Looking for a great wine (or wines) for your Thanksgiving gathering? The Wide Roots team has you covered!
Pairing a wine with Thanksgiving can be like threading a needle. The wine has to be delicate enough not to overwhelm the turkey while being substantial enough to stand up to the sides. A big oaky red wine can work with the sides but is too much for the turkey, while a light white wine’s best characters will be washed away by the sides.
There’s a whole world of wine out there that fits this profile, and our team put together its picks for our Thanksgiving tables.
Staci’s picks:
Simple White Wine Pairing: Villa Corniole Pinot Grigio Trentino DOC
Pinot Grigio is a great, crowd friendly wine pairing for Thanksgiving! Villa Corniole’s Pinot Grigio has a delicate flavor profile that pairs well with pre-dinner charcuterie and snacks. This Pinot Grigio has a fuller body than most, making it a great pairing with turkey and green beans during dinner.
Adventurous White Wine Pairing: Luciano Landi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi
Typically, fuller bodied white wines are best for pairing hearty Thanksgiving dishes. Verdicchio, while not widely known, is an excellent pairing for dinner due to being fuller bodied and textured (think friction in the mouthfeel). The ripe apple and pear notes, along with the almond finish pair perfectly with roasted or fried turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes.
Basic Red Wine Pairing: Ghiga Barbera d’ Asti DOCG
A classic wine, Barbera is a great wine to pair with Thanksgiving. A red wine with good acidity and moderate tannin, Barberas pair well with the taste and texture of turkey. The complementing red fruit notes, like cranberry, and baking spices, like cinnamon, in the wine go well with classic dishes like cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes.
Adventurous Red Wine Pairing: Centopassi Nero d’ Avola Sicilia DOC
If you’re looking for a bolder, more tannic wine that will still complement classic Thanksgiving pairings, Centopassi’s Nero d’ Avola is well structured with integrated tannins and balanced acidity to complement its dark fruit flavors. The baking spices, like nutmeg and clove, and pungent spices, like black pepper, will complement turkey, especially if fried, and sweet potatoes.
Vinny’s picks:
Elena Fucci “Titolo Pink” – a rosé of Aglianico that can stand up to the entire meal.
Celler Jan Vidal “Honor” Brut Cava Rosé – works for pre-dinner but also will complement the entire meal.
Audarya Vermentino di Sardegna DOC, and Villa Corniole “Pietramontis” Pinot Grigio Ramato (orange) – great alternatives to everyday Pinot Grigio that work well with side dishes.
Villa Corniole “Pietramontis” Müller-Thurgau Valle di Cembra DOC – a floral white wine that works especially well with Brussels sprouts, bitter greens, and green beans.
Villa Corniole “Pietramontis” Teroldego Rotaliano DOC, Ghiga Barbera d’Asti DOCG – alternatives to Pinot Noir that have enough crispness to complement the sides but also not overwhelm the turkey.
Menicucci Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC – a fresh red wine that complements spices, especially good for dark turkey meat.
Russ’s picks:
Luciano Landi “Terre del 91” Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC Classico Superiore – a full white wine with ample acidity and body for the sides
Terre di Valter Fiano di Avellino DOCG – another full bodied white wine with an herbal complexity that works well with the turkey.
Pietro Nera “Satiro” Rosso di Valtellina DOC – a lighter red wine that will shine with turkey or ham, but with enough acidity and tannin to work with the sides.
Audarya Cannonau di Sardegna DOC – a fruit forward red wine that also complements turkey; however, for dinner tables that include ham, this wine is an absolute star as it seems like Cannonau and pork are just meant to be together.
Ask us where you can buy these wines! They are placed all over Maryland and DC; the Ghiga Barbera is also available in Delaware, and the Audarya wines are available in Illinois and Florida.