Thanksgiving is one day of the year when many people, myself included, fully embrace indulgence, savoring every bite of the gravy-laden turkey, buttery stuffing, and candied sweet potatoes.

When it comes to pairing wine with these rich dishes, it’s best to opt for ones that are neither too heavy nor too light. Save the delicate wines for a different occasion, as they might get lost in the Thanksgiving feast, and avoid big, tannic, high-alcohol reds and buttery Chardonnays—the last thing you want is to get filled up with rich wines when you have all that food to get through!

Five Side Dishes To Give Thanks For

Below is an assortment of wines I've recently sampled that strike the perfect balance of fruit, acidity, structure, and alcohol, leaving your palate, sip after sip, ready for another indulgent bite of buttery mashed potatoes (find the potato recipe by clicking the above tab).

SPARKLING

Vassaltis Pét Nat. ($29)

Every occasion should start off with bubbles. This sparkling wine originates from Savatiano grapes grown on the Greek island of Santorini. It’s full-on ripe citrus fruits, stone fruits (pear, peach), rose petals, yeast, and honeyed notes. Unsurprisingly, there’s a bit of rocky minerality, thanks to the black volcanic soil that covers the island. A great apéritif!

Can’t find the Vassaltis in time for Thanksgiving? Check out these other delicious pét nat wines.

Leclerc Briant Réserve Brut ($60)

For those who want to indulge and drink a fine bubbly all meal long, this Champagne, a 40/40/20 blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay, couldn’t be a better choice. The fine and delicate bubbles bring notes of toast, green apple, and a delicate hint of floral aromas. On the palate, orange peel, apple, pear, and brioche. A real treat!

Two impressive sparkling wines from Northern Italy: Not Champagne, but crafted in the Classic Method, sure to impress.
Borgo Maragliano Cuvée Germana Beltrane Brut Nature ($68.99)
Monzio Compagnoni Franciacorta Brut 2019 ($26)

WHITES

Domaine Bersan Chablis 2019 ($25)

From the northernmost reaches of Bourgogne, Chablis stands out for its cool climate, producing Chardonnay with higher acidity and less fruitiness than those grown in warmer climates. This organic Chablis boasts a slightly creamy texture after eight months of aging on its lees, balancing the wine’s crisp acidity and mineral notes. Tastes of wildflowers, stone, green apple, and lemon will get your appetite going. Certified organic.

Other excellent Chablis:
Domaine Christian Moreau 2018 Vaillons Premier Cru Chablis ($50)
Domaine Laroche 2018 Vau de Vey Premier Cru Chablis ($55)
Louis Jadot 2016 Blanchot Grand Cru Chablis ($95).

Troon Vineyards Vermentino 2022 ($24)

This aromatic white wine from Oregon’s Applegate Valley is all about lemon-lime citrusy acidity and wet stone salinity. A great combination! It finishes with that classic Vermentino bitterness, helping to make it a great food wine. A thirst-quenching biodynamic white!

Other great Vermentino wines:
Château Maris Vermentino 2020 - southern Italy ($18)
Matthiasson Vermentino Cressida Vineyard Carneros 2022 - California ($35)
La Spinetta Toscana Vermentino 2022 - northern Italy ($22)
Surrau Vermentino di Gallura Limizzani 2022 - Sardinia, Italy ($18)

REDS

Domaine Ninot Rully Premier Cru Marissou 2021 Pinot Noir ($75)

Pinot Noir’s earthy, red fruit flavors and light structure make it a classic pairing with any feast, especially one with a roasted turkey. Domaine Ninot, located in Bourgogne, in the Rully appellation, produces wine that perfectly embodies this celebrated variety—elegant and finessed, with charming, bright red fruit. Certified Organic.

Other excellent Pinot Noir from around the world:
Ram’s Gate Carneros Pinot Noir 2019 - California ($85)
Ravines Wine Cellars Pinot Noir 2020 - Finger Lakes, New York ($34)
Franz Haas Pinot Nero 2020 - Italy ($26)
Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2019 - South Africa ($50)

Terre Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) Beaujolais L’Ancien 2021 ($20)

Beaujolais, made from the Gamay grape, is an excellent choice for Thanksgiving with its vibrant notes of raspberry, tart cherry, and cranberry that will complement the multiple flavors of the feast. Its subtle nuances of mushroom, forest floor, and a hint of smoke, crisp acidity, and low tannins create a versatile pairing for the Thanksgiving table. This Beaujolais by Terre Dorées, crafted from older vines and farmed organically, boasts ripe berry fruits complemented by refreshing acidity, with a long finish of red fruit flavors. A crowd-pleasing Beaujolais!

More perfect-for-Thanksgiving Beaujolais:
Jean Foillard Beaujolais-Villages 2021 ($27)
Dominique Piron Beaujolais Village 2021 ($16)
Jean-Claude Lapalu Beaujolais-Villages ‘Vieilles Vignes’ 2021 ($24)
Domaine Mont Bessay ‘En Bessay’ 2021 ($50)

Planeta Frappato 2021 ($25)

The Frappato grape is an offspring of Sangiovese and is mostly grown in Sicily's Vittoria area, close to the sea amid the typical red sands. Here, the grape expresses itself delicately, with a softness on the palate and aromatic notes of rose petals, elderflower, and strawberries. Planeta’s Frappato offers a good textural structure and a subtle earthiness (tobacco leaf and forest floor) to counterpoint its juicy fruitiness. Consider it a delicious all-day holiday sipper with its low ABV of 12.5%. Certified organic.

More fabulous Frappato:
Ariana Occhipinti Frappato ($42)
Azienda Agricola COS Frappato($27)
Valle dell’Acate Frappato ($22)
Firriato Soria Frappato ($15)

Fontodi Chianti Classico Filetta di Lamole 2020 ($38)

Sangiovese from Tuscany’s historic Chianti Classico appellation makes a fine addition to any holiday table due to its bracing acidity and tart red fruit profile. Opt for the youngest rendition of Chianti Classico, the 'annata' wines, to experience the freshest, least structured style. This wine from the famous Fontodi estate (producers of the cult Flaccianella wine) has zingy acidity, wonderful black and red berry flavors, and fine, powdery tannins.

Other notable Chianti Classico wines:
Volpaia Chianti Classico 2020 ($25)
Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico 2020 ($19)
I Fabbri di Susanna Grassi Chianti Classico 2019 ($40)
Querciabella Chianti Classico 2019 ($35)
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico 2020 ($27)
Riecine Chianti Classico 2021 ($38)

Jean-Luc Colombo Les Abeilles Côtes du Rhône 2021 ($17)

With their rich fruit flavors, subtle spiciness, and velvety texture, Côtes du Rhône red wines are a solid choice for the Thanksgiving table. This medium-bodied Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre (GSM) blend offers plum and cherry fruit, hints of tobacco and licorice, and chalky tannins—all wrapped in a pleasingly bracing acidity. An ideal Thanksgiving pairing!

Other recommended Côtes du Rhône:
Château du Trignon Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu ($22)
Château de Saing Cosme Côtes du Rhône Les Deux Albion 2017 ($27)
Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel 2016 ($29)