Guide Note
The sheer variety of traditional Thanksgiving food presents a challenge to those wishing to select the right wine. One strategy is to keep both red and white wine on-hand/ According to some experts, it's best to stay away from delicate wines unable to compete with rich Thanksgiving foods.
Fast Facts
- Plan on having one bottle for every two wine drinkers
- Dessert wines are a good way to ease into pie
- There should be enough room in the fridge to properly chill white wine
Suggestions
Though wine pairing is never an exact science, some will pair more effectively with Autumn cuisine than others.
- Chardonnay: Fuller-bodied than most white wines, but mellower than most reds, Chardonnay can be a good match for turkey—a white meat with heft.
- Sparkling Wine: Light-bodied sparkling wines can cut through the richness of Thanksgiving cuisine to make a refreshing counterpoint.
- Syrah and Gewurztraminer: These wines, a zesty red and white respectively, usually have enough complexity to stand their ground with—and compliment—the range of flavors on the table.