I'm of two minds -- no, three minds -- when it comes to Thanksgiving turkey wine pairing.
Traditionally, the recommendation is an aromatic white, like Riesling, Pinot Gris or unoaked Chardonnay, or light-bodied red, like Pinot Noir or Gamay.
But, I don't want to leave out vivacious Rose pinks or even a bright and bubbly sparkling wine.
Thanksgiving dinner throws a lot at you -- fairly neutral white turkey meat, robust dark meat, buttery potatoes, salty vegetables, fatty gravy, bready dressing and sweet-sour cranberry sauce.
With all those flavours and textures, you need a versatile wine match that's as at home with a bite of turkey and cranberry sauce as it is dressing doused in gravy.
So, voila, eight suggested wine pairings that will serve you well not just at the Thanksgiving table, but before you sit down to the feast as an aperitif or after dinner as you moan about how stuffed you are.
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- Intrigue 'I Do' Sparkling Rose ($26.50) from Lake Country
The 'I Do' in its name hints that this bubbly is for weddings.
It certainly is, but it's also ideal for all other occasions like Thanksgiving to cheers the holiday before the meal and to keep on sipping right through the dinner.
- Maverick 2024 Invisible Line Rose ($28)
Made by the Oliver winery of grapes from Washington state.
A non-traditional turkey pairing that's becoming more traditional.
- Sandhill 2024 Sangiovese Rose ($30)
Again, made by an Okanagan winery -- in this case Kelowna's Sandhill -- of Washington state grapes.
Ditto for the new tradition-setting.
- Tinhorn Creek 2024 Pacific Northwest Collection Pinot Gris ($24)
You'll be seeing a trend here with the Oliver winery making this wine with Washington state grapes.
Pinot Gris is a flexible pairing, as good a match for light turkey meat as it is for dark.
- Gray Monk 2024 Limited Edition Unwooded Chardonnay ($21)
An interesting wine on two fronts from this Lake Country winery.
First, it's unwooded, which means it was not aged in oak barrels, as most Chards are.
That makes the Gray Monk version fresh and light, perfect for lifting all the flavours of your Thanksgiving dinner.
Second, the grapes for this vintage come from Ontario.
Very few Okanagan wineries sourced grapes from Ontario after the severe cold of January 2024 meant there was virtually no grape harvest in the Okanagan in the fall of 2024.
Most other wineries brought in grapes and-or juice from closer by Washington state and Oregon.
- Lightning Rock 2024 Cross Border Collection Riesling ($25)
Made by the Summerland winery of grapes from Washington state.
A lush and lively, turkey-friendly Riesling.
- Lightning Rock 2021 Pinot Noir ($38) from Summerland
Red wine usually isn't turkey friendly, but light-bodied Pinot Noir is.
- Gray Monk 2023 Pinot Noir ($25) from Lake Country
Ditto.
Gobble, gobble.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at [email protected]. His wine column appears every Friday afternoon in this space.
