Happy Thanksgiving everyone! It’s almost time to have all your favorite (or at least related) people around the table to dig into some delicious turkey and fixings. Wondering what wine you should drink with that? Have no fear, our guide to the Best Wines for Thanksgiving 2016 is here to help! To get started, let’s talk about what makes a good wine for Thanksgiving.
What Makes a Good Thanksgiving Wine?
- Lower alcohol – Below 14% – Keeps your guests happy, but not too happy…
- Approximately medium body – nothing extreme from a light or heavy perspective
- Good acidity – This helps keep the wine and the food working together, especially with the diversity of the Thanksgiving table
How many bottles should I buy for my party?
In order to figure out the number of bottles you’ll need, use the following formula:
# of Bottle for Holiday Party = (# of guests drinking wine x # hours for the party) ÷ 5
For example, a 5 guest party going for 4 hours would want to have 4 bottles of wine. If the party had 10 guests, you’d want to buy 8 bottles.
Finally, please remember to get your DD something nice, and drink responsibly!
First Pour Wine’s Best Wines For Thanksgiving 2016 (90+ out of 100)
Ramón Bilbao Albariño 2015 (92) – With shimmering acidity, a light body, and gorgeous tropical flavors, Ramón Bilbao Albariño stands out as a fantastic choice. Hints of lemongrass, orange zest, and minerality add depth and complexity.
Honoro Vera Rueda 2015 (90) – Honoro Vera’s been killing it, and their Rueda doesn’t disappoint. Fresh melon, pears, and apple are complimented by roses and jasmine. A bright and light body carry the flowers through. [For red lovers, consider their Garnacha (89) too!]
Great Choices (80+)
2015 Wagner Fathom 107 (89) – A mix of Riesling & Gewürztraminer, Wagner Fathom 107 drives flavors lemons, green apples, and apricots wrapped in honeysuckle. With a super bright body, and touches of citrus and minerality, it’s a great Thanksgiving choice.
Gabriel Meffree Côtes Du Rhône Saint Vincent 2014 (88) – Deep, dark, and brooding, this one is for the big red lovers. A mix of balsamic, jammy cherries, and black pepper pair up with notes of cigars and blackberries.
Yalumba Y Series Shiraz Viognier 2013 (88) – Another pairing for the deep, dark red lover. Yaluma Y Series Shiraz Viognier packs plenty of blackberries, blueberries, violets, and cloves into a bright and rugged red.
Carpineto Dogajolo Toscano 2014 (87) – Made up mostly of Sangiovese, it has a beautiful brightness to it. Thanks to the addition of Cabernet Sauvignon, it picked up some deeper dark fruit notes, like plum and blackberries. Notes of espresso and herbs round things out.
Lenotti Rosso Passo 2013 (87) – A half and half of Merlot and Sangiovese puts it in perfect position for matching the turkey and the sides. The body is soft and smooth, but still vibrant. Pops of plums, black cherries, sandalwood, and spice round out a wonderfully textured wine.
Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (86) – If your guests have to be green, than Sauvignon Blanc is a great choice. Even better when it’s organic Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc, which is bright and perky with plenty of lime, melon, and gooseberry.
Wagner Meritage 2012 (86) – While it’s something of a splurge at $25, this lean blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot is loaded with cloves, raspberries, cherries, and black pepper. Combined with the brightness, the tannins, and the weight, this wine will fit perfectly with the meal.
Trius Merlot 2013 (83) – Gentle and well structured, there’s a good balance of plum and cherry. Traditionally cool climate characteristics are in full effect here, and the acidity is great for food.
Long Neck Chenin Blanc 2015 (82) – Simple, bright, and loaded with apples, pears, and lemons, it’s completely inoffensive, and a nice choice at $6.
The Wines Are Alright (70+)
Underwood Pinot Noir (77) – Pinot Noir is always a great choice for Thanksgiving, but Underwood is just ok. Good flavors of cherries, currants, and spice come out with bits of earthy mushroom and floral potpourri. The body is slightly anemic.
Gewürz Gewürztraminer 2014 (75) – When it comes to Gewürztraminer being floral, there aren’t many more floral than Gewürz. Lychee leads it off, but then it takes a deep turn into the florist, and comes out like perfume. This one isn’t for everyone.
Parnell Estates Chardonnay 2012 (70) – Barely coming in above line, Parnell is loaded with smoke, toast, and vanilla. Mushrooms, monkey bread, and apples get into the act making this one pretty specialized, and not really a crowd pleaser. Might be fun if you’re enjoying a mushroom swiss cheeseburger.
But Wait! There’s More!
While it’s not strictly wine, Montezuma Winery Cranberry Bog is a brilliant choice for anyone that loves a crisp, refreshing, alcoholic glass of cranberry juice. It’d be fun in a Cosmo too!
If you happen to be traveling with wines this holiday, don’t forget to check out our review of wine skins. They’ll keep your wines safe! It’s also time to entertain. Just in time for the holidays, First Pour Wine is offering our beautiful wine charms made from repurposed wine corks. Check them out at Etsy!