Thanksgiving Wine Picks!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and although the holidays are a happy time of year, they can be stressful for the host or hostess who is in charge of everything from the invites to the meal, and the wine choices. Of course many guests will bring wine if they are joining you, but it’s always nice to have something out on the table when they arrive, right?

Look no further because I have some top wine recommendations at unbeatable prices that will wow you and your guests as well as pair seamlessly with everything on the table. From the turkey to the stuffing and all those sides, there is a wine for everyone and every plate!

Sparkling

Segura Viudas- This $10 bottle of Cava is kind of my go to when greeting guests and cooking the big bird. Nothing eases tension and stress like a bottle of bubbles and it pairs perfectly with in-laws, noisy children, sweet potato mash, as well as cranberry sauce! P.S. There is also a Grand Cuveé by SV that will wow your guests and makes a great gift for around $20.

Ferrari Brut Trento DOC- This sparkling white wine is 100% Chardonnay and goes through the classic secondary fermentation in the bottle. This bright bubbly is around $22-25-ish dollars and pairs beautifully with the Thanksgiving Day Parade and meal prep. For those with some self control who wish to save it for the meal this wine pairs beautifully with biscuits (or Pillsbury Crescent Rolls), turkey and maple glazed carrots. I’d also pair it with creamed spinach… if that happens to be a side at the table too!

Taittinger Prestige Rosé- This $54-ish dollar cuveé is stunning for Thanksgiving and makes the perfect hostess gift. Whether you’re attending someones holiday soiree or simply want to share a great bottle with the ones you love, this Champagne will seamlessly pair with everything on the table. From garlic mashed potatoes to succotash you and your guests will love every last sip!

Moët & Chandon Impérial: This is the house’s iconic Champagne with lively fruit forward notes that are perfect when paired with turkey breast, fried food, and creamy mashed potatoes or green bean casserole! $55 and worth every penny, this makes a great gift for the hostess who will be cooking for company all day, or if you’re the chef, this bottle will comfort you in the kitchen all day while you prepare an amazing feast. Citrus, flowers, and some lively fruit notes in this wine pair beautifully with a delicious, home cooked Thanksgiving meal!

Kim Crawford Fizz Methode Traditionnelle– This sparkling Chardonnay/Pinot Noir is great for New Zealand wine lovers as well as for those that dare to be a little different with their sparkling choices this year. This wine has aromas of passionfruit and lime and goes great with appetizers like shrimp cocktail, crackers and cheese as well as cinnamon chips and fruit salsa… all those delicious light bites before the big meal! $35.

Bonny Doon Vineyard Sparkling Albariño- This California Sparkling wine is from the Central Coast and is a sparkling Spanish varietal. I was pleasantly surprised to come across this one as it’s very different and absolutely beautiful. For $36.00 this wine makes a great gift as well as addition to the Thanksgiving table. Simply pair this méthode traditionnelle wine with the turkey and stuffing and you will be in heaven!

Whites

2013 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Blanc- This 2013 “white wine of the earth” is creamy and bright with grapes such as Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Picpoul Blanc in the bottle. Carefully crafted and exquisitely beautiful, i’d totally go for the sausage stuffing and gravy covered turkey legs with this wine! $21.00

2013 Hess Select Chardonnay- From Monterey County, this Chardonnay is aged in French Oak and for around $10 its a great value for it’s quality. For those that go all out and have some heavier sides to offer at the table, this wine will pair with the mac and cheese, mashed potatoes smothered in gravy, as well as both the dark and light meat from the bird.

2013 Forever Young Sauvignon Blanc- This Chilean Sauvignon Blanc is different, bright and floral. Full of citrus and minerality this one belongs in the kitchen with you while your cooking for the big day. A perfect wine to sip all day during the prep and entertaining that can follow through to the meal seamlessly with all the sides you spent so hard making. Around $16 and great for your guests!

2014 Pazo San Mauro Albariño- My Spain fever just wont quit this holiday season! This white from Rias Baixas, Spain is bright and beautiful with nice stone and mineral notes. This is one of my favorite wines with seafood as well as meats, so pair this with your turkey and you will not be disappointed for around $16!

2014 Left Coast Cellars Pinot Gris- The Orchards Pinot Gris is a bright and tropical wine with floral aromas and notes of pineapple and salt. This wine is perfect with the starter salad before you stuff yourself with the rest of the meal. I choose this one with beet salad, vegetables, maple glazed pumpkin or squash, or brown sugar baked potatoes! $18.

