Turkey is a breeze to pair with wine; both the lean white meat portions of the turkey and the rich dark meat portions have a handful of excellent and affordable options. However, the hard part of this pairing is everything surrounding the turkey. Traditionally, Thanksgiving meals place lean white meat, rich dark meat, tart cranberry sauce, savory stuffing, and sweet potatoes all on the same plate - and that severely complicates things, because the wine needs to complement all of those competing flavors and textures. With that in mind, the best Thanksgiving wines generally are not the most impressive bottles you can find, but rather the most flexible and food-friendly.
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Quick Answer
The best wines for turkey are fruit-forward, food-friendly wines with decent acidity and moderate tannic profiles. These wines include Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, Zinfandel, off-dry Riesling, lightly oaked Chardonnay, dry rosé, and sparkling wine. Pinot Noir is the single most reliable red for turkey and Thanksgiving feasts in general, while Riesling is the most reliable white wine for turkey. Avoid big, tannic reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, which can overpower the turkey and that will dry out lean white meat on the palate.
Why Turkey Pairing is Really About the Whole Table
A roast turkey on its own is fairly mild and generally easy to pair. Again, it's lean white meat and moderately rich dark meat, both of which have excellent, by-the-book pairing options. However, no one is eating turkey on its own at Thanksgiving, and a single plate might hold any combination (or all!) of the following:
- Lean, delicate white meat
- Richer, more flavorful dark meat
- Sweet or tart cranberry sauce
- Savory stuffing, potentially with meat and herbs
- Buttery mashed potatoes, potentially with garlic
- Rich gravy
- Sweet potatoes, potentially with sweet ingredients like marshmallows and brown sugar
- Squash
A wine that works with all of that needs three qualities:
- Bright Acidity: To cut through the gravy, butter, and richness, acidity is a must, or the wine will be overpowered and taste flat.
- Ripe Fruit: To hold up against the cranberry sauce and sweet sides, ripe fruit notes are a must-have.
- Moderate Tannins: Tannins are needed so that the wine doesn't overwhelm the white meat or clash with tart cranberries. However, if the tannins are too copious, the wine risks overpowering the turkey, as mentioned above.
That combination of qualities is best found in wines like Pinot Noir and Riesling. They are basically made for tables that include lots of competing dishes, such as a Thanksgiving feast.
The Best Red Wines for Turkey
- Pinot Noir: Pinot Noir is the classic Thanksgiving red wine for a reason - it works. Pinot Noir is a light-to-medium bodied red wine with bright red fruit notes, subtle earthy undertones, and gentle tannins that complement both white and dark meat. It's also a natural match for mushroom stuffing and most cranberry sauce recipes. Oregon Pinot Noir, especially, is popular for Thanksgiving, though Burgundy and California bottles both work beautifully as well.
- Zinfandel: For a thoroughly all-American holiday, an all-American grape. Zinfandel's ripe berry fruit and warm spice notes stand up deliciously to cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and dark meat. Choose a Zinfandel with moderate alcohol, since very high-alcohol Zinfandels can feel heavy with a big meal.
- Beaujolais: Juicy, fruit-forward, low in tannins, and a generally low price tag. Beaujolais is one of the easiest wines to love at a big family meal such as Thanksgiving. There's also a fun tradition here: Beaujolais Nouveau is released on the third Thursday of November, typically about a week before Thanksgiving. For a more serious bottle, look for a Cru Beaujolais such as Morgon, Fleurie, or Moulin-à-Vent.
- Grenache and Côtes du Rhône: Fruity, soft, and gently spiced, Grenache-based wines are both flexible and affordable, and pair deliciously with herb-roasted turkey and stuffing.
The Best White Wines for Turkey
- Riesling: Riesling is perhaps the most versatile white wine for Thanksgiving. A dry or off-dry Riesling has bright acidity for richer foods and lots of fruit notes that pair deliciously with cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes. Off-dry Riesling styles are especially good if you are serving a menu that includes sweeter sides.
- Chardonnay, Lightly Oaked: A lightly oaked chardonnay has enough body for turkey, gravy, and mashed potatoes, and complements most of the usual Thanksgiving sides. Reach for bottles described as balanced or lightly oaked rather than the big, buttery styles of Chardonnay, which can feel heavy against a plate full of Thanksgiving fare.
- Chenin Blanc: Bright, honeyed, and thoroughly food-friendly, Chenin Blanc is generally a safe choice for most Thanksgiving tables. Reach for a Vouvray from France's Loire Valley, as it pairs deliciously with harvest vegetables and turkey.
- Gewürztraminer: Aromatic and a little spicy, this wine is a strong choice if your menu is heavy on warm spices, sweet potatoes, or squash.
