Perfect Wine Pairings for Every Part of Your Thanksgiving Meal

The following post was written by Heinen’s wine expert, Ed Thompkins.

With everything that goes into planning and prepping the food for a traditional Thanksgiving feast, finding the perfect wines to pair with each portion of the meal may fall off the radar. Let us handle the thought work with this expertly curated lineup of crowd-pleasing wines that pair beautifully with the most common elements of a traditional Turkey Day dinner!

Wine Pairing for Savory Appetizers

Appetizers are an opportunity to ready the palate for the deliciousness to come. We love the light and refreshing contrast that crisp white wines offer savory appetizers. The Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc is a top-notch selection from New Zealand that’s also one of the best Sauvignon Blanc values on the market! It has pronounced notes of ripe citrus that lead to a mouthwatering finish.

Wine Pairing for Cheese and Charcuterie Boards

Cheese and charcuterie are the perfect partner for almost any wine, but at the holidays, Bubbles are best! The rich and creamy flavors and textures on the board beg for brightness that only a crisp bottle of Bubbles can provide. Our Vin Hunter Prosecco Rosé is back for a second holiday season, and it’s as delicious as it was in its debut year. You’ll be amazed by the bright cherry/berry notes packed in each bottle.

Wine Pairing for Sweet Side Dishes

Even the most skilled wine coinsurers struggle with sweet food pairings, as sweetness with the wrong wine can make the wine taste a bit bitter. To counter the sweetness, our choice is a classic German Riesling. The Dr. Loosen Dry Riesling has the perfect balance of ripe fruit and tart acidity. If you can imagine drinking the ripest, juiciest green apple, you can almost taste what this wine delivers!

Wine Pairing for Savory Side Dishes

Turkey’s best friends (mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, etc.) shine bright with a big, bold, buttery Chardonnay, and that’s exactly what Bread and Butter Chardonnay offers! This California dream has loads of peach, vanilla and butterscotch flavors that all Chardonnay fans love.

Wine Pairing for Turkey

When it comes to turkey, red wine is the way to go, and we have a couple of favorites! A light red and a full-bodied red work in beautiful harmony to compliment, but not overpower, the beloved flavors of a traditional Thanksgiving bird. There’s truly nothing better than Pinot Noir and turkey for the light red, so try Raeburn Russian River Pinot Noir. It delivers ripe raspberry and blackberry notes on a juicy and spicy frame. To push the envelope with a full-bodied red, opt for the Chateau Saint-Andre Corbin. This classic Bordeaux is from the St. Emilion region (where Merlot is king!), and it captures intense black fruit, plum and vanilla oak flavors that are nothing short of delicious!

Wine Pairing for Dessert
Picking wine for dessert shouldn’t be a conundrum. Or should it? Our top pairing for seasonal sweet treats is the Conundrum White Blend. This unique California blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion and Viognier is playful, exotic and utterly delicious! In our opinion, it’s the only way to earn a five star review on your full Thanksgiving feast.