12 Top Thanksgiving Wines
By Amy Russell | November 2011
What goes well with turkey and the variety of dishes that abound at Thanksgiving? With so many people, palates and flavors in tow, it can be a challenge to pair the perfect wine. Wine connoisseurs say find wines that don't overwhelm, but complement the delicious fare. With red wines, that means choosing a variety with tame tannins, and with white wines, a balanced acidity.
Here are 12 terrific choices recommended by local experts, all for under $20.
Perfectly Versatile Reds
$15 2009 Bogel Pinot Noir
Food-friendly consumer favorite scattered with sweet wild strawberries, rustic mint and hints of baking spices. Bright berry and cola follows, surrounded by hints of tea leaves and lavender. Super elegant finish.
**Available: Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits
$10 2007 Guenoc Zinfandel
Concentrated fruit with black pepper, black raspberry and cassis-like aromas, and flavors of black cherry, caramel and oak in the finish. Pinot noirs and zinfandels are perfect choices for Thanksgiving.
**Available: Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits
$12 2009 Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages
Slightly spicy with a touch of grey pepper, licorice and rose flower. Well-balanced with a nice acidity and tannins presence on the finish.
**Available: Fish Paws, Bin201
$14 2009 Aquinas Pinot Noir 2009 – California
Plump with a soft texture, notes of cherry vanilla and strawberry; a great value.
**Available: Bin201, Wine Cellars of Annapolis
$15 2009 Annabella Pinot Noir Special Selection
Complex aromas of ripe Bing cherries, toasted oak and truffles. The palate is bursting with juicy raspberries, cherries and a touch of cinnamon spice on a silky finish.
**Available: Wine Cellars of Annapolis
$16 2009 Sivas-Sonoma Old Vine Zinfandel
Bolder, fuller-bodied, more flavorful red. Fresh, plump, mouth-filling and juicy with lots of plum fruit flavors, low acidity and soft tannins.
**Available at Bin201 Wine Cellars of Annapolis
Food-friendly Whites
$12 Alsace Willm Pinot Blanc
Filled with notes of white flowers, apples and pears, nice minerals. A crisp acidity on the finish, not sweet but not bone dry. Wonderfully versatile.
**Available: Bin201
$13 2010 Lander Jenkins Spirit Hawk Chardonnay
Perfect for Thanksgiving’s buttery dishes. A sustainably-produced wine that drinks well above its price point with lots of pineapple flavor.
**Available at Bin201
$14 2009 Airlie 7
Blend of seven varietals: Müller Thurgau, Riesling, pinot gris, gewürztraminer, chardonnay, pinot blanc and Auxerrois, Soft, fruity and extremely versatile, it’s like your Thanksgiving spread - bring great friends together, let their best qualities shine and celebrate the mix.
**Available at Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits
$15 2010 Acrobat Pinot Gris by King Estate
Equally crisp and refreshing. All sorts of delicious flavors, like Mandarin orange, lemon, kiwi, pear and spice. Approachable and very turkey-friendly.
**Available at Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits
$20 2008-2010 Elena Walch Gewurztraminer
A gewurztraminer is a solid choice for a varied food spread. This one is teeming with finesse; spicy and persistent on the finish and full-flavored.
**Available at Fish Paws
$20 2008 Domaine de la Collonge Gilles Noblet Pouilly-Loche
Loaded with aromas of crisp apples, ripe pear and quince, along with a luscious mouth feel and lingering hints of exotic spice and a creamy finish. Truly a grand wine.
**Available at Wine Cellars of Annapolis
BONUS: Totally Different, Equally Good
$14 2010 Saint Andre’ de Figuiere Magali Cuvee
Bone dry, offering flavors of ruby grapefruit, wild strawberries and watermelon. Fresh and crisp on the palate.
**Available: Wine Cellars of Annapolis
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