It’s time for one of wine’s favorite holidays — tables filled with turkey, stuffing, and all the trimmings, with each and every family representing their cultures and backgrounds. Beyond the plated classics, it’s a time for all the wine — and that’s where things get a little blurry.
With so many flavors and so many people with so many different preferences, it can be rough out there in this dizzying holiday wine-buying environment.
Fret not, though. Because while many may argue that turkey is the star of the Thanksgiving table, we at VinePair believe that the holiday would be just as incomplete without a bottle or three of delicious wine.
With the myriad flavors on the holiday table, we’ve compiled a list of dozens of wines that will make this Thanksgiving epic. From bubbly to still, all of the hues and many of the world’s leading winemaking nations are represented here for drinkers of all budgets. Read on for the 30 best wines to drink this Thanksgiving.
Table of Contents
Best Red Wines for Thanksgiving
Robert Hall Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Soft, plush, deep, and affordable, file this under the crowd-pleasing section of your holiday wine offerings. It has oak but with good lift on the palate due to great natural acidity, making it a great pairing for proteins.
Average price: $20
Rating: 90
Louis M. Martini Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
This Napa Cab is jammy with firm tannins and holds a tie to American history, with the Martini family having played an integral part in the development of Napa wine. It has depth and some flecks of pepper, and promises to pair with dark meat.
Average price: $45
Rating: 90
Intrinsic Red Blend 2019
From Washington State, this juicy blend of Cabernet Franc and Malbec serves ripe berry aromas with some peppery notes. The palate is plush and balanced, allowing this great wine to hang all the way from appetizers to the main course.
Average price: $25
Rating: 89
Mezzacorona ‘Dinotte’ Red Blend 2019
This is a wine you buy a case of to pair with leftovers. It’s a punchy red with a smooth, soft palate. Abundant acidity pushes through the fruit ensuring it pairs well with anything from the table (piled into next-day sandwiches).
Average price: $10
Rating: 88
Hamacher Pinot Noir 2017
With tart cherries on the nose and crushed velvet on the palate, this wine hits just right for an American Pinot Noir. It is soft with a light-ish body and a slight grip. Sip this wine slowly, and let it open as you enjoy the food.
Average price: $60
Rating: 95
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico DOCG 2019
Whether you have sides of lasagna or bolognese with your turkey dinner (like in my family) or opt for the classics, this wine is made for food. It’s earthy and inviting, with a dense, heady nose and good natural acidity, so it won’t weigh you down. This is a cozy wine to saddle up and dig in with.
Average price: $27
Rating: 94
Donna Laura ‘Alteo’ Riserva 2019
Not all Chianti has to be Classico; there is a wide array of wines to explore from the region, like this bottle of all Sangiovese with classic cranberry and cherry aromas flecked with some pepper. It’s vibrant with medium depth, and you won’t believe how well it pairs with the dishes in front of you.
Average price: $17
Rating: 89
Rodei Tinto 2020
Let’s get a little playful. This affordable red is buoyant and fresh, with an herbaceous edge. Throw a few of these in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, and plop them on the table. It’s a great pairing for lighter dishes and veggie plates.
Average price: $10
Rating: 89
Cuvaison Merlot Arcilla 2019
We make great Merlot in the U.S. when we want to, and when we do, it should be celebrated. This is one such wine — the epitome of smoothness with a chewy center framed by subtle tannins. It will give life to saucy dishes and subtle proteins like lamb or chicken … and turkey, obvs.
Average price: $70
Rating: 96
Cedric Malbec 2020
Do you need to set it and forget it? Are you overwhelmed with the menu? Let this supple and earthy boxed Malbec with aromas of blueberries and citrus do the work. It’s medium-bodied, very balanced, and easygoing enough to please all palates.
Average price: $40
Rating: 89
Altocedro Malbec Reserva 2018
If a box is too big a commitment, then let this Malbec be your dinner companion. It is soft and earthy, with some cracked black pepper and juicy fruit notes. This is a special Malbec — it has such good balance and is easy to pair with food.
Average price: $30
Rating: 93
Michel Tete Domaine du Clos du Fief Juliénas ‘Tete de Cuvee’ 2019
There really isn’t a better international pairing for Thanksgiving food than Gamay from the Beaujolais region. It’s an earthy red wine with aromas of brambly fruit, freshly turned soil, and a brightness that amplifies the fruit and subtle tannins. Chill it a little bit, and you’re in for a treat.
