Thanksgiving with Decoy Wines: Pumpkin Ravioli & Goat Cheese Phyllo Bites

^{Thank you Decoy for sponsoring this post. Complete your own Thanksgiving tablescape with Decoy Wines this holiday season. Please enjoy responsibly.}

This Thanksgiving, we're reimagining the holiday table with a few seasonal favorites that blend comfort with sophistication. Our menu begins with Pumpkin Ravioli in Orange & Sage Butter Sauce, continues with Goat Cheese & Cranberry Phyllo Bites, and pairs beautifully with Decoy Wines for a warm, approachable celebration of fall flavors.

Change, as I've learned, can be the most delicious ingredient in tradition - especially when it leads to a new favorite like this pumpkin ravioli recipe, inspired by my family's original homemade pasta.

Read on for the full printable recipe, ingredient overview, and recipe notes. Let's get cooking!

The Perfect Ravioli

Sometimes what we perceive as 'perfect' is simply what we have become 'accustomed' to, or what we regard subconsciously as 'pleasant enough.' Add on fond memories, a touch of 'good old times syndrome,' and suddenly the 'strife' or 'unpleasantness' of coming up with something new and better simply doesn't appear to be worth the trouble. The adage, "why fix what isn't broken?" comes to mind.

To that point, I recall a professor of mine remarking, and I paraphrase from memory, that "If mankind were offered perfection, the whole of humanity would be united for a brief instant behind a single cause - to escape and destroy their collective perfection. The evolution of life, at its core," he continued, "is the constant overcoming, and adapting to, the strife that is inherent in an ever-changing planet. Unchanging perfection, therefore, invariably destroys itself via a slow descent into decay. Change cannot be escaped."

Now, why am I talking about this? Because I myself had a brush with 'change' recently, and the 'change' involved what I had considered to be my 'perfect' ravioli recipe.

To begin, my standard ravioli recipe is, of course, my mother's, and has more fond memories attached to it than I can possibly recount. Growing up, we had two types of ravioli, sweet and spicy, both of which were basically the same batch of ingredients, but with one having a dash of sugar and orange zest, and the other a generous helping of red pepper and, if we were feeling particularly adventurous, some diced friggitello with the seeds left in. Nevertheless, the base recipe remained the same, and is the one that I have, invariably, prepared over the years.

These 'perfect' ravioli could be served at virtually any large family gathering, but especially during the holidays. Naturally, when we were coming up with today's Thanksgiving spread, my daughter suggested that we do something a little different for the holiday, and her idea was a 'Thanksgiving-themed' ravioli, and that brings us to today's core recipe Pumpkin Ravioli with Orange and Sage Sauce.

Ingredient Checklist and Notes for Pumpkin Ravioli

• All-purpose flour
• Eggs
• Water
• Olive oil
• Pumpkin puree
• Parmesan Cheese
• Garlic
• Salt
• Pepper
• Ground nutmeg
• Italian Parsley
• Orange zest
• Butter
• Walnuts
• Fresh sage

Key Ingredients

• Fresh sage, butter, and orange zest for a bright, aromatic sauce
• Pumpkin and ricotta filling with parmesan and nutmeg
• Walnuts for texture and warmth

Serving Tips

Lightly pan-fry your ravioli in the butter sauce for 2 minutes per side until golden brown. Serve immediately with a sprinkle of parmesan and a glass of Decoy Red.

A Bite Sized Delight

A holiday starter that combines tangy goat cheese with sweet cranberry sauce and crisp phyllo shells is just what your Thanksgiving menu needs. These bites look elegant but come together effortlessly.

Key Ingredients:

• Goat cheese
• Fresh sage
• Salt
• Pepper
• Heavy cream
• Fresh cranberries
• Sugar
• Water
• Orange peel

Recipe Tips

• Goat Cheese and Cream Cheese: Opt for just goat cheese if you want the full tang. If you happen not to like goat cheese, cream cheese has a milder profile and mellows the tang.
• Homemade Cranberry Sauce: If you ever have the option, homemade is always the way to go. Our cranberry-orange sauce adds so much brightness to these bite-sized cups. The fresh cranberries and orange slices create a natural jammy glaze.
• Add Texture: Candied pecans add a little extra sweetness to balance the tartness of the cheese and cranberries, but they also add extra crunch.
• Keep It Crispy: Speaking of crunch, keep filo shells crisp by filling just before serving.

🥂 A Toast to Change and to Thanksgiving Traditions Reimagined

Naturally, this 'Perfectly Autumn' spread almost demands that you find your perfect wine pairing, and a particular label came to mind almost immediately, and if you're a regular here you'll likely recognize them from last month's Beef Bourgeon- Decoy by Duckhorn.

As I've said many times before in my wine reviews and pairings, the 'perfect pairing' is one that elevates and complements the occasion and the meal, rather than overpower or dominate it, and that's precisely what we're looking to do here today.

The Wines

• Decoy Sonoma County Red Wine is a merlot led blend of zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah, and petit verdot. The wine introduces itself with toasted oak dominated aromatics laced with blackberry and cherry essences, with hints of cassis deeper into the glass. On the palate, the profile is a patchwork of ripe dark fruits, laced in spiced caramel, which are carried on lush tannins, ending off on a pleasantly textured, lasting finish.
• Decoy Pinot Noir greets with currant and ripe cherry essences, set against a backdrop of what I'll describe either as earthy dried leaves or antique cedar. It's a surprisingly, and pleasantly, clashing aromatic profile. On the palate, blackberry and red fruit essences dominate, tempered by a notable acidity, and a very pleasantly textured finish.

Wine Tip: When pairing for Thanksgiving, choose wines that complement rather than compete - ones that elevate your meal's natural warmth and spice.

Thanksgiving Pairing Notes

• Decoy Sonoma County Red Wine: For pairing, the phrase that comes to mind on sampling this is 'easy drinking' - even though I honestly hate that phrase, but it nevertheless is an apt description. Herbal notes will excellently complement the oak notes in the wine's aromatics, while deep, savory, and substantial dishes will pair well with the dark fruit flavors off the palate. In other words, think herbed roasts, pasta entrees, or even a decent burger. The herbal butter and citrus zest in our Pumpkin Ravioli bring out the wine's richness and earthy undertones.
• Decoy Pinot Noir: While the textbook pinot noir pairings, such as braised duck, fatty fish, or game fowl would serve excellently, I personally think that this particular bottle is all but pleading to paired with savory, substantial starters - simply because of how 'accessible' or 'easy' this particular wine feels and tastes on drinking. Cured meats, caponata on crusty bread, or Goat Cheese & Cranberry Filo Bites, where the creamy filling and bright cranberries mirror the wine's acidity and depth.
• Finish with Dessert: A light Caramel Pumpkin Flan or Basque Apple Tart complements either wine perfectly.

Hosting Tip: Serve wines slightly below room temperature (around 60°F for reds) to highlight their fruit-forward notes.

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Thanksgiving is a celebration of warmth, gratitude, and sharing something special. Whether it's the familiar comfort of pumpkin or the elegance of a Decoy pour, this menu brings together flavor, family, and a touch of something new.

From our kitchen to yours, we wish you all a blessed holiday season!