I am by no means an oenophile, but I do enjoy a good glass of wine, particularly when it is properly paired with a meal. When it comes to Thanksgiving wine pairings, I’ll be honest, I can be a bit clueless.
Chardonnay and Pinot noir are old standbys, but I took a trip to my local Trader Joe’s to ask for some holiday wine pairing suggestions and got some great advice to share with you.
Click through to learn about Thanksgiving wine parings and see today’s #blogsgivingdinner menu!
If you are in charge of bringing wine for Thanksgiving, you first should find out how the turkey will be prepared. Armed with that knowledge, you can head to your local Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods or wine shop. Where ever you go, make sure the staff is knowledgeable about wine to help you make an informed decision. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or recommendations. I headed to Trader Joe’s because the staff is helpful and their wine selection falls within my budget.
For a traditional Thanksgiving feast with a baked or brined turkey, a wine with slight bit of sweetness was recommended.
I scoffed at the idea because I’m not a fan of sweet wines. but I picked up a bottle of riesling to try. Rieslings vary in sweetness, so you want to find one that is not overwhelmingly sweet.
Much to my surprise, I found Ulrich Langguth Riesling (left), $6.99, fruity and refreshing. This easy drinking wine will be perfect from beginning to end of the Thanksgiving feast. Another easy drinking wine to checkout is Lacheteau Vouvray, $6.99. It too can be sweet like a riesling, but with the proper bottle, it will be a Thanksgiving hit.
If your bird is smoked or deep fried, try a pinot noir.
A rich turkey needs a wine that can lighten up a heavy meal and a fresh, fruity pinot noir can do just that.
I picked up a bottle of Trader Joe’s reserve pinot noir, $6.99, and I found that it paired perfectly with rich, heavy meals. Castle Rock pinot noir, $7.99, was also recommended for Thanksgiving.
If your turkey is on the sweeter side, a sauvignon blanc is the perfect pairing.
Sauvignon blanc has citrus flavors with earthy undertones, making it perfect to cut through an orange-glazed turkey or cranberry relish. I was a big fan of the above Vin de Bordeaux Sauvignon de Seguin, $6.99. You could also checkout the Saint-Bris Sauvignon Blanc, $9.99.
These wine pairings are just suggestions, be sure to drink what you enjoy on Thanksgiving. Have fun with your wine and don’t worry about making a mistake, someone will drink it!
Don’t miss today’s #blogsgivingdinner recipes for entrees, salads and side dishes.
Salads
Pomegranate & Goat Cheese Salad from Feast + West
Persimmon & Pear Salad from Wit Wisdom and Food
Roasted Butternut Squash & Gorgonzola Salad from Hello Little Home
Entrees
The Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey from My Cooking Spot
Roasted Turducken from The Speckled Palate
Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Orange-Cranberry Reduction from Home at Six
Beer Brined Turkey with Bacon Gravy from Cake ‘n’ Knife
Smoked Mushroom Steaks with Herbed Bread Crumbs (Vegan) from Betty Becca
Side Dish
Turkey, Apple & Sweet Potato Pot Pies from Love & Flour
Creamy Pumpkin Apple Pasta from My Cooking Spot
Mushroom Spinach Farro from Think Fruitful
Bacon and Cornbread Stuffing from Chez CateyLou
Sweet Potato Crunch from I Cook. I Eat. It’s Life.
Blue Cheese & Bacon Mashed Potatoes from A Savory Feast
Sausage Stuffing from the Wetherills Say I Do
Butternut Squash Grits from Homespun Seasonal Living
Wine
Thanksgiving Wine Pairings from Twin Stripe
Don’t forget to follow along on social media with the hashtag #blogsgivingdinner.
Hope you join us!