Close your eyes and imagine a Thanksgiving tablescape loaded with all the seasonal goodies. Sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, Grandma’s homemade pecan pie. Which Thanksgiving side are you diving into first? More importantly, which Thanksgiving wines are you pouring?
Deep down, we all have a favorite. And that favorite Thanksgiving side dish can tell us a lot about which kind of wine we should be drinking.
If you’re wondering, “what is the best wine to serve with Thanksgiving dinner?” We’ve already shared the most versatile wines for your Thanksgiving table. These wines pair well with a plateful of turkey, stuffing, and everything in between (of course, smothered in gravy).
Here are the Thanksgiving wines you should drink based on your favorite side dish!
Thanksgiving Wines You Should Drink Based on Your Favorite Side
Stuffing
If you make a beeline for the Thanksgiving stuffing, pour yourself a glass of Zinfandel. Not only is Zinfandel an all-around good bottle of wine for thanksgiving, it will bring out the herbs and spices in every bite of delicious stuffing.
Sweet Potatoes
If your favorite side is sweet potatoes or candied yams, your go-to Thanksgiving wine is an off-dry Riesling. If you’re more of a red drinker, opt for Beaujolais. The savory, earthy notes will balance the sweetness of the yams.
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Gewürztraminer pairs perfectly with white meat and gravy, so it’s an intuitive pairing for mashed potato lovers.
Cranberry sauce
Pinot Noir is another one of our favorite Thanksgiving wines that will accentuate cranberry flavors. If you’re a fan of cranberry sauce, a well balanced Pinot Noir is your best bet. This wine also complements creamy dishes and pairs well with both light and dark turkey meat. Ding ding ding, we have a winner!
Have you tried Bright Cellars' Sophonisba Pinot Noir? This California Pinot Noir hails from Santa Maria Valley and boasts flavors of raspberry and cherry, with vanilla and spice from oak aging.
Corn
For buttery corn on the cob, cheesy corn casserole, or any other corn dish, we recommend a Viognier. This oily white wine is a match for anything rich, creamy, or buttery.
Brussels sprout casserole (or other greens)
Balance the green with a Sauvignon Blanc, a wine known for its green streak. You could also dabble with a Cabernet Franc if you’re more of a red drinker.
Pie
Technically Thanksgiving pie is more dessert than side dish, but we couldn’t leave out the best course! Lucky for you, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide outlining which wine you should drink based on pie preference. If you’re a pumpkin pie person, reach for a glass of Pinot Noir. Apple? We suggest Gewürztraminer.
In Vino Finito
Did we cover your favorite Thanksgiving side? If not, leave us a comment and we’ll recommend a wine pairing!
If you’re a Bright Cellars member, you can request any of the featured wines by sending an email to your Wine Concierge concierge@brightcellars.com.
