You’re either going to love or hate the answer to this one.
What is the perfect wine to pair with my Thanksgiving meal? That’s the question on everyone’s lips this season, and the answer may surprise you. The ultimate Thanksgiving wine for 2025 is: whatever you want it to be. Is this disappointing or relieving? Probably both, and maybe a little upsetting since we really set you up for the Ultimate Grand Answer™ there, huh. We could get into quasi-scientific explanations about tannins and underbelly notes, but the truth of the matter is that wine pairing, and Thanksgiving, is about drinking wine you love with food you love with people you love. You can scour the internet’s most clickbait recommendation lists (like we did) and still come up empty handed. Bloggers that start their entry with “this is my tried and true pairing framework” will end with “my favorite find ignored my own advice completely.” Premier cooking and baking publications whose “budget friendly bottles” start at $50. And out of all of the corners of the internet never seem to list brands available in a 100-mile radius.
That’s where your friendly local Littleton Food Co-op steps in! We did all the Google searches, all the expert-asking, and all the laborious tasting (labor of love, right?) so you don’t have to. And obviously, everything listed is available at the Littleton Food Co-op. Everyone is welcome to shop here, no membership required!
General Guidelines
Unless you’re the world’s top wine connoisseur (in which case, why didn’t you write this article?), your friends and family are likely not coming for Thanksgiving exclusively based on your wine selection. They’re coming for YOU…and maybe the food. So relax! It’s really not that serious. But, if you’d like to choose a wine that is most likely to compliment your meal and satisfy your guests, follow these general rules:
Avoid a high alcohol content. Even if you don’t like wine, you can agree that a drunken family brawl leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Reducing the likelihood of that possibility is just one of the benefits of a low ABV. In general, lighter alcohol wines better allow all the flavors of a meal to shine through. You don’t want your extended family praising your candied yams and how they tasted “just like Bordeaux,” do you ?
Acidity is a friend. There’s a reason your post-Thanksgiving meal ritual includes unbuttoning your pants – and it’s not just about how much you ate. Typical Thanksgiving foods tend to be very rich, even downtrodden, with butter, cream, and the like. A wine with some acidity will help counterbalance those flavors, but also ensure it doesn’t get masked by the food in your attempt to not do the opposite. Key word is sum – with so many choices and flavors in one meal, it’s best not to go to either extreme in any key profile area.
O Tannin-baum. Or should we say NO (or low) tannin-baum. Tannins are the compounds in wine that give you that dry-mouth feeling, usually after a deep red. Unless you’re having steak, or want to make a classic-Christmas-song-pun, you don’t need ‘em here. If you’re going for a wine strong in tannins, it needs a strong flavor to match its energy. And as much as you can praise your favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal, none of the bare-bones traditional choices are strong enough in flavor to compete, so don’t make them try.
Red Wines
Domaine des Nugues Beaujolais-Villages
Even though the general descriptions above tend to lead you towards a white, the Beaujolais is a classic holiday pick! Sometimes described as “the only white wine that happens to be red”, Beaujolais Nouveau is made from the Gamay grape and is produced in the south of France. This is a juicy red with aromatic expressions of red fruits, black fruits, and spices in the background. The acidity and crisp aftertaste provide a nice contrast.
Rossino Merlot
This Merlot lands softly on the tongue with ripe red berries, but hits the nose with some spicy notes of black pepper. The choice stands out as a well-structured offering that pairs well with rich poultry dishes.
OMEN Rogue Valley Oregon Pinot Noir
An earthy option, but very on-season; a powerful mix of cranberries, crushed marigold flowers, and oregano. Savor this wine over time and you may also uncover raspberry flavors and traces of coffee and bacon. There is a pronounced acidity within the crisp texture and light body, leading to a delicate finishing texture.
Domaine Couly-Dutheil Chinon Automnale
The first word used to describe this wine from the Loire Valley of France is “stunning.” Not only does that apply to the aromatics and the structure, but also to the tannins. The nose of this red features aromas of small red berries and burning piles of leaves. It’s great company for poultry or charcuterie.
White Wines
Forge Cellars dry Riesling Classique
Forge Cellars, located in New York’s Finger Lakes region, specializes in Bone-Dry Rieslings and this one is no exception. This wine manages to maintain all of a Riesling’s natural flavors while still exploring a depth and complexity with aromas of ripe lemon, green apple, tangerine, and white floral. A bright and long acidic, refreshing finish.
Manoir La Firetiere Chardonnay
An un-oaked chardonnay is known for its freshness, and this one incorporates exotic fruit in the nose to contribute to that. This choice produces a clean and mellow mouth feel that will especially appeal to fans of Sauvignon Blanc. Serve with the main course or highlight your win-choosing skills by serving it as a stand-alone aperitif.
And more!
Lamarca Prosecco
Bubbles are a great way to liven up any celebration! And since Thanksgiving is perhaps the holiday with the least amount of built-in sparkles, your tablescape may be making a desperate call for Ma Marca Prosecco. Its palate is delicate, but the liquid still sparkles with lively bubbles and a pale golden color. The aromas of citrus and honeysuckle blossoms combine with notes of green apple, juicy peach, and ripe lemon for a crisp and clean refreshing finish.
Sweet Baby Vineyard Apple Cranberry Wine
We have been accused of showing a bias towards local New Hampshire produced goods (because how could we not??), but this inventive wine from Sweet Baby Vineyard in Hampstead, NH can hold its own. This lively wine is the perfect combination of 100% NH-Grown Applecrest apples and cranberries fermented together to give an excellent balance between the acid of the cranberries and the sugars of the apples. The result is a dry fruit wine that is clean and fresh on your pallet. It pairs well with turkey, lamb, or cheeses including swiss, havarti, and gouda.
