What Is The Best Wine With Turkey
Im often asked this question as well as, Is there really a wine style or a few wine styles that taste better than others with turkey?
The truth is, if youre serving a seasoned and well-cooked bird, any wine you might want to serve is going to be a fine choice with roast or even fried turkey.
Why is that? Turkey is white meat. When cooked properly, it is deliciously moist but even when its generously seasoned or brined, its still pretty bland. Some experts will argue that, because roast turkey is low-fat meat, serving a tannic red wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah with turkey will emphasize the wines tannins. That may be true. But at a dinner table full of friends not to mention as many as a dozen side dishes, whats the likelihood that anyone will notice whether the turkey makes the Sangiovese seem tannic?
Best Half Bottle: Maison Noir P
Pinot noir is such a fun varietal to pair with foodits light-bodied, earthy, and rife with red fruits and baking spice. This is a particularly fun one from André Hueston Mack of Maison Noir Wines . P-Oui is a joy to drink thanks to its complexity and funky berry notes, the product of grape sourcing from various vineyards within Oregons Willamette Valley.
We asked bartender and beverage expert Erik Delanoy to elaborate on this grapes pairing capabilities: In the grand scheme of red wines, pinot noir is on the lighter side, so its seldom going to overpower a main dish. Turkey is, of course, typically the primary protein in a Thanksgiving meal, and the baking spice often found in pinot noir is bound to pair well with the fall flavors of this kind of feast without the super grippy tannins that can easily distract from the nuances of the main attraction… or Aunt Karens sweet potatoes.
P-Oui is only available in half-bottles, making it the perfect dinner party favor to include in place settings or gift bags, in case you needed further convincing.
Dinner Ideas: 7 Best Wines To Serve With Turkey Dishes
The first thing that comes to mind when many people think turkey is the typical Thanksgiving spread consisting of the whole bird and all the fixings. It is important to keep in mind that are many different ways to serve turkey and that different wines will lend themselves more readily to different preparation methods.
In fact, even if you end up with turkey that is a little on the dry side, you can help improve the overall quality of the meal by switching up your wine choice.
Here are a few best wines to serve with turkey dinner dishes:
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Turkey And Chardonnay Pairing
If youre looking for a wine to drink with turkey, I recommend a full-bodied Chardonnay.
Chardonnays that have been aged in oak will add flavors of toasty vanilla and butterscotch, which will help to freshen up the flavors of the turkey.
Youll also get flavors of lemon, green apple, and pear from most Chardonnays, which will help cut through the turkeys richness.
Belle Glos Las Alturas Pinot Noir
Deep ruby red in color, this Pinot Noir offers intriguing aromas of ripe plum, sun-warmed blackberries and a hint of licorice. On the palate, dark red fruits are balanced by a touch of vanilla and cedar oak.
PAIR WITH: Turkey > > Lets talk turkey. Serve our Classic Roasted Turkey or our Herb Roasted Turkey Breast With Pan Gravy with a pour of Pinot Noir like this fresh favorite.
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Best Canned Wine: Fruit & Flower Chardonnay
“A lightly oaked chardonnay such as Fruit & Flower during fall is always a staple for me, especially around Thanksgiving, says Capaldi. This Washington State wine will not only complement the richer dishes on our table but will be crisp enough to match with appetizers like creamy brie on crostini!”
Still not convinced? “With its fresh flavors of apple and pear followed by the perfect amount of acidity, this is my personal go-to wine with glazed sweet potatoes,” Capaldi explains. “Oh, and the best partthis chardonnay comes in a can so when you’re ready to bring wine over to your Friendsgivings this will be the best option, especially at any outdoor or socially-distanced gatherings this year.
Choosing A Wine To Serve With Turkey
For our Thanksgiving wine pairing, we had the opportunity to try two wines from the Languedoc region: a 2012 Gérard Bertrand Corbières and a 2014 Château Sainte Eulalie Plaisir dEulalie.
The 2012 Gérard Bertrand Corbières is a wine that was made with intense attention to terroir, or the land that the grapes come from. Paying attention for the garrigue, we caught hints of rosemary and lavendar on the nose of this wine. In the glass, we found this blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre to be dry but bursting with juicy raspberry notes and an acidity that gave it a beautiful, smooth finish with hints of dark chocolate.
The Château Sainte Eulalie Plaisir dEulalie is also a blend made up of nearly equal parts Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan. We found this wine to be a bit more fruity with a robust aroma of berries and a hint of thyme and juniper. In the glass, the wine was full bodied and smooth, with deep flavors of blackberry, cherry, and oak.
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What Wine Goes With Turkey
A good place to start when youre hunting down the ultimate roast turkey wine pairing, is to identify some of the best grape varieties.
We know we are looking for a wine where the tannins arent too marked. Its also a good plan to have a wine that has a good crunch of acidity. Acidity may not always sound inviting but it is a core part of wine and acidity is your best friend when you have a meal thats full to bursting with diverse flavours and textures.
With this in mind, our top four list of red grapes to consider pairing with your turkey this Christmas are: Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, Grenache and Sangiovese.