2013 Tom Gore Vineyards Chardonnay- For around $15 you can have this classic and stylish California Chardonnay thats beautifully balanced with butter and citrus. Not too oaky, but still present this one is perfect with some roasted potatoes, string beans, and stuffing!

Rosés

2014 Recanati Rosé- This wine is from Galilee, Israel! Very different for a Thanksgiving pick but this wine had to make my top list as it’s beautiful and full of strawberry and pomegranate with an elegant finish. This wine is great with spicier food so for those that add a little spice to their turkey and sides… this is a great rosé to choose!

2013 Bodvar of Sweden N°5 Rosé- This delicate and floral rosé is a great pick for Thanksgiving Day brunch and light bites. Beautiful with the turkey too, this wine is for those “provence style” rosé lovers who want to open a beautiful bottle of refreshing and fragrant wine for around $21-25.

2014 Grandes Vinos y Viñedos Beso de Vino Garnacha Rosé- Bright and full of strawberry, raspberry and red currants, this smooth wine has great acidity and is around $10. This easy to drink and very pretty pink wine is made in the Spanish region of D.O.P Cariñena, and will go great with roasted potatoes, mac and cheese and turkey legs!

Reds

2013 Cali’s Cuvee Pinot Noir- From Left Coast Cellars in the Willamette Valley in Oregon this Pinot Noir is great with anything grilled as well as basted or stuffed (for Thanksgiving of course). I love this wine because it’s the named after Cali their daughter, and for those that follow me on Instagram, you know I have a “shih-tzu daughter” named Cali, so of course this wine won my heart! $24.

2014 Nobilo Icon Pinot Noir- From Marlborough New Zealand this pinot noir is a classic style of this regions red wine. Rich, full bodied and complex with a mouth full of fruit and a finish that lasts with even the bigger dishes. The toasty oak aromas and flavors allow this wine to pair beautifully with gravy, stuffing and even some bread heavy sides as well as crisp greens and steamed veggies. $22.

2013 Woodwork Cabernet Sauvignon- From the Central Coast of California, this big and bold red wine is one to drink through the meal and even onto dessert. With oak influence and notes of chocolate and hazelnut, you can easily pair this with turkey legs and cranberry sauce, butternut squash soup, and even sweet potato mash with brown sugar nut crumble topping! $12.99

2013 Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon- From the Hess Collection this North Coast Cabernet is a typical style full of bright cherry, blackberry and some spice. Tobacco is present and well integrated with the fruit with a full body and tons of beauty that will easily pair with almost anything on the dinner table. Enjoy this one through the entire meal into dessert as well, as it is great with chocolate bourbon pecan pie! $20.

2014 Cepa 21 Hito Tempranillo- From Ribera Del Duero, Spain this modern version of tempranillo is fruit forward with black cherry and berry on the nose. The palate is filled with soft tannins and some spice and will pair great with some dark meat, cranberry or apricot sauce, roasted fall vegetables, and blueberry crumb pie! $15.99.

2011 Malleolus Tempranillo- This wine is also from Ribera Del Duero, Spain and makes for a great gift. Give this to your host or hostess who loves big and luscious Spanish wines and deserves something they can either decant for dinner or save for a few years in the cellar. If opening on Thanksgiving, this one is recommended towards the end of the meal, as its a wine you will want to savor for $44.99.

2010 Marques De Vargas Reserva- This $25 red blend from Rioja, Spain is made with 60% Tempranillo and other beautiful red varietals such as Mazuelo and Garnacha. This wine is big, bold and full of ripe berries, baking spice and will pair great with green bean casserole, balsamic roasted brussels sprouts and of course, the big bird!

2011 Hedges Red Mountain Blend- Hedges Family Estate Red Blend for $20 is soft and supple with notes of cherry and tobacco. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Malbec as well as some Cabernet Franc, this blend with “blend beautifully” with everything on your table including the biscuits!

2012 Hess Selections Treo- This Winemakers Blend is around $16 and a great value. Made with a blend of Syrah, Petit Syrah, Merlot and some other varieties this is a wine everyone will love. Pair this with creamy scalloped potatoes, cheesy onion gratin, or savory and sweet potato casserole!

2014 Bonny Doon Vineyards Grenache Cuveé- This fun label and lovely cuveé is great for guests who want something bold and spicy with a medium plus body and complexity. The label itself is very “Bonny Doon” style and for those fans of this vineyard, you will love this wine this holiday season! $48.