Love it or hate it, Thanksgiving will be here before you know it. Family football games, Black Friday traditions – there’s a lot to love about this holiday, especially if you love what’s served at a typical Thanksgiving meal. But because there’s so much starchy goodness to go around and only a finite amount of room on your plate and in your stomach, there’s an art to how you choose to fill your plate: what you choose, portion size, what you allow to touch and what you absolutely have to keep separate (cranberries next to my mashed potatoes? No, thanks). No shortage of time goes into food-related considerations on Thanksgiving, but what often gets overlooked is the wine one chooses to pair with their dinner selections. Follow our advice, and you’ll be sure to nail the perfect wine and Thanksgiving dinner pairing.
Turkey Tom Meets Pinot Noir
It’s not rocket science as to why Thanksgiving turkey and Pinot Noir make a great team. Turkey is heavy, Pinot Noir is not. Plus, it pairs well with both dark and white meat, and most types of turkey prep. Plus, the acidity of a Pinot Noir really brings out the flavors in all your favorite side dishes.
Red, White and Stuffing
Just as there are many different ways to make this dish, there are also many different wines you can choose to pair with stuffing. If you go the oyster route, we suggest a light Chardonnay to wash it down. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong pairing stuffing with a Merlot or, there it is again, Pinot Noir.
Mashed and Smashed
No one wants to be the drunkest family member at the Thanksgiving party, but if it’s going to be you, then you might as well pile your plate high with mashed potatoes and get smashed on a nice Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc. And even if you’re more of the sweet potato type, these white wines will do the trick.
Have Your Dessert And Drink It, Too
Thanksgiving is for pies, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. If you’re still going strong by the time dessert is served, we recommend a sweet red port wine with pumpkin pie, a sweet Riesling with Apple Pie and a sweet sherry if pecan pie is your go-to fave. And if you are absolutely anti-pie, then we generally recommend a sweet red or Riesling.
There you have it! If you stick to our wine and Thanksgiving dish pairings, you’ll be sure to have a very delicious dinner and also quite a buzz. For more tips, weekly specials and upcoming events, be sure to like Brown Bag Liquor on Facebook and follow us on Instagram. Happy Thanksgiving!