Thanksgiving Wines – Ideas for Your Table

Posted on November 14, 2021 by James Melendez

I have been wanting to do this for a long time–which is to give a larger list of suggested wines for Thanksgiving. The intent is that you do not need to buy all of the wines on this list (which is probably understood). When I use to give a smaller selection the wines people wanted get were not available or more difficult to find: hence a fuller list can help you have a wider net to find the wines for your Thanksgiving table.

This list has price points across the board so while some categories are a higher price point–my intention additionally is to pick wines at reasonable price price for the larger list. There are a few that might be expensive and adjust your selection accordingly to feels comfortable to you.

I do not just have one wine or style when I am preparing and serving Thanksgiving. I do think that at minimum I need sparkling, a white and a red wine. I do look an expansive diversity of wines. I am not a fan of Beaujolais Nouveau and I know some people must have it. I am, however, a huge fan of Beaujolais Cru wines and I always have it on my table. It also makes me think of every visit to Paris as I always have a Beaujolais Cru wine and it is always served in a tasting menu.

The diversity for my table is that I might not get a full glass but even a small taste which goes a long way. I do share my wines and I am careful to enjoy through the meal. I hope this helps you to hone in on what wines you will serve.

Wine ideas for your Thanksgiving – specific call outs of Cuvées below.

Champagne wines:

  • Champagne Waris Hubert Albescent Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut NV
  • Champagne Bruno Paillard Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV
  • Champagne André Jacquart Brut Experience NV
  • Champagne Charles Heidseick Blanc de Blancs  NV
  • Champagne Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Brut NV
  • Champagne Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blancs Brut NV
  • Champagne Guy Charlemagne Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut Reserve
  • Champagne Larmandier-Bernier Longitude Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Extra Brut NV
  • Champagne Pierre Peters Cuvée de Réserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru
  • Champagne Drappier Blanc de Blancs 
  • Champagne Lanson Extra Age Blanc de Blancs NV
  • Champagne Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs 2014

Foods Mentioned in Video as Items that I typically prepare:

I generally have prepared all of the Thanksgiving meals and I love to cook everything. My guests are always gracious and they volunteer to bring food and wine. I do make a decent turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing–and I insist on making each item. I do love this holiday and I love cooking–it gets me away from my computer or technology.

Here is a sampling of what I’ll prepare while I may not make everything in appetizer or first items list. I will always make every item in the second plates

Appetizers

  • Crab cakes
  • Carrots en Croute
  • Crab dip
  • Bacon wrapped dates
  • Smoked salmon dip
  • Baked clams

First plates:

  • Lobster bisque
  • Butter nut squash soup
  • Apple-Pear Salad

Second Plates:

  • Roasted turkey
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Turkey gravy / sherry mushroom gravy
  • Cranberry sauce
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Roasted carrot
  • Sweet potatoes
  • French bread stuffing

More Wine Suggestions:

Prosecco:

  • Le Colture Gerardo Valdobbiadene Prosecco superiore Rive di Santo Stefano Extra Brut NV
  • Nino Franco Vigneto della Riva di San Floriano Prosecco 
  • Nino Franco Primo Franco Prosecco Superiore DOCG 
  • Corvezzo Prosecco Extra Dry NV
  • Tenuta Sant’Anna Extra Dry Prosecco
  • Val d’Oca Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry ’18 
  • Val d’Oca Rive di San Pietro di Barbozza Prosecco Superiore 2018 
  • Villa Sandi Prosecco Il Fresco
  • Zardetto Prosecco Brut 

Trentodoc (Sparkling):

  • Ferrari Perlé
  • Altemasi Trentodoc Millesimato 2014
  • Revi Dossagio Zero Millesimato Trentodoc

Franciacorta (Sparkling):

  • Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Brut
  • Ferghettina Franciacorta Cuvée Brut

Alta Langa (Sparkling):

  • Bera Brut Alta Langa DOCG
  • Ettore Germano Alta Langa Brut

Cava (Sparkling):

  • Cava Grand Ducay Brut Nature NV 
  • Cava Mestres 1312 Cava Reserva Brut
  • Caves Roger Goulart Organic Cava Brut Reserva 2018