When it comes to white grapes for turkey, its hard to choose! Again, not definitive but we are thinking Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Semillon and Verdicchio. Of course, Chardonnay wines are fantastic with Christmas lunch but its always fun to spread the net a little wide, dont you think?
What Do You Drink With Turkey
Knowing which wines go with turkey relies on understanding which flavors complement specific textures. Turkey is not a strongly flavored meat, so your drink selections should bring out the hints of flavor in a dish. The best choices will be similar to those for a wine pairing with chicken. To get you started, hereâs a brief list of some of the best wines to pair with turkey:
- California Chardonnay
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The Best Wines To Go With Turkey
Pairing wine with Thanksgiving Day turkey is actually not as difficult as it seems. The meat’s succulent flavor profile and juicy texture make it the perfect match for an array of diverse grape varieties, hailing from various regions all over the globe. From rich, balanced whites, to earthy, fruit-driven reds, we’re letting you in on where to look at your local wine shop for the best wines to sip with turkey this Thanksgiving Day.
Wine Pairings For Turkey: What Wine Goes Best With Turkey
If youre looking for the best wine to pair with turkey, look no further! This blog post will discuss the best wines to pair with turkey for a fantastic dining experience.
Turkey is very flavourful meat, so its important to choose a wine that can stand up to its flavors. We recommend expressive and flavourful white wines like Chardonnay, Riesling, or Gewürztraminer. These wines will match the weight of the turkey while imparting refreshing fruity flavors.
For the red wine we recommend light and fruity wines low in tannins like Beaujolais and Pinot Noir. These wines wont overwhelm the subtle flavors of the meat and will create a perfect balance.
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How Much Wine Do I Need For Thanksgiving
Now that weve figured out what wine were serving for Thanksgiving, we need to figure out how much to buy. Theres a lot to take into consideration here. How many people are you having? Will you be serving a signature cocktail as well or wine only? How long do you expect people will stay? Are your friends and family drinkers?
Learn from my mistakes. Make sure you also have enough wine glasses.
Of course, its better to have more wine than to run out. Buy extra but open them up as needed- do not open all the wine in case you dont use it. A rule of thumb is a glass per person per hour of the event. If you want to keep it simple, stick to one type of white wine and one type of red wine. Get at least two bottles of each and add on as your guest list grows. If you have 10 people over for Thanksgiving and itll go for 3 hours, youll need at least 6 bottles of wine. Round up or down based on your guests drinking habits and what else you plan on serving for drinks.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Kitsch Chardonnay Okanagan Bc $24
If you prefer a more generous white wine, while still offering a quenching finish, Kitsch Chardonnay is perfect. Warm buttery notes of lemon shortbread are balanced against citrus zest and granny smith apple. Its as delicious alone as it is with a mound of herbed mashed potatoes drenched in melted butter.
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Geeky Wine For Thanksgiving
If you do want to show off a little bit with your Thanksgiving wine pairing, try a red wine from Beaujolais. Beaujolais is a region of France, south of Burgundy that makes light to medium-bodied fruity wines from the Gamay grape. The herbs and spices of the turkey and stuffing are going to love the deeper character of Beaujolais. Heck, you can even go for a Beaujolais Nouveau to start things off.
Prime Rib Or Other Beef
We didnt forget the red meat! It stands on its own and needs a bold well-balanced red wine, with strong, smooth tannins to enrich the flavor.
Bordeaux:
When it comes to beef roast, a full-bodied, dry, Bordeaux with liberal amounts of tannin often works best. Many Bordeaux wines have a sharp, mineral flavor to them that just seems to enhance the flavor and texture of the beef.
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Start Your Holiday Dinner With An American Sparkling Wine
On Thanksgiving, I like to greet my guests with a Brut-style, American sparkling wine. There are great choices for sparkling wines being made in many parts of the U.S.
These are some of the best American sparkling wine producers:
- From Massachusettes: Westport Rivers
After a sparkling start to your dinner party, I recommend moving on to still wines with your Thanksgiving meal. As I mentioned earlier, these are wines I recommend with a turkey dinner but your choice is only limited by your budget and personal preferences.
What Wine Serves For A Turkey Meal
There is a dilemma: red or white wine with turkey dinner? Well, we recommend you get acquainted with the selection of fine wines available. The excellent choices of wine for turkey meat go to ones with low tannins and acidity. While acidity in wines might not be the best solution, it works great with a dish rich in flavors and salty. Apart from that, wines with slightly fruity notes are welcome, too.
It is worth considering Tempranillo, Grenache, and Pinot Noir. The red grapes are ideal for serving a turkey dinner. Fruity reds without excessive sweetness are the best ideas to serve with a lump of turkey meat. When it comes to the white grapes, pay attention to Riesling, Verdicchio, and Semillon. And, of course, the best choice remains Chardonnay with its light aftertaste and fantastic aroma. Lets discover the several best options separately while doubting a white or red wine with turkey:
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Turkey And Wine Pairing Rules
Turkey has a neutral flavor. Without spices and herbs, it doesnt taste like much. Thus, the seasoning and the side dishes are crucial when pairing turkey and wine. In general, white wine is the best choice for light dishes, featuring vegetables and thin sauces. In contrast, combine red wine and turkey with bold side dishes and savory sauces. Depending on the seasoning, even a sparkling wine can be a good match.
