Thanksgiving may be one of the most difficult meals of the year when it comes to choosing wine.Think about everything that ends up on one plate: turkey, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, green beans, mashed potatoes and whatever other dishes your family insists absolutely must be on the table.There isn't one flavor profile to match. There are dozens.The good news is that you don't have to choose just one wine.Pinot NoirPinot Noir is a Thanksgiving classic for good reason. It's generally lighter-bodied than Cabernet Sauvignon and works beautifully with turkey without overpowering it. Its bright acidity also helps balance richer dishes like gravy and stuffing.If you're serving both white and dark meat, Pinot Noir is an especially versatile option to have on the table.RieslingRiesling is a great Thanksgiving wine because it can handle some of the sweeter and more intensely flavored foods on the plate.A dry or off-dry Riesling can pair particularly well with turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and dishes that include a little spice. Its acidity also helps cut through some of the heavier elements of the meal.ChardonnayFor Chardonnay drinkers, Thanksgiving is a great excuse to open a bottle.A Chardonnay with good acidity can complement turkey, mashed potatoes, creamy casseroles and buttery side dishes. If your Thanksgiving menu leans heavily into rich, savory flavors, Chardonnay can be an easy crowd-pleaser.BeaujolaisBeaujolais, particularly Cru Beaujolais, is another excellent option for a Thanksgiving table. Made from Gamay, these wines tend to offer bright fruit, refreshing acidity and relatively moderate tannins.That combination makes Beaujolais easy to pair with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and many of the vegetable dishes traditionally served alongside them.Sparkling WineDon't save the bubbles for dessert or a toast.Champagne and other sparkling wines are incredibly food-friendly. Their acidity and effervescence work well with salty appetizers, fried foods, creamy dishes and turkey, making sparkling wine an excellent choice from the beginning of Thanksgiving dinner through the main course.And there is absolutely nothing wrong with opening several different bottles.Thanksgiving is about gathering around a table, sharing food and spending time with the people you care about. Wine fits naturally into that experience.If you've been saving something special in your collection, Thanksgiving might be the perfect reason to finally bring it out of storage.And if Thanksgiving reminds you just how many bottles are still waiting for their turn, Del Rey Wine Center offers dedicated wine storage in Los Angeles with year-round temperature and humidity control, 24/7 member access and professional receiving for incoming wine shipments.After all, there's always another holiday coming.