Rosé and Sparkling Wine
- Dry Rosé: Rosé wine combines the acidity of white wine with the red fruit notes of red wine, and this combination makes rosé wine one of the most flexible choices for any holiday table. Additionally, it's a delicious choice if your guests are split between red wine and white wine drinkers, and you don't feel like opening multiple bottles.
- Sparkling Wine: Often overlooked as a pairing option, sparkling wines such as prosecco, cava, champagne, and crémant are delicious served alongside a Thanksgiving feast, and not just for the toast. The bubbles and acidity work to cleanse the palate between bites, and these wines are generally delicious with most Thanksgiving sides. Sparkling rosé, in particular, is great with turkey and cranberry sauce.
Pairings by Turkey Preparation
With all of that said, take note of how you prepare your turkey, as this can shift the pairing strategy slightly. Here's how and why:
- Classic Roast Turkey with Herbs: Reach for a pinot noir, lightly oaked chardonnay, or a dry rosé.
- Brined Turkey: Brining adds salt and moisture. That means you want a fruit-forward, low-tannin wine such as Beaujolais, Riesling, or Pinot Noir.
- Smoked Turkey: Smoked foods, turkey included, require wines with a bit more fruit and a bit more body. If you've smoked your turkey, opt for a Grenache, Zinfandel, or a ripe Pinot Noir.
- Deep-Fried Turkey: Rich, crisp, and salty, a deep-fried turkey is a perfect match for a sparkling wine. Riesling can also work deliciously.
- Turkey Breast Only: If serving only white meat, opt for a light wine, such as Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, or rosé.
- Turkey with Rich Gravy and Mushroom Stuffing: Pinot Noir is your best bet if serving a turkey with a rich gravy and a side of mushroom stuffing.
Pairing Around the Toughest Sides
As mentioned earlier, the sides are generally what can make pairing turkey and wine difficult. With that in mind, here are my pairing suggestions for the trickiest sides:
- Cranberry Sauce: The tartness inherent to cranberry sauce can make tannic, or overly dry wines taste harsh. Fruit-forward wines like Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Beaujolais, and off-dry Riesling are often the best choices alongside cranberry sauce.
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows: Sweetness can make dry wines taste thin or even sour. Off-dry Riesling or Gewürztraminer are wines that handle sweetness deliciously.
- Green Bean Casserole: Creamy and savory, green bean casserole pairs particularly well with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
- Stuffing: A stuffing that's heavy on herbs loves Pinot Noir, Grenache, and Chardonnay. Sausage stuffing or mushroom stuffing is best paired alongside Zinfandel.
Wines to Avoid
- Big, Tannic Red Wines: Bordeaux, Barolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and other heavily structured red wines can overwhelm turkey and will make the meat seem dry. These wines also have a tendency to clash with cranberry sauce.
- Heavily oaked, buttery Chardonnay: These wines can feel heavy and cloying alongside a plate of rich food, or alongside a plate that has a lot of sides.
- High-Alcohol Wines: Wines that are over 15% ABV should be avoided on Thanksgiving, as they can feel hot over the course of a long holiday meal, and have a tendency to exhaust the palate.
- Very lean, bone-dry white wines: A light Pinot Grigio will virtually disappear on the palate against rich gravy, stuffing, and sweet sides. Avoid these types of wines entirely on Thanksgiving.
Planning Wines for a Thanksgiving Crowd
- Offer a Red and a White: Offering a Pinot Noir and a Riesling covers nearly every guest's preference, and assures a decent pairing for almost any combination of Thanksgiving recipes.
- Buy the Case: Yes, buy the case. Many wine shops offer a discount on mixed cases, which is ideal if you're having a particularly large gathering.
- Estimate Quantities: My advice is to plan for roughly half a bottle per wine-drinker, with a little more to account for toasts and wasted or spilled glasses.
- Don't Overspend: Thanksgiving is about flexibility, not prestige. Most of the best turkey wines are widely available in the 12-to-25-dollar range, with especially good, affordable options including Beaujolais, Côtes du Rhône, Riesling, and Cava.
- Serve at the Right Temperature: Rosé, white wines, and sparkling wines should all be served well chilled. Give Pinot Noir and Beaujolais about 20 minutes in the fridge before serving so that they are slightly chilled, or around 55-60 degrees F.
Bottom Line
The best wines for turkey are flexible, fruit-forward, and feature bright acidity. Pinot Noir is the most reliable red wine for turkey, while Riesling is the most reliable white wine. Other great options include Beaujolais, Zinfandel, lightly oaked Chardonnay, dry rosé, and sparkling wines such as prosecco, cava, and champagne. Skip big tannic red wines, and instead reach for wines that work with the entire Thanksgiving feast, as opposed to just the turkey.
Planning the rest of your Thanksgiving feast? See our guide on How Long to Cook a Turkey Per Pound, as well as our guide on whether you Can You Make Stuffing a Day Ahead of Time, and How Much Turkey to Cook Per Person.
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