Drink Up!
Thanksgiving is about gratitude and appreciation for those we care most about, both living and deceased, and for the freedom we share. Though some other countries celebrate a “harvest holiday” with a similar name, the American version of Thanksgiving is historically unique. Most recall the story of Pilgrims and Native Americans sitting down to celebrate the harvest. According to the journals of William Bradford, the first governor of the Plymouth Colony, the first Thanksgiving celebration occurred in the fall of 1621. However, it was more of a dinner with prayers, bonfires, and gunshots to ward off the Native Americans in the area than what many of us envisioned in elementary school. A peace treaty with the Wampanoag people and the shared harvest celebrations started a few years later. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November to be Thanksgiving to heal hurts from the Civil War. In 1941, FDR changed the date to the fourth Thursday.
The most common question I hear around this time is: “What should I serve with Thanksgiving dinner?” Though families enjoy a variety of foods, I’ve based recommendations in this article on the traditional Thanksgiving menu: turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes and/or mashed potatoes, cranberries, and pie. Here are my top 10 Thanksgiving wine recommendations for 2025, starting with white wines.
Chardonnay is a classic pairing for a Thanksgiving meal. From appetizers to main course to dessert, this varietal will be a welcome addition to your table. My first recommendation is the Ersol Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, a product of Joel Gott Vineyards in California. In Latin, “ersol” means air and sun, paying tribute to two of the environmental influences of the region. The winemaker hand-selects the best grapes from the vineyard to make this elegant, well-balanced dry white wine. The aroma and flavor notes feature pear, roasted hazelnuts, and baking spices. This wine is aged in 30% new French oak barrels and 70% one to two-year-old French barrels, so the oak and buttery notes that American Chardonnay is famous for are notably lighter in this wine.
Another excellent white wine in this varietal is the Le Grand Cheneau Mâcon-Verzé Chardonnay from Burgundy, France. This is made from 100% Chardonnay that has been fermented at very cool temperatures in stainless-steel tanks, which enhances the pure Chardonnay character. The result is a crisp, light, fresh Chardonnay with notes of green apple and citrus fruit with a dry finish that lingers on the palate. If you have not experienced a Chardonnay from Burgundy, let this outstanding and reasonably priced option be your introduction.
My next recommendation for Thanksgiving is from Alentejo in southeastern Portugal. The Mainova Moinante Branco Curtimenta is a natural, minimal intervention skin-contact dry white wine blend of indigenous grapes of the region. The aroma is orange blossom, white peaches, pears, and citrus, with flavors of ripe peach and hints of tropical fruits such as papaya and guava. If well-made natural wines are as interesting to you as they are to me, this would make an awesome complement to your meal.
The Clara Stella Cappella Sant’Andrea Vernaccia di San Gimignano from Italy is my last white wine recommendation for this holiday. The fruit flavors of pear and green apple are delicate with hints of almonds. The stony, slightly saline minerality gives this varietal elegance. The winemaker named this wine Clara Stella after his daughter, Clara. In Italian, “stella” means star. Thanksgiving is about family; Try this and see why the winemaker dedicated this wine to his child.
The adage, “red wine with red meats and white wines with fish and white meats,” is not always true. Turkey is a very rich, relatively low-fat meat, so many low-tannin and medium- or light-bodied red wines with higher acidity pair very well. My first red wine recommendation comes from the Campo de Borja region of Spain. The Bodegas Santo Cristo Seleccion Garnacha is a light to medium-bodied, dry, old-vine red wine with smooth, light tannins and a medium acidity that pairs perfectly with turkey and all the sides. The fruit flavors are plums and berries with notes of herbs, such as sage and thyme, and a minerality that comes from the red stone soil of the region.
Pinot Noir is a classic red wine pairing for Thanksgiving. I have three wines in this varietal from three different wine regions. The Willamette Valley of Oregon has become world-renowned for this noble grape. The Pinot Noir wines there have the classic old-world flavors that wines from Burgundy have, but with a new-world freshness. Try the L’Umami NW Wine Company Pinot Noir. This is a dry, earthy red with flavors of ripe red cherries and notes of fresh mushrooms, black pepper, and smoke. The relatively high acidity makes it a perfect pairing for your turkey dinner.
From the Russian River Valley of Sonoma, California, I suggest the Balletto Russian River Pinot Noir. Balletto is a family-owned winery, and John Balletto has created a very serious Pinot Noir that overdelivers. This wine is aged for 10 months in French oak barrels (32% new), imparting a touch of oak to complement the ripe fruit flavors and the earthy notes that Pinot Noir enthusiasts crave.
My final Pinot Noir recommendation comes from the birthplace of the varietal: Burgundy, France. Domaine Jessiaume Bourgogne Rouge is a quintessential French Pinot Noir. Although this wine is slightly more expensive, it is well worth it. The best words to describe this wine are old-world elegance with the perfect balance of fruit and earthiness.
My last recommendation is the other classic red pairing for your turkey dinner: Gamay. This dry, fresh, light to medium-bodied wine has the fruit flavors of pomegranate, cranberry, and blackberry with a beautiful earthiness. I have two recommendations in this varietal: L’Ancien Terres Dorees Beaujolais Vieilles Vignes and the Terres Dorees Morgon. Morgon is a cru appellation in Beaujolais. The classic flavor notes and high acidity of these wines will earn a place of honor at your Thanksgiving table.
I am grateful to you all for taking the time to read these wine articles; it is truly my pleasure to write them. Don’t hesitate to contact me at dsetley@passionvines.com with any questions. Until next time, Happy Thanksgiving and happy wining!