Chardonnay:

  • Louis Michel Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir ’18 
  • Chanson Premier Cru Chablis Montée de Tonnerre ’18 
  • Isabelle et Denis Pommier Chablis ’18
  • Albert Bichot Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes Chardonnay
  • Pio Cesare Piodelei Chardonnay Lange DOC 2017
  • Donnafugata Chiaranda Contessa Entellina DOC Chardonnay 2017
  • Ramey Ritchie Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay ’18
  • Smith Madrone Spring Mountain District Chardonnay ’17
  • Bouchaine Hyde Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay ’18 
  • Raeburn Russian River Valley Chardonnay ’20 – Value Price Point (under $20)
  • Bailey Family Willamette Valley Chardonnay ’17
  • Presqu’ile Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay

Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc):

  • J. de Villebois Sancerre 
  • Domaine Franck Millet Sancerre 
  • Domaine Andre Vatan Sancerre 

Vouvray (Chenin Blanc):

  • Champalou Vouvray
  • Marc Bredif Vouvray

Chenin Blanc:

  • Lievland Old Vine Paarl Chenin Blanc ’20 
  • Badenhorst Secateurs Chenin Blanc

Italian White Wines:

  • Terredora di Paolo Fiano di Avellino
  • Mastroberardino Radici Fiano di Avellin
  • Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina
  • Rocca del Principe Fiano di Avellino
  • Argiolas Is Argiolas Vermentino di Sardegna
  • Pala Stellato Vermentino
  • Toscolo Vernaccia di San Gimignano 
  • Alois Lageder Terra Alpina Pinot Bianco Vigneti delle Dolomiti 
  • Tiefenbrunner Alto Adige-Sudtirol Pinot Bianco
  • Suavia Monte Carbonare Soave Classico
  • Umani Ronchi Terre di Chieti Vellodoro Pecorino 
  • Livon Collio Manditocai Friulano ’19 

Pinot Blanc:

  • Trimbach Alsace Pinot Blanc
  • Wolfberger Pinot Blanc 2019 
  • Rebholz Im Sonnenschein Pinot Blanc Grosses Gewachs
  • Salwey Estate Baden Pinot Blanc

Riesling:

  • Smith-Madrone Spring Mountain District Riesling 
  • Richard Böcking Mosel Burberg Riesling
  • Prager Wachstum Bodenstein Smaragd Riesling 
  • Monchhof Mosel Slate Riesling Spatlese 
  • Rebholz Pfalz Dry Riesling

Pinot Noir:

  • Youngberg Hill Natasha Block McMinnville Pinot Noir
  • Lenné Willamette Valley Yamhill-Carlton Jill’s 115 Pinot Noir 
  • Gary Farrell Bien Nacido Vyd Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir ’16
  • August Kesseler The Daily August Rheingau Pinot Noir
  • Schäfer Rheinhessen Pinot Noir 
  • Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir
  • Greywacke Marlborough Pinot Noir
  • Domaine Carneros Famous Gate Pinot Noir
  • Hyde Carneros Pinot Noir
  • Bouchaine Estate Carneros Pinot Noir 
  • Penner-Ash Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2018  

Beaujolais (Gamay):

  • Duboeuf Fleurie Domaine des Quatre Vents 2019
  • Pavillon de Chavannes Cote de Brouilly Cuvee des Ambassades
  • Domaine Michel Tete Julienas Cuvee Tradition 2019
  • Domaine Desvignes Morgon Cote du Py 2019
  • Duboeuf Julienas Chateau des Capitans 2019
  • Domaine Jean-Claude Lapalu Brouilly Cuvee des Fous 2019
  • Mommessin Cote de Brouilly 2017
  • Alex Foillard Cote de Brouilly 2019
  • Chateau de la Chaize Brouilly 2017

Chianti Classico (Sangiovese)

  • Castello di Fonterutoli Vicoreggio 36 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
  • Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione ’17
  • Barone Ricasoli Roncicone Chianti Classico Gran Selezione ’16
  • Castello di Albola Santa Caterina Chianti Classico Gran Selezione ’15
  • Antinori Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2017
  • Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico Riserva 2015 Front Label
  • Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Margone 2015

