Good guests bring a dish to a Thanksgiving dinner. Great guests bring a dish and a bottle of wine.
But with so many options on the Thanksgiving table, which bottle is best? We picked some reasonably priced options that go with the most classic of dishes.
And just in case you are tasked with only bringing a bottle, we have the ones that pair best with the star of the hour — roasted turkey.
Savory hors d’oeuvres
Chandon Blanc De Noirs; $22
This festive, salmon-colored bubbly pairs well with stuffed mushrooms or anything that incorporates salmon such as smoked salmon toasts or salmon mousse.
Roasted butternut squash
Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut; $19
Newton Red Label Cabernet Sauvignon; $19
The sparkling Brut helps balance richer side dishes like squash or mashed sweet potato. If you like a nice red, the Newton Red Label Cabernet Sauvignon ($22) is made in America (how apt!) and sports layers of plum, white chocolate, vanilla and anise aromas perfect for root dishes.
Cranberry sauce
Pierre Sparr Crémant d’Alsace Rosé; $18
Pair this Rose (made with 100 percent Pinot Noir) with any savory fruit side dish you make — you can’t go wrong with matching this with cranberry orange relish or a cranberry sauce with pecans.
Salad/green sides
Elena Walch Pinot Grigio 2012; $18
White wine often gets overlooked at the Thanksgiving feast for more robust red options. But this Pinot Grigio is an excellent aperitif wine — or pair it with a whole range of lighter side dishes such as green beans with sliced almonds or garlicky greens.
Cheesy mashed potatoes
Avignonesi Rosso di Montepulciano; $19
This super food-friendly red from Tuscany is a great choice for Thanksgiving thanks to it’s lively acidity, which makes it drinkable. The hints of musk, rosemary and peppery spice make this a dream wine for a hearty Thanksgiving meal. It matches well with rich, peppery gravy, any potato-based sides like slow-roasted or scalloped potatoes, or cheesy mashed potatoes. Feel free to match this with any balsamic roasted vegetables as well.
Ham
Apothic Dark; $14
The dark fruit flavors of this limited edition red blend includes blueberry and blackberry with notes of coffee and dark chocolate; it pairs well with the salty taste of a perfectly prepared ham.
Roasted Brussels sprouts
Trimbach Gewurztraminer 2011; $21
This is the perfect Thanksgiving wine for almost any dish on the table but it works particularly well with the turkey. The notes also pair nicely with roasted Brussels sprouts or roasted corn pudding with caramelized shallots.
Turkey time
Allegrini Valpolicella Classico 2011; $16
The easy drinking red wine from the northeastern region of the Veneto, in Italy, pairs well with just about anything on the table, from the white meat of the turkey to creamy mushrooms.
Strong cheeses
San Polo Brunello diMontalcino 2008; $80
This wine’s elegance and depth of flavor make it a wonderful pairing for the darker meats, richer dishes and anything with mushrooms or truffles in it. It also pairs wonderfully with any dish that incorporates aged or stronger flavored cheese.
With dessert or as dessert
Jaillance Clariette de Die;$16
Fresh, lightly fizzy and fruit-driven, this wine is a refreshing sipper after a rich meal. Enjoy it as a liquid dessert, or pair it with Thanksgiving staples such as pecan pie, sweet potato pie and apple tarts.
Still lost?
Woodbridge Pinot Noir; $15
This super accessible, easily paired holiday wine comes in a larger format bottle, to keep costs down and keep the holiday casual, without hopping up for wine openers and fussing with lots of bottles.
Outside the box
Rekorderlig cider
It seems crazy, but not everyone loves wine or beer. The Rekorderling Swedish Hard Cider is a refreshing, unique option. The pear option pairs well with most holiday dishes.
