Wine Box Experience - Karen Joiner

Thanks & Sips: Pairings to Grace a Grateful Table

Thanksgiving may be the one day of the year when stuffing, gravy boats, and cranberry sauce all jockey for top billing, but any true wine lover knows the real stars are in the glass. The key to pairing wine with a Thanksgiving feast is versatility. With such a sprawling spread of textures, flavors, and richness, wines that balance brightness with depth shine the brightest. Think juicy, medium-bodied reds like Pinot Noir or Gamay that play nicely with turkey’s lean meat and those herb-laced sides. On the white side, dry Riesling and Gewürztraminer bring aromatic lift and a touch of spice that complements roasted squash, buttery mashed potatoes, and everything in between. These are your classic crowd-pleaser wines that elevate without overwhelming. 

But this holiday is also ripe for exploration, so why not toss in a few unexpected scene-stealers? A chilled, earthy Cinsault from South America? A skin-contact Vermentino from Sardinia? Even a bubbly Lambrusco (that’s right, I said it) can cut through the richness of gravy and stuffing while adding a playful sparkle to the meal. The secret lies in understanding a few basic pairing principles: match weight with weight (light dishes with lighter wines, richer dishes with fuller-bodied options), contrast fatty or creamy foods with acidity to cleanse the palate, and complement dominant flavors (herbs, spices, sweetness) with wines that echo or balance those notes. These rules are helpful guides, but your palate is the ultimate judge.

Let’s move along this discussion to see what will be gracing your table this season with your monthly selections.

Let’s start this holiday festivities off right with the Salem Wine Company Chardonnay from Eola-Amity Hills. It’s a standout Thanksgiving companion, bringing balance to the bustling flavors of the holiday table. With its cool-climate roots in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, this Chardonnay walks the line between richness and restraint while offering ripe orchard fruit, lemon curd, and a subtle kiss of oak without overwhelming the palate. Its medium body and crisp acidity make it a natural match for creamy dishes like mashed potatoes and gravy, buttery rolls, and roasted root vegetables, while its structure allows it to complement heartier fare like turkey or glazed ham. It’s the kind of wine that knows how to play well with others but still manages to steal a little spotlight for itself.

No proper dinner is complete without a second bottle of wine. The Mommessin ‘Les Grandes Mises’ Côte de Brouilly is a quintessential Thanksgiving. Made from Gamay grown on the volcanic slopes of Beaujolais’ Côte de Brouilly, this wine delivers vibrant red fruits like cranberry and pomegranate alongside earthy undertones and subtle spice, all in a lightweight frame that complements rather than competes with the meal. In line with Thanksgiving pairing principles, it matches the weight of most traditional fare, offers bright contrast to savory dishes, and echoes the tart-sweet flavor profiles found in holiday staples. It’s the kind of bottle that bridges the gap between red wine lovers and white wine fans, making it a crowd-pleaser worthy of a spot at the center of your table.

So this Thanksgiving, let your wine list be as bountiful and daring as a cornucopia centerpiece. Whether you reach for the familiar or pour something a little whimsical and wild, remember that the best pairings aren’t just about flavor, but they’re about fun, discovery, and a bit of storytelling. After all, what’s more festive than passing a bottle around the table and saying, “You’ve got to try this wine with that dish”? To honor our native ancestors of this land of the free I’ll leave you with these words, To all our relations… past, present, and future. In gratitude and unity.