything in between
WSJ Wine Club
How to Cancel WSJ Wine Club Subscription
Winc Wine Subscription
How to Cancel Winc Wine Club Account
Mulled wine
A Full Guide To Mulled Wine
WSJ wine
Is WSJ Wine A Good Deal?
open a wine bottle
Wine Storage 101: How Long Can You Keep an Opened Bottle of Wine
hangover
The Best Ways to Cure (and Prevent) a Hangover
champagne-bottle
Are Wine Clubs worth the cost?
Firstleaf Wine selection
The Effect of Temperature on Food and Wine Matching
California Wine Club Red Wine
What Is a Wine Club Subscription?
BBQ & Burger Wine
BBQ & Burger Wine Pairings Done Right
Zinfandel grapes
What Is Zinfandel Wine? Unraveling The Legacy Of a California Classic
Syrah Red Wine
Syrah Red Wine Guide- Learn All You Need To Know About Syrah Wine
kosher wine
All You Need To Know About Kosher Wine
Fortified Wine
What Is A Sparkling Wine? A Comprehensive Guide To The Bubbles World
Merlot Wine Club
Cabernet Sauvignon Vs. Merlot – A Full Comparison Between These Two Popular Wines
Wine Cocktails
Our List Of Top 10 Wine Cocktails For When You’re Feeling Fancy
Non-Alcoholic Wines
Non-Alcoholic Wines Review
Wine Coolers
Wine Coolers & Wine Refrigerators Guide
sangria wine making
Best Wines For Sangria For 2023
Marsala Wine
Beginners Guide to Italy’s Marsala Wine: What is it, Types & More
Riesling Wine
Learn About Riesling Wine: Riesling Taste, History, and Region & More
Wine For Risotto
Best Wine For Risotto
Lamb wine pairing
Lamb Wine Pairing Guide
Malbec wine- wine insiders
What is Malbec Wine? Tasting Notes, Pairings, and More
french wine guide
AOC – French Wine Classifications 
Pinot Nior wine club
A Complete Guide For Classification Of Wine
Fortified Wine
What Is A Fortified Wine?
wine aeration
Why Should You Aerate Red & White Wine? Facts & Tips
wine tannins
What Are Wine Tannins? Taste, Mouthfeel, And Quality Explained
valentines day
Which Is Considered To Be The Most Romantic Wine For Date Night? 
Companies Like Winc Wine Club For 2023
2020 Endgame® Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendocino, California
What Is Cabernet Sauvignon Wine?
2019 'Folly of the Beast' Chardonnay from the central coast, California
What Is Chardonnay Wine?
2020 Alma Libre Pinot Noir Aconcagua, Chile
What Is Pinot Noir Wine?
wine experts
How Many Glasses in a Bottle of Wine?
wine club gifts
Best Wines For Wedding Gifts 2022
California Wine Club box
The California Wine Club Holiday Gifts!
6 mixed red wine glasses
Best Wine Housewarming Gifts 2022
Birthday Wine Gifts
Best Birthday Wine Gift 2023
black friday wine deals
2022 Black Friday & Cyber Monday Wine Club Coupons
low sugar wine dry wine
The Dry And Low Sugar Wine Guide
wine glasses
A Full Guide To Different Types Of Wine Glasses
summer wine
Best Summer Wines For Delicious Summer Sipping
red wine vs white wine
RED WINE VS WHITE WINE – WHICH ONE SUITS YOU BETTER?
winc white wine
Our Winc White Wine Review 2023
affordable wine clubs
Are Wine Clubs Worth It?
What Are the Different Colors of Wine?
natural wine benefits
Is Natural Wine Better For You?
WSJ wine club
Recommended Wine Openers
firstleaf wine club
Is FirstLeaf Worth It? Our Honest Review
Firstleaf Wine selection
Our Honest Take – Is Firstleaf Worth It?
wine glossary
Wine Glossary
red wine sex
Is Red Wine Good for Sex?
Pink Rose Wine
How to Choose the Right Wine?
Best Tools and Techniques to Store and Preserve Wine
Best Tools and Techniques to Store and Preserve Wine
Best Wine Countries
Best Wine Countries
Best Wine Regions
Best Wine Regions
Wine Club FAQ
Wine Club FAQ: What You Need to Know
How to Prevent Teeth Staining From Red Wine
How to Prevent Teeth Staining From Red Wine
The Wine Club Reviews
Mother’s Day Wine Club Gift Card
Father’s Day Wine Gifts
Father’s Day Wine Gifts
wine experts
Do I Need to Be a Wine Expert to Join a Wine Club?
Health Benefits of Wine
Health Benefits of Wine
french wine guide
A Guide To French Wines
Hello fresh wine box
Best Wine Clubs for Beginners
champagne-bottle
15 Fun Facts About Champagne
Wine Glasses
15 Fun Facts About Wine
WSJ Wine Club
Wine Experiences Are the New Wine Tastings
WSJ Wine Club
Food and Wine Pairing – Your Guide to Being an Excellent Host
Why is Wine so Popular
8 Things You Need to Know about Hosting a Wine Dinner Party
Wine Serving Temperature
All About Wine Serving Temperature: Do’s and Don’ts
Best Wine for Tacos
Best Wine for Tacos
NakedWines wine club review
Best Wine Pairings for Fish and Seafood
best wine and cheese pairings
Best Wine and Cheese Pairings
Pairing wine and pizza
Best Wine Pairings for Pizza
best wine to go with steak
Best Wine Pairing with Steak
Best White Wines
Complete Guide to the Most Common White Wines
The Wine Club Reviews about us
Complete Guide to the Most Common Red Wines
choose wine club
Recommended Wine Glasses
California Wine Club box
Recommended Wine Gadgets
Most affordable wine clubs
5 Reasons To Use a Wine Club
firstleaf wine

wine deals

Christmas sale

Grab wine deals for a festive dinner

Wine deals 2023