The Ultimate Guide to Turkey and Wine Pairings

Putting together a great wine lineup for your Thanksgiving dinner is about thinking—without overthinking. Not just casually guessing, but also not getting uptight and stressing. With a little knowledge, it should be fun to plan your wine for Thanksgiving dinner because turkey is one of those foods that goes well with so many wines. Its mild flavor dances with and shows off the wine instead of overpowering it. Likewise, the right wines will cut through the richness of the meal while turning up the volume on all the foods’ flavors—and your guests’ feeling of togetherness.

Our first and perhaps obvious tip is to choose a wine that goes really well with turkey, not only because the bird is the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinner but also because it’s notorious for needing a little boost in the flavor and moisture department. Our second tip: Give your guests an assortment of wines to choose from, knowing that the side dishes are where everyone gets nostalgic, opinionated, and obsessed. They’ll be getting seconds of their favorite sides, and it’s nice to be able to shift gears with a fresh wine for round two. Or three.

Welcome to La Crema’s Turkey and Wine Pairing Guide! We’ll walk you through choosing the best wines for Thanksgiving dinner, from general pairing principles to turkey-related tips to specific wine recommendations. For more holiday wine insights to elevate the season, check out La Crema’s Wine 101. Now let’s dive into which wines go with turkey.

Quick Turkey and Wine Pairing Facts

Here are the key starting points:

• All wine categories are welcome: White, red, rosé, and sparkling are all on the table, so to speak. But within each of those broad types, some selections are better with turkey dinner than others.
• Cooking style matters: The way your turkey is prepared can influence your wine choice.
• Versatile pairings: We’ll tell you up front that Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are safe bets to enhance any style of turkey and also complement the side dishes.

Understanding the Flavor Profile of Turkey

The white meat from the breast is leaner and has a subtle, delicate flavor that’s slightly sweet. It can be prone to dryness if overcooked but is a good vehicle for gravies and sauces. The dark meat from the thighs and legs is more flavorful, with a slightly higher fat content, denser texture, and a more savory taste. There is another factor to think about when figuring out what wine goes with turkey: How you prepare your turkey—roasting, smoking, or frying—will determine its overall taste. Traditional roasting yields milder flavors and relies on herbs, rubs, butter and gravy to bring liveliness. Smoking adds an earthy, robust, and (of course) smokey character. Frying introduces a crispy skin, moister meat, and deeper flavors, but keep in mind that it’s a potentially dangerous method that should be undertaken with caution and expertise.

General Wine Pairing Principles

Before we get into our specific recommendations for the best wines with turkey, let’s review a few pairing principles:

• Match the weight: “Weight” is how heavy, full, medium-bodied or light a wine feels in your mouth. A heavy red wine is not the best choice with a lighter meat like turkey.
• Match the intensity: Is the food concentrated and strong in flavor or more subtle? The flavor intensity of the wine and food should be at a similar level.
• Match the main flavors: Pair wines with foods that have similar aromatic compounds. Wines with herbal notes go well with dishes made with herbs. Wines with creamy notes can marry well with buttery foods. An earthy Pinot Noir complements the turkey’s dark meat portions.
• Or… contrast flavors: Remember that a higher-acid wine can deliciously cut through rich foods. A fruit-forward wine with berry astringency can wake up and balance out mellow, savory flavors—just like cranberry sauce enhances turkey. Whether you’re matching or contrasting flavors, or you find a wine that does both, the key is to be intentional about it

The Best Wine Pairings with Turkey

Here are our recommendations for the best wines to pair with your Thanksgiving dinner. We took into consideration red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines for a diverse selection. Explore our list, consider your turkey cooking style, and go shopping!

Chardonnay

Chardonnay’s richness and subtle oak complement the round flavors of the turkey, and its supple body can help balance out any dryness in the meat, especially if the turkey is roasted. This wine’s versatility makes it a favorite for Thanksgiving because it will also go nicely with mashed potatoes and buttered green beans. La Crema’s Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is a crowd-pleaser, or choose from our diverse Chardonnay collection for bottles that lean zesty, bright, or elegant.

