The Best Wines To Elevate Your Thanksgiving Feast

This article first appeared in Santé Magazine on November 2024

Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  It is a holiday where we are grateful to spend quality time with loved ones with delectable food and wine as the focus.  With all the efforts that go into planning a Thanksgiving menu, picking the wines will be your easiest task.  With this thoughtfully curated list of wines, your Thanksgiving feast will be the highlight of your festivities.  We have selected 24 wines that will pair with your Thanksgiving menu from start to finish. There is a wine to pair with appetizers, as well as your turkey, side dishes, and your pumpkin pie.

Keep in mind there are no rules when it comes to enjoying wine.  Wine is all about personal preferences and your palate, so be sure to have a variety of wines for your diverse array of dishes and the varying palates of your guests.  The emphasis when selecting your wines should be on presenting wines that are versatile and easy to drink.  A great selection of wines will elevate the food, joy and laughter of the entire day.

Best Sparkling Wines For Thanksgiving Day

Champagne Ayala A/18 Le Blanc De Blancs Extra Brut

This new 100% Chardonnay blend from the Grands and Premiers Crus captures the purity of chalk from both the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims, from the 2018 vintage.  On the nose, this Champagne reveals elegant aromas of pear, grapefruit and jasmine. On the palate, the wine opens with notes of blood orange and pastry. An extremely vivacious wine with beautiful bitter notes and the chalky minerality that is so characteristic of Maison AYALA’s signature cuvée.

Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut

Founded in 1982, Roederer Estate is nestled in Mendocino County’s fog-shrouded, Anderson Valley. As the California property of Champagne Louis Roederer, the Roederer Estate builds upon a centuries-old tradition of fine winemaking. Roederer Estate Brut is crisp and elegant with complex pear, spice and hazelnut flavors. It is fresh and lightly fruity with great finesse and depth of flavor.

Frank Family Vineyards Blanc de Blancs 2019

The 2019 Blanc de Blancs is a classic expression made in the traditional methodé Champenoise style. Crisp and elegant, this 100% Chardonnay sparkling wine leads with aromatics of stone fruit, lime, and just-baked bread that opens on the mid-palate to additional richness and depth.

Gerard Bertrand French CanCan White 2023

French Cancan is an elegant sparkling wine that pays tribute to the rich tradition of French winemaking with a modern twist. Crafted from sun-drenched vineyards, its fine bubbles rise gracefully to the surface evoking the lively twirls of the traditional Cancan dance. Perfect for celebrating life’s moments, or simply savoring a taste of the French art de vivre.  Subtle aromas of citrus fruit, followed by an elegant, lingering finish with light notes of brioche and hazelnut. A perfect balance of freshness and complexity.

BUDHAGIRL California Sparkling Brut

The BuDhaGirl Lifestyle brand believes in the art and ritual of celebration—pausing to breathe, be present and express gratitude in commemorating both the big milestones and the daily moments in life.  This bubbly embodies the art of sparkling winemaking. Chardonnay’s vibrant citrus and green apple notes complement the red berry and floral hints of Pinot Noir, resulting in a wine that’s both vibrant and refined. It’s a true celebration for the senses.  Perfect for a fun, festive Friendsgiving.

Best Rosé Wines For Early Day Drinking

Planeta Rosé 2023

From the sea to the hills, the Planeta family has vineyards throughout Sicily.  This lovely rosé is lively and fresh on the palate, with lasting notes of meringue and peach. The wine is a perfect match for afternoon appetizers or rich roasted butternut squash.

Domaine Bousquet Gaia Rosé Gualtallary Vineyards 2023

This beautiful wine is pale and pretty crystal clear pink.  There are strawberries and red berry aromas with orange zest and floral notes. It is a lively wine with a creamy mid-palate and bright acidity.  It is a great pairing for Thanksgiving appetizers.

Best Value Wines

Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2024 

A champion of Beaujolais, Georges Duboeuf handpicks high-quality Gamay from 20+ year-old vines across the region. The result is a vibrant, approachable and delicious wine.  The wine has remarkable quality and displays a brilliant bright ruby color. We recommend serving it slightly chilled.  This Beaujolais is a steal at $15 with its quality.  It is an easy-drinking and approachable wine that exudes freshness while bursting with black and red fruit character.

Zenato Alanera, Veneto 2020 

The Zenato family has been making wine in the Lake Garda area since 1960 and has strong ties to the richness of its local history and culture.  Alanera is made from a trio of native grapes: Corvina, Rondinella and Corvinone.  The wine is an incredible value($17) with its high-quality production and historic roots.  It has aromas and flavors of fresh and dried cherries, prunes, sweet spice, and hints of coffee and tobacco, and is full-bodied with elegant and velvety tannins.

Best All-American White Wines For an All-American Thanksgiving

Bouchaine Vineyards Gewurztraminer, Estate Selection 2022

This estate Gewurztraminer has unbelievable aromatics, crisp acidity, and fresh flavors that linger long on your palate while the credits roll.  This wine has all the star power you’ll need at your Thanksgiving dinner table.

Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc is among the most sought-after wines in the world. The nose of the 2023 vintage features fragrant tropical aromas of white pineapple, passionfruit, and guava, with subtle hints of plumeria, lemon curd and lime zest. The palate is clean and bright, with accents of ruby red grapefruit, honeysuckle and ripe melon followed by a burst of crisp, refreshing acidity.

Best All-American Red Wine For Thanksgiving

Ram’s Gate Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2021

The wine opens with aromas of fresh meadow, sandalwood, and the sea breezes that come in from the Pacific Ocean.  The mouthfeel is velvety smooth with integrated tannins. A mix of black and red fruits with a hint of spice on the palate plays toward an uplifting, enjoyable finish. This wine is delicious and a great companion for your Thanksgiving festivities.

