Cheers to the Best Wine for Thanksgiving: Top Picks for Feasts and Gatherings

As November nears, the excitement of Thanksgiving thickens the air, with family and friends excusing it all to spend a gratitude-filled day in the warm company of their loved ones. If you're planning to buy good wine for your Thanksgiving celebration, it's a perfect choice—nothing quite matches the taste, tradition, and icebreaking appeal of wines, which also embraces the dining scene that takes center stage on this special holiday.

However, choosing the best wine for Thanksgiving can be tricky, whether you’re hosting or attending as a guest or gifting from a distance. You’ll want to entertain personal preferences, but what if the gathering is too large, one with kids running around and uncles debating big politics? Also, Thanksgiving dinner is a potluck affair with tons of flavors on the table, making wine pairing challenging, from turkey to tart cranberries, sweet and rich yams, buttery mashed potatoes, multi-ingredient stuffing, pumpkin pie, and other classic dishes.

Should you pick a crowd-pleasing wine? An edgy one? Club different wines for different foods? A food pairing all-rounder, from appetizers to desserts? Once decided, how much should you spend? How many bottles should you bring? How should you store and serve the wine? Don't worry—we've got all the answers covered in this blog, recommending great Thanksgiving wines under all possible scenarios, letting you and your loved ones uncork lasting memories for years to come.

Best Sparkling Wines For Thanksgiving:

Sparklings are unquestionably great Thanksgiving wines with their festive, celebratory appeal. But beyond the showy, moussy popping, these dazzlers enhance the feast scene by cleansing the palate with their bubbles and acidity between all bites, from light and fruity to savory and saucy. Having said that, if you want a party-soul yet a food pairing all-rounder, then sparkling got to be your best wine for Thanksgiving this year.

Champagne: With their feverish fan base, senses-caressing effervescence, and food-adapting vibrancy, these French dazzlers make great Thanksgiving wines for all. And given Thanksgiving gathering size and food, it’s best to steer clear of expensive and vintage ones. The best Champagnes for Thanksgiving would be a dry Non-Vintage, a clean and fresh Blanc de Blancs or an extra sweet Demi-Sec or Doux.

Pair With: Roasted Turkey, Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, Pumpkin Pie, Creamy Side Dishes

Prosecco: Compared to its French cousin champagne, Prosecco is less fancy yet cutthroat competitive, with greater affordability and accessibility. Additionally, this Italian dazzler's lighter, fruitier, and more refreshing taste may better add a zesty touch to dinner, aperitifs and cocktails. No doubt, it is a good wine for Thanksgiving, and judging style-wise, the best Prosecco for Thanksgiving would be Extra Dry and Brut.

Pair With: Roasted Turkey, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Light Appetizers, Bruschetta, Pumpkin Soup

Best Red Wines For Thanksgiving:

On any holiday, one can't miss out on red wines, turning the festive mood warm and fuzzy with their bold, passionate personality. However, they prove to be the best wine for Thanksgiving dinner, as it’s rich, grippy with all the possible hearty, savory, and roasted flavors vibing along. It’s also show-stealing for post-dinner relaxation by the fireside, in cozy living rooms, during movie marathons, or back-to-back NFL games.

Pinot Noir: It is voted as the most classic, the best wine for Thanksgiving. Reason being? It is generous, not being over the top fruity, heavy, tart, and grippy. It won't just be crowd-pleasing, but pair elegantly with the whole course. Known for being a stubborn variety of cold mineral-rich terroirs, you’ll find the best Pinot Noir for Thanksgiving from France’s Burgundy, USA’s Oregon, and Russian River Valley.

Pair With: Roasted Turkey, Ham, Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, Mushroom Dishes, Herb-Roasted Vegetables

Cabernet Sauvignon:Situated at the extreme end of the boldness spectrum, a cabernet is a good wine for Thanksgiving, particularly if the dinner is heavily savory and your guests have a discerning palate that appreciates chewy tannins and a deep, long finish that evokes a complex blend of blackcurrant, cedar, and subtle oak flavors. The best Cabernet Sauvignon for Thanksgiving got to be from the USA's Napa, Israel, and Chile.

Pair With: Roast Beef, Gravy, Aged Cheeses, Hearty Stuffing, Savory Dishes

Syrah/Shiraz:Being neither delicate like pinot noir nor bold like a cabernet, Syrah/shiraz makes for great Thanksgiving wines that strike a balance. Also, having its edgy mildness scooped with a flavorful blend of dark fruits, pepper and smoke, it shines when dinner is largely hearty. Super adaptive to climates, you can find the best Syrah/Shiraz for Thanksgiving globally, from Australia to Italy to USA.

Food To Pair With: Roasted Meats, Spicy Sausages, Grilled Vegetables, Stuffing, Savory Pies

Best White Wines For Thanksgiving:

In white vs. red wine debates, whites are lighter and more refreshing than bold and complex red wines. Which is why they stand out as the best wine for Thanksgiving with a focus on lighter fare, cutting lightly through them with their racy acidity. As a cherry on top, white wines are fabulous at keeping the mingling going and elevating settings of cocktail hour, outdoors, and brunches.

Sauvignon Blanc: With their herbaceous, citrusy profile and high acidity, Sauvignon Blancs make great Thanksgiving wines. They nicely complement lighter sides, while their racy acidity sharply cuts through the richness of dishes, including the common blunder of dry turkey (though not yours, of course). For the best Sauvignon Blanc for Thanksgiving, look to New Zealand, France, and the USA.

