Thanksgiving Wine Guide

Posted November 17, 2022

Wondering what wines to serve with your turkey dinner? Here are some Thanksgiving wine suggestions that work with a traditional menu as well as options for ham and roast beef!

The Sparklers

The fine bubbly bite of a great sparkling wine makes any event more lively and special. Serve a flute or two as a starter as guests are arriving — or at the table; they’re wonderful companions for food. If you’re serving a sparkling wine with dinner, be sure it is labeled brut or extra dry.

The Whites

Though the standby white wine for many is Chardonnay, generally, the oakiness and intensity of most Chardonnays is not ideal for the Thanksgiving feast. Consider instead:

Sauvignon Blanc: Light and crisp, with grassy or herbaceous flavors. Higher acidity.
Riesling: Can be dry or sweet; spicy, fruity flavor with touches of peaches or apricots.
Gewurztraminer: Can be dry or sweet. The German word gewurtz means “spiced.” These wines are highly aromatic with floral touches and spice notes such as cloves or nutmeg.
Chenin Blanc: Spicy and slightly sweet with high acidity.

The Reds

Yes, you can serve red wine with turkey breast. In fact, it is a red wine that has long been the classic choice for Thanksgiving because its light berry brightness contrasts well with the heartiness of the traditional menu.

Pinot Noir: Younger wines are fruity with essence of plums, strawberries, cherries, and raspberries. Older wines have a smoky edge to them.
Beaujolais: Light and dry with fresh, fruity flavors. Choose more recent vintages; slightly chilled.
Syrah: Strong spice and black pepper qualities. Older syrahs are fruitier, with some smokiness. Also called Shiraz if it comes from Australia.
Zinfandel: Lots of intense, plummy, jammy flavors with spicy or peppery notes.

Between Red and White

Rosé: Crisp, light, and fruity, this lovely light pink wine might be just the thing to serve with a hearty meal. Serve it chilled.

With Ham

Ham, with its sweet-and-salty richness, pairs best with wines that have a touch of sweetness, plenty of acidity and bold fruit. Great ham-wines include Riesling, Moscato, Chenin Blanc, Rosé, Lambrusco, Grenache, and Zinfandel.

With Beef

Roast Beef pairs best with tannic red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Malbec and Bordeaux Blends.

Thanksgiving wine with Dessert

Port: Sweet, fairly heavy fortified wine. Younger ports are fruitier. Older ports are less sweet, tawny in color, and have a nuttier flavor from longer aging in wood.
Riesling or Gewurztraminer: Choose sweeter incarnations if you served them with dinner. Or break out a new bottle with the pumpkin pie.
Asti Spumante: A sweet or semisweet sparkling wine from Italy. Serve it well chilled.

Stop by and ask us to help you with your Thanksgiving wine pairing. New Castle Liquors is located in the New Castle Plaza, near Alpine Bank, just off I-70 exit 105. Our normal hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. We will be closed Thanksgiving Day so that our team can enjoy the holiday with family and friends.