Best White Wines for Thanksgiving Dinner

best white wine for thanksgivingChoosing wine for a Thanksgiving dinner is one of the most challenging tasks. However, with so many distinct flavors on the menu, deciding which wines to pair with all the classic foods may be easier to handle with some direction.  

To begin, ask yourself, " Which wines complement the range of tastes, textures, flavors, and aromas that emerge on Thanksgiving Day?", "Can one wine take you from appetizers to sweets, or should you choose many wines to complement the different dishes?". The decision is yours, but we recommend some classic white wine pairings to get you started.

Versatile Thanksgiving Wines

Turkey, mashed potatoes, herb-filled stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pecan pie are traditional Thanksgiving food items. If you don’t want to find specific wines,  sparkling wine and Champagne are great solutions that pair exceptionally well with Thanksgiving dinners since they add elegance to any meal. 

In addition, they shine on Thanksgiving dinner tables since they have a good amount of acidity while also providing a festive touch to the meal.

If you’re serving appetizers, regional sparkling wines are a great option. They pair well with fried or salty foods and compliment turkey and dressing. Regional sparkling wine's crisp effervescence helps to break through the thick layers of many bold, rich desserts. 

Best White Wines for Thanksgiving Dinner

1. Riesling

This white wine can be dry or sweet, and it pairs well with spicy, salty, or sweet dishes. Riesling wines, whether from Alsace, Germany, or Washington, are a favorite choice for Thanksgiving dinner. Riesling's natural apple, apricot, and honey tastes, as well as its clarifying acidity, offer it a strong pairing advantage with sweet potatoes, turkey, and spiced or herb-filled stuffing.

2. Sauvignon Blanc

With its lemony flavor and herbal or mineral undertones, this crisp white is an excellent match with turkey and mashed potatoes. Because of its higher acidity, this wine is perfect for any Thanksgiving dish.

3. Pinot Grigio

Pinot Gris is one of the most versatile wines for pairing with Thanksgiving food as it typically has lots of fruit, bright acidity, and very low tannins. This white wine is natural for the demands of Thanksgiving Day, capable of managing garlic and onions, herbs, and rich, delicious, high-fat foods. 

4. Gewürztraminer

This white wine is surprisingly great Thanksgiving wine and pairs well with both turkey and gravy, bringing out the best in both. With aromatic gusto and spicy palate appeal, this delicious wine is also a great wine pairing with duck and sweet cranberry sauce.

Thanksgiving is the biggest food holiday of the year, and its variety of dishes should be paired with wine at the table. Metro Wines offers a wide selection of wines focusing on pairing just the right wine with any dish or holiday event. Visit our website to browse our selection in the comfort of your own home, or stop by our Asheville shop and get expert advice from one of our team members.