You have just over a week to get to the wine store to find the ‘perfect’ bottle for Thanksgiving. In the USA, more wine is sold around Thanksgiving than any other holiday. Choices can be overwhelming with so many wines at various prices and for bottles that need to please people with very different palates.
One additional challenge I often hear from my wine drinker friends is that wine compilations are often for wines that aren’t easy to find or for wines that are available on limited bases. The following recommendations are for easy-to-find American wines for Thanksgiving at various price points.
Sparkling Wines for Thanksgiving
Sparkling wine should be on hand for any celebration and Thanksgiving is no exception. Bubbly is food-friendly and it’s simply festive! Whether you pour a glass as an aperitif or pop open a bottle to pair with richer foods, don’t leave sparkling wine off your holiday table.
Gruet Winery Blanc de Noirs NV, New Mexico, $16.99
Chandon California Brut Sparkling Wine NV, $17.99
Mumm Napa Brut Rosé NV, $17.99
Decoy by Duckhorn Brut Cuvee Sparkling NV, $19.99
Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rose NV, $32.99
Sparkling Pointe Brut Seduction NV, $52.99
2010 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Cuvée, $88.99
Thanksgiving White Wines
Riesling, Viognier, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer are always top picks for Turkey Day with big flavors and great acidity that are a great match for white or dark meat and for the bold flavors of candied yams and spiced dressing. Here are 10 American white wines for Thanksgiving:
2015 Ravines Wine Cellars Dry Riesling, $19.99
2015 Red Newt Riesling Tango Oaks, $19.99
2016 Lenz Gewurztraminer, $20.99
2019 Stags Leap Viognier, $24.99
2020 Trisaetum Riesling Dry Coast Range, $26.99
2021 Pedernales Cellars Viognier Reserve, $42.99
2016 Grgich Hills Chardonnay, $43.99
2016 K Vintners Viognier Powerline, $49.99
2018 Ramey Chardonnay Rochioli Vineyard, $78.99
2018 Domaine Serene Chardonnay Evenstad Reserve, $64.99
Thanksgiving Red Wines
While Pinot Noir is THE go-to red varietal for Thanksgiving as it pairs well with most foods, the mighty Zinfandel with a touch of smokiness is also a great option especially for dark meat and meat stuffing. Here are 10 American red wines for Thanksgiving:
2019 Evolution Pinot Noir, $19.99
2019 Seghesio Zinfandel Sonoma, $19.99
2019 Turley Zinfandel Juvenile, $29.99
2019 Enroute Les Pommiers Pinot Noir, $32.99
2016 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir, 2016, $38.99
2015 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Russian River, $39.99
2017 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Russian River Valley, $39.99
2018 Penner Ash Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, $44.99
2019 Ridge Zinfandel Geyserville, $45.99
2017 Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast, $49.99
When you head off to the wine shop, plan on one bottle of wine per adult, with more just in case.
Cheers,
Veronique
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