Turkey Day Survivor’s Guide: Wine

Customer Question: 

With Turkey Day fast approaching, we’re answering the question that many folks have this time of year: what kind of wine should I serve?

Luckily, when it comes to pairing food and wine on the big day, it’s pretty hard to go wrong. You can serve one type of wine for the whole feast, or leave it up to guests to personalize their picks according to their favorite dishes—whether it’s the ever-so-generously buttered mashed potatoes, the sumptuous stuffing or the juicy bird itself. Whichever approach you decide to take, we’ve got you covered.

Each of these wines will amp up everything on your Thanksgiving table. (Only dessert has a hands-down winner.) Look for the dish you keep on craving to see which bottle to plunk between you and the closest relative.

Zinfandel

Pairs with: Cranberry Sauce

Calling all cranberry sauce lovers. Like cranberry sauce, Zinfandel is tart and sweet, and its spice brings extra life to the party.

Dry Riesling

Pairs with: Sweet Potatoes

Do you head straight for the sweet potatoes? Then make a beeline for a Riesling and its crisp autumn flavor.

Pinot Noir

Pairs with: Turkey

If you’re all about the bird, pour a glass of Pinot. Its berry flavor gets on famously with light meat, and its earthiness cozies up to dark meat.

Chardonnay

Pairs with: Mashed Potatoes

A buttery tower of spuds yearns for a Chardonnay. Oaky Chards are like an extra drizzle of butter, while light, fresh Chards leave you with room for seconds.

Gewürztraminer

Pairs with: Pumpkin Pie

If the best comes last for you, the choice is simple. Have some Gewürztraminer with that pumpkin pie. It’s like dessert in a glass.

Petite Sirah

Pairs with: Stuffing Is stuffing the centerpiece of your feast? Petite Sirah is for you. Its spice makes oh-so-nice with your family’s secret recipe.