Average price: $20
Rating: 95
Cattleya ‘Alma de Cattleya’ Pinot Noir 2019
A lighter, more floral Pinot is the way to go for some of the lighter dishes on the table. That floral note is supported by a slight tannic note and great natural acidity. It’s a very elegant wine and will pair well with white meat and roasted carrots.
Average price: $93
Rating: 93
Gagnon-Kennedy Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
This is an American Cabernet Sauvignon that defines the powerful elegance that made the world fall in love with Napa Cabs. With impeccable balance and tight fruit that unwinds in the glass, the wine shows minty pepper notes and the sweet kiss of oak on the finish. Sipping this wine is a joy, and your palate will thank you.
Average price: $150
Rating: 96
Massolino Dolcetto d’Alba 2021
Dark and concentrated fruit notes provide a soft palate in this red wine, while good natural acidity keeps things lifted. And that’s the way a Dolcetto should be. This is big food wine in the Piedmont region of Italy and it will be for you, too.
Average price: $14
Rating: 92
Foradori Teroldego 2020
Never tried Teroldego? Imagine Merlot with a little more pepper and lighter on its feet. It has bright cherry cola aromas, with very balanced fruit notes and a slight savory characteristic. This is a mountain wine, so the depth of fruit is wonderfully balanced by the natural acidity. It was made for food.
Average price: $24
Rating: 93
Best White Wines for Thanksgiving
Kokomo Winery Peters Vineyard Chardonnay 2019
Comforting and earthy is the vibe here, with some subtle herb-like characteristics balancing the nice mineral depth of the wine. The fruit has a nice weight while still feeling quenching. This Chard will pair so seamlessly with a holiday meal that it seems like its destiny.
Average price: $32
Rating: 93
Attems Pinot Grigio 2020
This is the Pinot Grigio you are looking for. It’s not all light and faint fruit. No, this bottle from Northern Italy (Friuli) has something to say. It has a grip and deep fruit with active acidity. This is a Grigio that will raise eyebrows and turn heads, and it’s extremely versatile for Turkey Day.
Average price: $16
Rating: 92
Tangent Pinot Gris 2021
The key to this Oregon Pinot Gris is its deep fruit character. The weight of this white wine will do particularly well with saucy fish dishes or white meat. It has a nice grip on the palate, ensuring it won’t get lost in the meal.
Average price: $17
Rating: 92
Pollak Vineyards Pinot Grigio 2021
The Pinot Grigio grape does amazing things in Virgina — especially with skilled hands making it. This wine is alive and vibrant, with bracing acidity and raspberry and waxy citrus peel notes all up in your senses. The sweetness is persistent but balanced by the brightness of the wine.
Average price: $25
Rating: 92
Stinson Vineyards 2021 Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Here is another grape emerging from Virginia, with a new unique style not found anywhere else. It has sweet aromas of peach (particularly the skin) and ripe melon, with a waxy vibe. This Sauvignon Blanc has the liveliest natural acidity, exciting the palate and easily pairing with stuffing.
Average price: $24
Rating: 92
Weingut Setzer Grüner Veltliner 2020
Grüner Veltliner might be the most crowd-pleasing white wine out there. It can age for, well, ages but can also be an everyday wine. This is an example of the latter, with lemony aromas, white pepper, big round fruit, and a burst of acidity. Everyone at the table will take a photo or save this wine in their Notes app.
Average price: $9
Rating: 88
Seghesio Family Vineyards Chardonnay 2020
Being a quintessentially American holiday, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without a classic, oaky California Chardonnay. This beauty goes minimal on fruit and big on upfront oak. The palate is creamy and deep, with old school feels but all-important modern balance.
Average price: $22
Rating: 90
Moreau-Naudet Premier Cru Forets 2020
How about a Chardonnay from where the grape was born? This is a big wine for Chablis, but everything falls into place. The nose is fat, with lemon curd and crème de menthe aromas. It has a soft weight to the palate, with just the right amount of natural acidity highlighting the deep fruit core.
Average price: $49
Rating: 94
Best Sparkling Wines for Thanksgiving
Champagne Lallier Grand Rosé NV
Whether at the beginning of the meal or after dessert, this rosé Champers has all the things you are looking for in a pink-hued bubby. It’s soft and creamy with a nose of fresh strawberries. The palate is alive with soft bubbles and round fruit.
