Thanksgiving isn’t just about the food. Having great table wines at your Thanksgiving dinner can really make or break the experience. Here are our recommendations for different wines to pair with whichever main course you choose for your Thanksgiving dinner.
The Best Wines for Your Thanksgiving Table
Turkey Main Course
Galen Glen Stone Cellars Grüner Veltliner 2022 (Lehigh Valley, PA)
In my book, this is currently the best white wine being produced in Pennsylvania — and it makes sense given that Galen Glen has the oldest Grüner Veltliner vines east of the Mississippi. Crisp, peppery, and sharp with a spicy finish, this has all the makes of a perfect pair with your turkey in your Thanksgiving dinner. As a bonus, this is one of the best wines for veggie pairings, too, so don’t be shy and load up on that green bean casserole, too.
Oremus Mandolás Dry Furmint 2020 (Tokaji, Hungary)
These hand-picked Furmint grapes were harvested in a cool vintage. That gives this wine refreshing acidity and plenty of floral character to complement your roast poultry on this fine holiday. Due to some fermentation in new oak, there’s an added richness and depth that makes this wine sturdy enough for even more bold flavors at a Thanksgiving dinner, too.
Ham Main Course
Domaine de L’Olivette Bandol Rosé 2023 (Bandol, France)
Rosés from Bandol are richer and fuller than their counterparts found elsewhere in France, and their depth and structure make it a perfect match for your ham this holiday season. Enjoy the citrusy nose (think pink grapefruit) alongside floral and herbaceous aromas that are sure to delight.
Zuccardi Serie A Torrontés 2023 (Salta, Argentina)
An absolute bargain of a wine, this offers intense and complex aromatics that recall lemons, orange blossom, and peaches. It has a decidedly salty undertone that keeps things balanced and interesting. High acidity helps cut through the ham’s richness and helps accentuate the meat’s sweetness in a Thanksgiving dinner.
Roast Beef Main Course
Ventisquero ‘Grey’ Glacier Trinidad Vineyard Single Block Carménère 2021 (Maipo, Chile)
Another South American steal of a wine, this hearty red boasts notes of blackberry, black plum, smoke, and toasted oak to complement your roast beef. This grape also carries a hint of green vegetal notes, so your roasted vegetables from your Thanksgiving dinner will fit just as nicely with this powerful pairing.
Porseleinberg Syrah 2018 (Swartland, South Africa)
if this wine came from France, the price would easily be twice as high. The bargain is a reflection of the superb quality of this fine Syrah from South Africa’s warm, rugged Swartland region to the north of Cape Town. Loaded with aromas and flavors of smoked meat, black olive, and grilled peppers, it is the perfect match for your hearty roasted meats on the Thanksgiving dinner table. Even more, you’d be able to find a match with this and your favorite charcuterie.
Story by Adam Knoerzer / Photo by Asim D’Silva