Thank Turkey It's Wine Day: Pairings for Your Holiday Table
Holiday wine woes got you down? Pairing wines with your Thanksgiving feast shouldn't be any more difficult than finding a small bowl for the can-shaped cranberry sauce your aunt brought for the table. In that spirit, we here at DRW pulled together a list of both classic and adventurous pairing ideas for your holiday celebrations. It's a cheat sheet for all of your festive wine needs, so why not double down and grab a bottle of each.
Pro-tip: open all of the wines at the start of the meal and let your guests pour at their own pace.
The Classic Table
Lúuma 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Yorkville Highlands - Buy It!
Sometimes you need a white wine to last the whole meal, from when folks first arrive until the last guest gets up from the table. Sauvignon Blanc is truly that wine, and the 2019 Lúuma really hits with bright citrus notes and medium texture that can handle everything from dips to stuffing, even the turkey itself.
Adventure Time
Johan Vineyards 2019 Grüner Veltliner - Buy It!
Grüner Veltliner hails from Austria where there's no Thanksgiving holiday, but don't let that stop you from opening this Oregon Grüner at the start of the meal. It's bright and fresh, perfect to kick things off but also just so delicious that you'll want to just keep drinking it throughout the meal.
The Classic Table
Pax 2019 Gamay Noir Sonoma Coast - Buy It!
Gamay is like the Meryl Streep of Thanksgiving wine pairings, it will steal the show and probably be nominated for an Oscar. Pax's version leans into the structure and complexity typical of far Sonoma Coast vineyards, yet feels friendly and warm in the glass, something to energize your palate between bites.
Adventure Time
Sandlands 2015 Trousseau - Buy It!
Now here's a pretty thing: a red wine with structure and depth that feels quite light in its shoes. There's plenty of red fruit, herbaceous undertones and a zippy, refreshing quality to satisfy everyone at the table. Trousseau-who?
The Classic Table
Savage Grace 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon 'Red Willow' - Buy It!
There's something about holiday feasts that calls for a luscious Cabernet Sauvignon. We're jazzed by the silky tannin, bold currant and tobacco flavors found in the 2015 Red Willow from Savage Grace. It's a showstopper.
Adventure Time
Iruai 2020 Cabernet Franc 'Tierra Extraña' - Buy It!
When it comes to a full-bodied red wine, why should Cabernet Sauvignon get all the glory? Iruai's Cabernet Franc combines juicy dark fruit, earthy tannin and feisty acidity that will stand up to dark meat, stuffing *and* all the fixings.