Coffee and Prosecco, please, just don’t – is what a lot of people would utter, they should be kept as far away from each other as possible, the professional Sparkling Wine sector is adamant about that and I agree, coffee can make it very difficult to discover the magical aromas and flavours hidden within a bottle of Sparkling Wine, but just because everyone says they don’t belong, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still try. Partnering with Bianchin Prosecco and Conker Spirit, a producer of Gins and Cold Brew Coffee Liqueurs, we’ve crafted a Prosecco and Coffee Cocktail, with an added touch of Christmas, to see how Coffee and Sparkling Wines can, in fact, help each other in some ways, but at the same time, we discover that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. The Prosecco – Bianchin The Vineyards of Bianchin are located in the heart of Montello, where nature and memories unite, shining light on a glorious past for the Bianchin family. Responsible for the production of their Asolo Pros...
Pairing Wines for Thanksgiving? Here’s a Cheat Sheet
Photos Courtesy of Vivino
Let’s get real: Thanksgiving is basically the Super Bowl of holidays. It’s not only a time to showcase your culinary expertise, but also a chance to flex your wine knowledge. After all, what better way to elevate the holiday’s requisite smorgasbord than with expertly-chosen wine pairings?
Of course, that’s easier said than done. Thanksgiving wine pairings can be a high-stakes game, especially if your guest list runs long. With a wide range of bold flavors on the table and so many palates to please, there’s plenty that can go wrong.
But don’t fret. We’ve tasked Wine Enthusiast’s Tasting Department with selecting the perfect bottles to complement Thanksgiving-ready dishes from our recipe library, which is filled with modern takes on holiday classics from juicy white wine-brined turkey to bourbon-spiked pecan pie. Consider this your official Thanksgiving wine pairings cheat sheet.
With these tempting food and drink pairings, your Thanksgiving is sure to be guaranteed touchdown.
Toasted wood chips lend a smoky character to this White Wine-Brined Turkey, which shines even more brightly beside this juicy, thirst-quenching style of Châteauenuf-du-Pape blanc. With notes of crisp white pear and grapefruit, the bottling also delivers a hint of sweet spice and anise.
Instead of your standard Thanksgiving green beans, try instead this Asian-inspired Dry-Fried Green Beans side. Tossed with umami-rich soy sauce and rich with fragrant garlic, ginger and green onion, the dish is a match for this Bordeaux-style white blend. With toasty notes of freshly dried straw and apple slices, glassfuls also serve up ample acidity and a lightly pithy texture.
Middle Eastern, European and North African flavors mingle in this unique Whole Roasted Sweet Potato with Tahini and Pomegranate Molasses side, which lands sweet and savory notes in each bite. Serve it alongside this 50-50 blend of Grenache and Shiraz, which conjures notes of ripe blueberries, violets, soft peppercorn and earthy, savory spice.
Thanksgiving dinner feeling too heavy? Even it out with this light Ash-Roasted Carrots side, which also features honey-laced granola packed with toasted flax, pumpkin, white sesame and sunflower seeds, plus hemp hearts. Pair it with this straightforward Pinot Noir, which gives classic red and black cherry notes alongside a hint of cinnamon.
A punchy side of Blue Cheese Whipped Potatoes might just steal the spotlight from your turkey centerpiece. Serve it alongside this rich and fruity Grüner Veltliner, which offers concentrated flavors of crisp apple, grapefruit and mineral.
Be the one to finally convince everybody that brussels sprouts are actually good with this bacon-laden Roasted Brussels Sprouts offering. It goes fantastically with this light yellow-hued Albariño, which packs flavors of lemon, white peach, passion fruit, dried thyme and almond.
This fresh, sweet-and-tart spin on “Canned” Cranberry Sauce finds a perfect partner in this dry red Beaujolais, which is structured with plenty of firm tannins and filled with black fruit flavor.
No matter if you’re a stuffing or a dressing person—if it’s prepared inside the bird, it’s “stuffing,” but on the outside, it’s “dressing”—this Cornbread and Fennel Sausage Stuffing is sure to be a hit. The dish’s fatty undertones, supplied by rendered pancetta fat or turkey drippings, beg to be paired with this chalky-structured Chardonnay. It brims with light aromas of lemon, honey, nectarine and crushed white rock.
Why settle for regular mac and cheese when you can have Fondue Mac and Cheese? Rich and creamy, it’s a delightful counterpoint to this fresh, textured Chenin Blanc, which serves up tight acidity and notes of green fruit and citrus.
It isn’t quite Thanksgiving without pie. We’re partial to this Whiskey Old Fashioned Apple Pie, which combines the heady flavors of a traditional apple pie with a those of a classic whiskey cocktail, the Old Fashioned. It cries out for a glass of honeyed Sauternes, which conveys notes of apricot fruits and ripe orange peel.
Not into apple pie? Go the nutty route with this dark brown sugar-packed Bourbon, Almond and Pecan Pie. Pair slices with glassfuls of this fruit-forward Port, which offers some youthful, wood-aging flavors.
All products featured here are independently selected by our team, which is comprised of experienced writers and wine tasters and overseen by editorial professionals at Wine Enthusiast headquarters. All ratings and reviews are performed blind in a controlled setting and reflect the parameters of our 100-point scale. Wine Enthusiast does not accept payment to conduct any product review, though we may earn a commission on purchases made through links on this site. Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