Rodney Strong Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Rich, lush, and structured, this vintage displays intense aromas of black currant, cassis, and crushed violet. This wine is velvety with a smooth, lingering finish of herbal notes, vanilla, and cocoa. Enjoy this wine with a Thanksgiving vegetable roast.

Charles Krug Napa Valley Merlot 2022

This Merlot is the perfect wine for Thanksgiving. This food-friendly wine is abundant in its aromas of hibiscus tea, cedar, and cranberry and flavors of vanilla, baked red fruit, and cocoa nibs. Lean into the festivities of the season and pour a glass of this high-quality, yet approachable merlot, sit by the fire and experience the expressive and layered taste that tells a story of dedication and craftsmanship in every sip.

Best Luxury Wines To Impress Your Guests

Biondi Santi Montalcino Rosso 2020

This Rosso reflects the signature style of Biondi Santi’s high-altitude vineyards.  Its vibrant freshness and distinct fruitiness make it thoroughly enjoyable at a young age. Juicy notes of redberry fruits and plums rise from the glass. On the palate, it is vibrant and lively with fine-grained tannins, bright acidity, and succulent, crunchy fruit leading towards a long-lasting, savory finish. A wine that is sure to impress the most discerning palates.

Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore DOC 2021 

Grattamacco’s Bolgheri Superiore is iconic in Bolgheri, Italy, and beyond. The flagship wine of the estate, this was the second important wine to come from the Bolgheri area following Sassicaia.  The winery lies on the rise between Castagneto Carducci and Bolgheri, with a panoramic view of the Tuscan coast. The wine has stunning aromas of berries and floral notes.  It is approachable and well-balanced.  Grattamacco is wonderfully charming with its fine tannins and savory finish.

Goosecross State Lane Vineyard Holly’s Block Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021

The glass exudes elegance and sophistication from the start with aromas of ripe black cherries, ripe plum, dried figs, roasted coffee, cigar box, and cocoa nibs. The wine immediately hits the palate with intense black currants, juicy blackberries, sultry vanilla, toasted oak, spice, new leather, and black tea.  Goosecross is a discovery that will be a staple for your Thanksgiving celebrations.

Best White Wines To Pair With Your Turkey

Domaine Laroche Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons Vieilles Vignes 2022 

Domaine Laroche is one of the largest owners of Premier and Grand Cru vineyards in Chablis and has led movements to raise the quality of the appellation with the creation of a charter of excellence for the Grand Cru producers. This Chablis exudes richness and complexity. A sunny profile with saffron and spicy notes accompanied by freshness and tension with be the perfect pairing with your Thanksgiving turkey.

Smith-Madrone Riesling 2019

This wine is 100% Riesling, grown on the steeply sloped estate vineyards surrounding the winery at the top of the Spring Mountain District. Aromatically, the wine opens with Meyer lemons, pomelo, orange flowers, and just a dab of mandarin orange hiding shyly behind a rose bush. This is all backed up with a solid dose of minerality. On the palate, the wine is racy and beautifully balanced with a backbone of juicy fruit acidity.  Consider pouring Smith-Madrone Riesling with your Thanksgiving Turkey for a unique twist that will be sure to excite the palate.  The wine’s high acidity and minerality balance the turkey’s flavors without overpowering them.

Top Red Wines For Thanksgiving

Tenuta Sant’Antonio 2019 Antonio Castagnedi Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG

The best grapes from different vineyards are selected for this wine and are brought to the winery’s drying room to undergo the appassimento process. After at least 3 months of drying, the grapes have shriveled and lost much of their water, while retaining their sugar, flavor, and other components. This Amarone is a powerful wine, yet fruity, fresh, and clean.  A dark and alluring wine that is sure to be a star for Thanksgiving.

Soter Estates Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2022

This gorgeous wine is made with 100% estate-grown Pinot Noir and has an enticing aroma of red plum, wild cherries, and chalk.  The palate leads with boysenberries, black plum, and delicate raspberry notes.  Its versatility make it a perfect pairing for a variety of Thanksgiving dishes.

Ruffino Modus  Toscana IGT 2019

This internationally acclaimed Super Tuscan is Ruffino’s contemporary approach to blending three noble grapes: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.  The wine has a complex bouquet of blackberries and floral notes that evolve into cinnamon and clove.  On the palate, it is rich and enduring with soft tannins and impressive structure.  This wine is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for this year’s holiday season.

Abbey Road Farm Estate Trousseau Yamhill-Carlton 2022

This wine has a pop of strawberry and brioche on the nose, with hints of hibiscus and rose hips. The palate presents with baked fruit, cranberry,  and cardamom. Abbey Road Farm Trousseau is an intriguing wine, so why not introduce your guests to something new and exciting this Thanksgiving?

Best Dessert Wine to Pair With Pumpkin Pie

Graham‘s 20 Year Old Tawny Port 

Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port is a reflection of the three essential arts of Tawny Port winemaking: blending, cooperage, and prolonged aging in seasoned oak casks to peak maturity. The result of the skillful blending is the enticing, on-the-nose bouquet with nutty characteristics followed by hints of orange peel and mature black and red fruits that are mellowed by aging. On the palate, a rich and smooth tasting experience gives way to a balanced and elegant finish.  The smooth, nutty flavor of Graham’s 20-Year-Old Tawny Port enhances the sweetness and spices of pumpkin pie. It is the perfect dessert pairing to end any holiday meal.