Five Festive Wines for Thanksgiving| Recipes Articles

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Bear in mind that you should conduct yourself in life as at a feast.

- Epictetus

Five Festive Wines for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is about food, family, friends and, of course, celebrating the season with great wine. Choosing the right wine to pair with your Thanksgiving dinner can be a tough decision, but it doesn't have to be. Thanksgiving meals are traditionally centered around the turkey, but depending on your side dishes, the way you prepare your turkey, or if you even have one (remember, vegetarians celebrate Thanksgiving, too) allows for a freedom of wine choices. Both red and white wines can be readily accepted and enjoyed at your table amongst the turkey, potatoes, yams, cranberries, and stuffing, and the right wine can really add something extra to the meal. Of course, not every single wine out there will do for such a food-centric holiday, but here are five wines that will be particularly appreciated at your holiday table.

The Reds:
Pinot Noir is most often recommended to accompany the turkey at Thanksgiving dinner because of its earthy undertones that won't compete with the other tastes at the table. Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir has depth and structure without overpowering the flavors of white meats. Full of soft cherry flavors with hints of sandalwood and nutmeg, this wine is the perfect partner to moist turkey served with hearty stuffing. Medium bodied with soft tannins, this wine will go down very easily throughout your meal.

The Bodegas Primicia Rioja from Spain can also be the perfect wine to add to your Thanksgiving. Made from 100% Tempranillo grapes, this wine is medium to full bodied with smooth tannins and fruity undertones of raspberry, blackberry and cherry. Riojas are often great wines to pair with food and are especially enjoyable with hearty meat dishes, although they also makes a great match for most Thanksgiving sides like stuffing or starchy potato-based dishes. For Italian families who serve a pasta dish before their turkey, Rioja may be the perfect wine to enjoy throughout the meal.

The Whites:
If you enjoy white wine but want to try something more unique than Chardonnay, try Zaca Mesa Viognier. Viognier has delicate aromas of honeysuckle and white peach balanced out by a fresh minerality and a light oakiness. This wine would be the perfect accompaniment to a vegetarian Thanksgiving featuring risotto or stewed vegetable dishes.

One of the most food-friendly wines we've tried in a long time is Cave de Tain's 2008 Marsanne. A complex yet balanced wine, this Marsanne has enough structure to stand up to white meats while the fresh acidity enhances the flavor of your food. This Marsanne makes an ideal partner for roasted turkey and earthy side dishes.

And Now for the Bubbly:
Nothing gets a party going like popping a bottle of sparkling wine or Champagne with appetizers or hors d'oeuvres before the meal. Jaillance Clairette de Die is a delicious and inexpensive sparkling wine from the Rhône Valley of France. A sweeter wine with intense flavors of light stone fruits and elderflower, this makes the perfect aperitif (Tip: Save a bottle to crack open after the meal and serve with dessert as well!).

Believe it or not, most sparkling wines are very food-friendly and make great partners to heartier Thanksgiving fare because of the palate-cleansing bubbles. Since serving Champagne throughout an entire meal may break the bank, we love Mionetto Prosecco Brut. With an intensely fruity bouquet and fresh flavors of crisp green apples, this wine is perfect for topping off a Thanksgiving celebration.

Hopefully this list succeeds in making the search for your perfect Thanksgiving wine easier. Even if you don't use these suggestions, remember that when choosing a white make sure there is a well balanced acidity. With a red, be sure that the tannins are tame as to balance and support the flavors of your meal. When deciding on how much to buy, estimate a half a bottle per person. And most importantly, no matter what wine you choose, enjoy yourself and have a wonderful day!