Lets talk about some of the best turkey and wine combinations.
What Is The Best Dessert Wine To Serve With Turkey
There are many different dessert wines, so it really depends on what you and your guests prefer. If you want to keep it simple, a Moscato dAsti or Riesling Kabinett would be good. For something more decadent, try an aged Sauternes or Tokaji Aszu. And for something truly unique, try an Icewine or Vin de Glace. No matter what you choose, just make sure its a wine you enjoy drinking!
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What Wine Pairs With Turkey
While you can select any wine that matches the flavor of your dish, the top three wine pairs with turkey are Pinot Noir, Champagne, and Chardonnay. Letâs break each of these flavors down and explain why they work well together.
Pinot Noir is one of the adaptable red wine types that suits meals of varying kinds. Choosing a New World Pinot Noir will offer you fruity, bold, and oaky flavors, whereas an Old World Pinot Noir is earthier, acidic, and has lower wine alcohol content.
Old World wine comes from the traditional winegrowing areas of Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain, whereas New World wine comes from any other location. This includes Mexico, the United States, New Zealand, Argentina, and Canada.
Both New and Old World wine work well because turkey can be prepared with a broad range of ingredients. Go with New World for turkey meals with stronger spices and Old World for milder turkey dishes.
Champagne is a great turkey wine pairing for its higher acid content, smooth mouthfeel, and low tannin levels. Depending on the Champagne you pick, you may enjoy a bready, almond flavor, or an orange zest, melon, and apple taste. The natural fruit aromas in champagne bring out the delicate savoriness of turkey, making each flavor noticeable without overpowering your main dish.
Best White Wine: Chateau Ste Michelle Eroica Riesling
Sarah Tracey, a New York-based sommelier extraordinaire, is a fan of Chateau Ste. Michelles Eroica Riesling as a turkey pairing. This is a perfect Thanksgiving white wine option because its cool, crisp, and light, she says. I love that this bright and zippy wine can balance out all the rich dishes on the tableit keeps your palate clean and refreshed through buttery mashed potatoes and rich casseroles.
Its important to keep in mind that Thanksgiving dinner is typically pretty filing. I always recommend staying away from bold, heavy, high-alcohol wines on such a marathon day of eating and drinking! she explains. The green apple, peach, and citrus notes in riesling are so versatile that its one of the only wines I can confidently say truly pairs with everything, a must when there are so many family-style dishes on the table.
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What White Wine Ill Be Serving For Thanksgiving
I introduced my other winemaker friend to his American wife, so needless to say he owes me. Therefore he always brings me wine. He happens to make my favorite Vidiano that also happens to be the perfect wine with Thanksgiving dinner. Vidiano is a white grape with medium body, medium acid, and medium aromatics native to Crete. Its impossible not to like it. Its also a very versatile food wine. A little oak ageing gives it enough body to hold up to the sauces, gravies, and buttery mash potatoes.
Wine Pairings With Types Of Turkey
Since the turkey is the focal point, lets consider the many variations: roasted, baked, brined, smoked and deep-fried turkey can all accommodate different kinds of wine. What about Tofurky and Turducken? The iterations can seem endless. To keep things simple, reference this wine pairing guide for Thanksgiving. In two minutes, youll have your Thanksgiving wine-shopping list completed.
If you dig a geekier approach, here are some additional tips for finding a fantastic wine for your Thanksgiving turkey.
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Or Go With A Red Wine But Keep It Interesting
Cinsault, South AfricaI like something juicy and fresh to work with all flavors at the table. Flotsam & Jetsam Cinsault from Alheit Vineyards in the Western Cape in South Africa is my number one pick, but ‘Love You Bunches’ Sangiovese from Stolpman Vineyards in Santa Barbara County would be a hit too. Ali Schmidt, wine director and manager, Emmer & Rye, Austin
Gamay, OregonBesides just being awfully delicious, great Gamay has the perfect weight and texture to not overpower food, and the acidity can work with the richness of the meal or play off the bright acidity of dishes like cranberry sauce or light salads. From domestic gems like Evening Land’s Gamay in Oregon to classic Beaujolais from producers like Jean Louis Dutraive, Yann Bertrand, Nicole Chanrion, or Pierre Breton, its really difficult for me to pick one. Femi Oyediran, co-owner, Graft Wine Shop, Charleston
Rioja, SpainTraditional Riojas, like Viña Ardanza from La Rioja Alta, are extremely balanced winessoft but present tannins, lithe on the palate, dense but not weighty. And above all else, packed with rich, savory aromas beyond just the traditional red and black fruits that play ball with everything on the Thanksgiving table. Mark Guillaudeu, Beverage Director, Commis and CDP, Oakland, California