Sauvignon Blanc

This wine’s crisp acidity and herbal notes make it a natural pairing with green salad, citrus-glazed carrots, and herb-infused stuffing. Sauvignon Blanc is also ideal for anyone who craves a refreshing glass—like a life preserver tossed into the decadence of gravy-smothered turkey. Check out our Sauvignon Blanc.

Pinot Noir

With its light body and fruit-forward yet earthy profile, Pinot Noir has long been considered one of the best wines with turkey because it enhances the bird’s flavors without overwhelming them. Pinot brings the substantial profile of a dark red to the table but has a lower tannin content, flattering the umami notes of gravy, wild mushrooms, and stuffing. Discover the La Crema  Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and explore our complete Pinot Noir selection.

Beaujolais

A contender for the best wine for Thanksgiving, and traditionally released in November in France, Beaujolais’s fresh and uplifting energy matches the lighter weight of turkey. Its radiant fruit notes add piquancy to the meal just like cranberry sauce does—but without the controversy of homemade vs canned. Classically made with the Gamay grape, our Pinot Noir-based homage is a highly festive choice that is practically made for turkey dinner. Discover La Crema’s carbonic-macerated Beaujolais Nouveau and see this year’s label design.

Rosé 

If you put your Rosé away once the hot weather faded, it might be time to bring it back out. Rosé’s balance of acid, fruit and floral tones make this wine so versatile it won’t hit a wrong note with anything on your Thanksgiving table. Check out La Crema’s Monterey Pinot Noir Rosé and our Rosé collection.

Sparkling 

Welcome your guests with a glass of sparkling and don’t be surprised if they return to it throughout dinner and dessert. The effervescence and acidity of sparkling wine cleanses the palate and elevates every bite. Explore La Crema’s Blanc de Blancs and more sparkling wines.

Pairing Wine with Different Turkey Preparations

Here is some wine guidance based on how you’re cooking the turkey:

• Roasted Turkey Pairings: Opt for Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, whose opulence will combat dryness with classic flavors that complement a classic preparation. Or, go with Beaujolais for a fresh and festive alternative.
• Smoked Turkey Pairings: Try a bold Zinfandel to meet the smoked meat’s robust flavors, or a crisp and zesty Sauvignon Blanc as a striking counterpoint.
• Fried Turkey Pairings: A sparkling wine, rosé, or Riesling can cut through the richness of deep frying and refresh the palate.
• Herb-Crusted Turkey Pairings: Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are the natural choices for a turkey crisply coated in rosemary, thyme, sage, and parsley.

Wine Pairing Tips for Thanksgiving and More Holiday Dinners

Once you’ve selected wines to bring out the best in your main course, think one more time about your side dishes and desserts: Do you need a couple more options to ensure everyone will find something they enjoy? Alright, now on to serving. You can offer a variety of wines without becoming a frantic host; if your Thanksgiving meal is presented in the typical buffet style, consider likewise creating a drinks side table to hold all your wines and libations. Put Chardonnay, rosé, Riesling, and sparkling wines in ice buckets if possible. Provide Burgundy glasses (shaped for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) for versatility, since all the wines we’ve mentioned will show quite well in them, even sparkling. For a welcoming touch, place an open bottle of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the center of your dining table to be passed back and forth. For detailed tips on serving temperatures visit La Crema’s guide on wine serving temperature.

Make Every Turkey Dinner Unforgettable with La Crema

To recap, keep your Thanksgiving wines light and juicy with a good dose of acidity. If you’re looking for a conversation starter, share a fun tidbit you learned about turkey pairings with the person across from you. Enjoy experimenting during the meal and really pause to taste how various wines go with different dishes. After all, wine pairing isn’t meant to live in the theoretical realm—it comes alive at your table, just like relationships with friends and family. Happy holidays. We wish you a moist and delicious turkey, your personal favorite side dishes, and wines that exceed your expectations.