Brunello di Montalcino (Sangiovese)

  • Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Margone 2015
  • Marchesato Degli Aleramici Brunello di Montalcino 
  • Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2016 Front Label
  • Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino 2013
  • Lisini Brunello di Montalcino 2016
  • Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2015
  • Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino 2016

Zinfandel

  • Turley Kirschenmann Lodi Zinfandel
  • Quivira Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel ’17
  • Ridge Pagani Ranch Zinfandel 2019
  • Hartford Russian River Old Vine Zinfandel 2019
  • Seghesio Rockpile Zinfandel 2019
  • Hendry Block 7 and 22 Zinfandel 2017
  • Easton Shenandoah Valley Zinfandel
  • Rombauer El Dorado Zinfandel 2018
  • A. Rafanelli Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2013

And for those who serve beer or lamb and need a heavy red:

  • Smith-Madrone Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ’18
  • Hawk & Horse Red Hills Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
  • Leonetti Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
  • Northstar Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
  • DeLille Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
  • Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
  • Château Fombrauge Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion 2019
  • Château La Marzelle Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion 2018
  • Château Margaux Prieure-Lichine 2016
  • Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac 2014
  • Donnafugata Mille e Una Note
  • Donnafugata Sul Vulcano Etna Rosso
  • Paitin Barbaresco Serraboella 2017
  • Giuseppe Cortese Rabaja Barbaresco 2014
  • Marchesi di Gresy Martinenga, Barbaresco
  • Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili 2017
  • Cascina Bruciata Barbaresco 2015
  • Pio Cesare Barolo 2017

And lastly if you have room for dessert – how about a dessert wine:

  • Donnafugata Passito di Pantalleria Ben Rye
  • Chateau Manos Cadillac ’16
  • Château Filhot Sauternes ’15
  • Castelnau de Suduirat Sauternes ’06
  • Le Colture Valdobbiadene DOCG Spumante Superiore di Cartizze
  • Champagne Laurent-Perrier Harmony Demi-Sec
  • Jean Vesselle Cuvee Friandise Demi-Sec Rosé
  • Hidalgo Villapanés Oloroso

I wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving ahead! I’d be curious to know what wines you have selected for your table–drop me a line. Thank you!

Santé,

James

© 2021 James Melendez / James the Wine Guy— All Rights Reserved – for my original content, drawings, art work, graphs, photographs, logo, brand name, rating, rating, taxonomy, graphic and award, my original art work and all designs of James the Wine Guy.  James the Wine Guy is also on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

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About James Melendez

I love wine. I am passionate about the subject as well as art, music, lyric writing and poetry, history, sciences, organization management, and making things less complex I have been a former national wine marketing manager for a large off-premise food and wine retailer (280+ retail locations in 30 US States); the love for wine taught me the good practice of using the best methodologies to right side a business which unto itself is complex. Further complexity is wine. Wine simple to enjoy and yet profoundly complex because of many factors: Many grape varieties States of wine: sparkling, still and fortified wines Vintage Blends Regions/AVAs/DOCs etc. Many producer styles Many producers Limited supply Limited and often restricted distribution My experience is still a lot of intimidation with respect to wine. Wine means many things to many people; status, fear, success, ‘you’ve arrived’, enjoyment, good times, tradition and even ceremony. I have consulted with wine producers and association. I have spoken on Wine and Social Media, Wine and Video and The Business of Wine in conferences in the United States and Europe. Beer and spirits do have the same dynamics–there are many producers but compared to wine there is no other consumer product like it. I have been writing about since November 2006 on my site and I have over 3,000 wine videos on my YouTube channel talking about general wine subject matter as well as specific educational topics on wine and reviews. I have been a wine judge and have traveled to many wine countries in the new and old world. Wine has taken me to great places. Life is tough for most of us and it is nice to celebrate life with those near and even far. What wine is really about is sitting around a table with family and friends raising your wine glass and saying—to life! I love to write about travel, food, technology and business–please subscribe! Santé, *** A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions around the world. Read more of my wine reviews:jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2022, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2010 James P. Melendez – All Rights Reserved.
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