Thanksgiving is one of the biggest food holidays of the year, but it’s also one of the biggest days for drinking. Whether you simply enjoy your green bean casserole with a cocktail in hand or need a drink (or three) to get through the holiday chaos, your Thanksgiving dinner will likely feature at least a few beverage pairings.
As much as we love a festive fall cocktail, like our apple cider margarita or pumpkin spice White Russian, wine is our go-to for our holiday table. Opening a bottle of wine is far less fussy than measuring and shaking cocktails to order. Williams Sonoma recommends buying at least one bottle of wine per person—so you can stock up on several options that everybody will love.
But what’s the right type of wine to pair with your Thanksgiving dinner? What bottles should you avoid? To make your decision much easier, we consulted sommeliers across the country to share their suggestions at every price point, as well as general advice to keep in mind while you’re shopping.
General Wine Advice for Thanksgiving
Regardless if your Thanksgiving menu veers more traditional or experimental, you're going to have a lot of distinct flavor combinations on your plate. The best way to avoid any unpleasant pairings is to buy wines that won't upstage your food.
"Wines that are lower in alcohol, with fresh bright acidity tend to work with more variety of dishes on your table. Younger wines are more apt to be characterized by these traits," says Torrey Grant, MS SCM and Adjunct Professor of Wine Appreciation at Syracuse University. "Unless you are in control of the table you may not know every dish that's going to land on it so the idea is versatility!"
It's also worth buying several different wine styles to suit your guests' palates. "Choosing wines for Thanksgiving can be a bit of a challenge, with so many different dishes and guests with varying tastes," adds Samantha Francis, Wine Club Manager and WSET Level-2 with Distinction at Estate Yountville. "To make sure everyone has something to enjoy, it's always a good idea to offer a variety of options."
When it comes to red, the best Thanksgiving wines are light to medium bodied that bring some brightness to the table. "Wines that are medium bodied and have good acidity tend to be more food-friendly, balancing the richness of dishes like turkey and gravy," says Salvatore Castano, sommelier at Friarwood Wines & Spirits. Varietals like Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Beaujolais are good starting points for your search.
You should also steer clear of any red wines with heavy tannins that will dominate your palate and wash out other flavors. The exception to this rule is if you're skipping turkey and instead cooking heartier dishes like prime rib or braised short ribs.
As for white, it's best to avoid bottles that have sweet or oaky notes. Because you can reasonably expect to find sweet sides on your menu—like cranberry sauce and sweet potato casserole—the added sugar from a sweet wine can taste cloying. "Unless specifically for dessert, very sweet wines might not pair well throughout the meal and could overshadow the natural flavors of the food," Castano says.
You can opt for bright and crisp whites like Sauvignon Blanc or richer Chardonnays (as long as they don't veer too oaky). When in doubt, ask your local wine purveyor for advice.
Thanksgiving Wine Recommendations
Sommeliers across the board agreed that the best wines for Thanksgiving are ones that you personally enjoy—your holiday, your rules. The bottles you buy depend on your menu, budget, and the inventory at wine stores near you. But if you're on the hunt for expert-approved bottle recommendation, look no further.
We've rounded up nine bottles recommended by sommeliers that span different regions, styles, and price points. No matter what kind of wine you want to feature at your Thanksgiving dinner, there's likely something here that you'll love.
As If "Gratitude" Pet-Nat
A bottle of sparkling wine is a great way to start a celebratory meal, and this bottle of Pet-Nat (a naturally sparkling wine) is especially versatile. "With 15 days of skin-contact, it’s like a mouthful of orange marmalade, baked peaches, pineapple, lime and florals, making it a great pairing with the cheese and charcuterie board plus various appetizers like cranberry brie bites and bacon-wrapped dates," says Doreen Winkler, sommelier, orange wine expert, and founder of Orange Glou.
Domaine Huet Petillant Vouvray
If you want your sparkling wine to taste more traditional, Marina Cook, Sommelier at Perle Wine Bar, recommends this option. "These wines are electric and bright, evoking the delightful scent of rain on hot rocks. It’s the perfect way to start the festivities and pairs beautifully with baked brie and roasted figs," she says.
Coppo Gavi La Rocca
If you're looking for a fresh and bright white wine, you can't go wrong with this bottle. "Italy is full of amazing white wines that many people never get around to in the U.S.," says Torrey Grant. "The La Rocca Gavi is 100% Cortese and delivers minerality, acidity and fresh peach and pear. It's one of my favorite white wines right now and will be on my table for sure."
Weingut Spreitzer Oestricher Lenchen Riesling Kabinett
If you're scared to see a Riesling on this list, don't be. While some bottles can veer very sweet, this off-dry German Riesling is a perfect pairing for a Thanksgiving meal. "Because there are sweet side dishes with this meal, I like to have an off-dry Riesling on the table," says Paul Sherman, Sommelier and Lead Instructor of Wine Studies at the Institute of Culinary Education’s Los Angeles campus.
Domaine Vacheron Sancerre
Higor Valle, Corporate Wine Director at Mr. Hospitality Miami, would pair an herb roasted turkey with a glass of this French Sancerre. "This wine is flinty, rich, herbal and incredibly delicious," he says. "Its minerality and smokiness complement the seasonings in roasted turkey beautifully, while its bounty of texture and acidity will cleanse your palate after each bite."
Sequoia Grove Napa Valley Chardonnay
Chardonnay is one of the most recommended types of wine for a Thanksgiving dinner because of its versatility, and this bottle from Napa is no exception. Salvatore Castano says that Sequoia Grove Chardonnay "offers a balanced profile with enough body to stand up to richer dishes and a crispness that can cut through fats."
M. Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage Petite Ruche
Ben Zuba, Wine Director at Rare Society, is featuring this Syrah as the restaurant's featured wine this holiday season because of its medium-bodied, savory flavor. "With aromas of smoke, grilled meat and peppercorn, it's the perfect complement to the full cornucopia of Thanksgiving flavors," he says.
Comando G, La Bruja de Rozas
This Spanish Garnacha is a new favorite for Laura Depasquale, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for Artisanal Wines at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. "It’s so easy to drink and surprisingly complex," she says. "I definitely suggest buying an extra bottle because this one falls into the “gulpable” category of deliciousness."
Outpost Howell Mountain Zinfandel
If you want something slightly fuller-bodied without being too overbearing, Samantha Francis suggests reaching for a bottle of California Zinfandel. "It's the perfect balance of bold and approachable, with rich, dark fruit flavors and a touch of spice," she says. "Unlike the heavier, tannin-rich Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel has a slightly lighter body and smoother finish."
Gabby Romero
Associate Editor
Expertise: TikTok Trends, Drinks, Pop Culture
Education: B.A. in Journalism and B.S. in Communications from NYU, Culinary Arts degree from The Institute of Culinary Education
About Me: As an associate editor at Delish, Gabby works on everything from features to recipes to content on our social media channels. Before joining the team, she wrote for StarChefs Rising Stars Magazine, Mashed, and Food52. When she’s not developing cocktail recipes, she’s making cocktail-inspired dishes like Dirty Martini Pasta and Aperol Spritz Trifle. Her features cover online trends like the Millennial Shopping Cart, rank everything from hard seltzers to frozen French fries, and answer some of your most pressing food safety questions. You can also find her posting content on Delish’s TikTok, including her about cooking like influencer Nara Smith that garnered over 3M combined views. She loves eating spicy food, collecting cookbooks, and adding a mountain of Parmesan to any dish she can.