Average price: $70
Rating: 92
Château de Bligny Blanc de Blancs NV
This bubbly will make you stop and check yourself to make sure you’re not sipping it too fast; It is so damn balanced and delicious. With some Meyer lemons and a hint of Tootsie Pop on the nose and nothing but focused crisp, round fruit on the palate, it’s refreshing and made for that cranberry sauce you’re loading on your plate.
Average price: 95
Rating: $52
Mumm Napa Brut Rosé NV
This pink American Sparkler is the one you buy a case of and pop bottles all day and into the evening. It is soft and round, with calm fruit and persistent bubbles. It’s casual and very balanced, pleasing all palate preferences. Whether pancakes or turkey and sweet potatoes, Mumm Napa Brut Rosé holds up.
Average price: $24
Rating: 90
Best Rosé and Orange Wines for Thanksgiving
Abacela Winery Grenache Rosé 2021
It just wouldn’t be right to omit rosé from your Turkey table — pink wine deserves year-round enjoyment. Keep it legit with this Oregonian Grenache rosé. It’s refreshing, has hints of grapefruit, and shows the lighter side of this grape.
Average price: $20
Rating: 90
Field Recording Skins 2020
This orange wine drinks like red wine. It has depth and tannins, but also an orange-creamsicle-without-the-cream vibe and a slight sherry note. With such great balance, Skins is a great intro to orange wine, and it’s so versatile from a pairing perspective.
Average price: $21
Rating: 92
Best Sweet Wines for Thanksgiving
Dutton Estate Winery Sweet Sisters Late Harvest Syrah 2017
Doing a cheese plate before or after dinner? Why not enjoy it with an American sweet wine? From Dutton Estate in Sonoma, this Syrah has a slight peppery note and great natural acidity. These characteristics balance its deep, sweet fruit notes, making it an ideal partner for some American artisanal cheeses.
Average price: $25
Rating: 93
Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port
If you wanna kick it back-in-the-day style for an after-dinner drink or cheese pairing, this 20-year-old Tawny port hits the spot. It has bright fruit, with some caramel and orange peel aromas. The palate is smooth, almondy, and ready for some stinky cheese.
Average price: $63
Rating: 90
FAQs
What is the most popular drink for Thanksgiving?
While there’s no one drink or alcoholic beverage associated with the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, one might assume that wine, beer, and whiskey — specifically bourbon — are all widely consumed on Thanksgiving.
How do you pick wine for Thanksgiving?
To pick an appropriate wine or wines for Thanksgiving, consider first the type of meal you’re having. Will your spread feature turkey as the star? Or perhaps something less traditional, like chicken or a pork loin. Will there be Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce? Once you have a sense of the menu, picking a crowd-pleasing versatile wine that goes with most things (think Pinot Noir or Chardonnay) is your best bet. You also might consider your own wine preferences or the wine preferences of your guests. If you don’t particularly love Pinot Noir, or you know Aunt Christine prefers white wine, opt instead for a dry Riesling or rosé, or even a sparkling wine.
What wine goes best with Thanksgiving turkey?
In most cases, you can’t go wrong with a Pinot Noir or a Chardonnay when you have a Thanksgiving turkey in mind. But there are plenty of options, as this list demonstrates, for wines that can pair wonderfully with turkey.
Is white or red wine better for Thanksgiving dinner?
Because of its cornucopia of flavors and sheer abundance of food, Thanksgiving is a good time to offer both white and red wine, as different styles of both can pair well with the many dishes offered on Thanksgiving.
VinePair’s tasting methodology
Throughout the year, VinePair conducts numerous tastings for our popular Buy This Booze column, and wine and spirits reviews. Our mission is to provide a clear, reliable source of information for drinkers, providing an overview applicable to day-to-day buying and drinking.
Tastings are not typically conducted blind. In alignment with our reviews mission, we believe in purposefully tasting all products as our readers typically would, with full knowledge of the producer, the region, and — importantly — the price.
For Buy This Booze roundups, we typically include a maximum of one expression per brand, though we do allow multiple products from the same production facility (i.e., released under different labels).
For this Thanksgiving wines roundup, we considered a number of different factors before finalizing the list. Overall, we aimed to highlight the range of great wines available that work well for this particular holiday and the foods traditionally served as part of the Thanksgiving meal. While many might limit their selection to just red or white wines, it’s important to us to include options in the rosé and orange wine categories, as well as sparkling wines and dessert wines, all of which have been tasted and scored over the course of this year.