Pair With: Green Bean Casserole, Roasted Vegetables, Salads, Turkey, Cranberry Sauce

Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio While sauvignon blancs are zingy yet herbaceous, pinot gris/pinot grigio are zingy yet fruity. This makes them intense yet not overpowering, making them a beautiful partner to many Thanksgiving classics. A good wine for Thanksgiving, probably the best of all whites. Shop the best Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio for Thanksgiving from Italy, USA, and Germany.

Pair With: Roasted Turkey, Stuffing, Creamy Side Dishes, Green Bean Casserole, Autumn Salads

Chardonnay While many prefer acid-heavy wines, unconventional chardonnays also serve as great Thanksgiving wines. Their fuller body and often creamy texture make them pair well with richer foods, even a mile extra if it’s a vanilla-and-spice-accented oaked version. France, the USA, and Argentina are all great hubs for your best Chardonnay for Thanksgiving.

Pair With: Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Ham, Roasted Turkey, Stuffing, Butternut Squash Soup, Rich Gravy

Best Rosé Wines For Thanksgiving:

Rosés flaunt a unique balance by combining the fruity and berry-like flavors of red wines with the crispness and lightness of white wines. This broad flavor profile makes them versatile for pairing with a variety of Thanksgiving dishes, from turkey and ham to creamy side dishes and everything in between. If you're looking for a wine good for Thanksgiving but doesn't give you food pairing headaches, grab a rosé confidently. It’s also the best wine for Thanksgiving celebration that’s downright quiet and intimate with a special someone.

Which wine regions offer the best rosé wine for Thanksgiving? Consider France's Provence and California's Paso Robles and Napa. And for that extra touch of dazzle and crispness in the rose wine you choose, why think twice before picking a sparkling rosé?

Pair With: Roast Turkey, Honey Glazed Ham, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Almondine, Butternut Squash Soup

Best Dessert Wines For Thanksgiving:

Last but not least, dessert wines are the best wine for Thanksgiving wrap-up, especially if desserts are a highlight for your sweet-toothed guests. Their upfront sweetness pairs beautifully with fruit-based desserts and creamy cheeses. Also, their rich, syrupy texture enhances the caramel, nutty, and spiced notes in these treats.

But buying a good sweet wine for Thanksgiving can be more expensive due to the extra caliber these wines demand for their sweet-tinted craftsmanship—be it a Canadian or German Ice Wine made from frozen grapes, a sweet fortified wine like Portugal’s Port or Spain’s Sherry, or a France’s Sauternes crafted from fungus-attacked grapes. But at the end, they’re worth the price, as you get to savor and share ambrosia-like luscious goodness among good food and people.

Pair With: Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, Apple Crisp, Brie, Fruit Tarts, Cheesecake

How Many Wine Bottles Should You Buy For Thanksgiving?

A bit of math can help determine how many bottles of wine you need for Thanksgiving. Typically, wines come in 750-ml bottles, each serving about 4 glasses. To calculate the number of bottles you’ll need, use this formula, assuming 2 servings each hour.

Alternatively, if the guests are avid drinkers or plan to enjoy wine from dinner prep to a long celebration spanning from sundown to sunrise, you can skip the math and select one bottle for each guest. Rest assured, it's always a good idea to grab a couple of extra bottles rather than risk running out.

Ultimately, you know your guests and the event best, so judge wisely and adjust accordingly.

How Much Should You Ideally Spend On Thanksgiving Wine?

A typical budget for Thanksgiving wine ranges from $60-$150, depending on the type of wine and the number of bottles you plan to purchase. And yes, while splurging is off-limits, it is not necessary to buy expensive wines for Thanksgiving, as there are many fine, reasonably priced options that will best do for your Thanksgiving food and company.

For a small, intimate gathering, a few bottles of wine may suffice, making it reasonable to spend $30-$40 per bottle. On the other hand, if you’re hosting a large gathering, you’ll likely need a larger quantity of bottles, so it’s best to cut costs by spending around $15 or less per bottle.

Ultimately, you know your budget best. It’s important to carefully consider how much you’re willing to speed and how many bottles you need to avoid straining your finances during the holiday season.

How To Store Your Thanksgiving Wine?

To avoid the last-minute rush of planning and errands, most people prepare for the holidays well in advance. This means you'll have got a big window of time between buying your best wine for Thanksgiving and pouring it.

To store your Thanksgiving wines correctly, place them horizontally in a dark, cold, mildly humid place, free from sunlight and vibrations. Make sure it’s nicely cold around 55°F (13°C), as a big dip below this will freeze your wine—a total blunder!

How To Serve Your Thanksgiving Wine?

Serving wine correctly involves not only impressing your guests with its aesthetic appeal, but also refining the wine drinking experience—from chilling it to the perfect temperature to selecting the appropriate glasses and pouring them in the correct order and portions with the right food.

Check out this table to serve your Thanksgiving wine like a pro:

What Should You Do If You Have Leftover Thanksgiving Wine?

With Thanksgiving being such a wild gathering with grand food and crowds, every host stocks up on a few extra wine bottles to avoid running out. This usually leads to a slight overstocking. If you are left with unopened bottles, well, great save for future celebrations, but what to do with the leftover opened Thanksgiving wine bottles?...

When you have leftover Thanksgiving wine, the first step is to store it properly. Reseal the wine bottle with a cork, stopper, or vacuum pump to prevent oxidation, then place it in a cold, dark place like a refrigerator or wine cellar to guard the freshness and extend the drinkability as much as possible—with Sparklings surviving for 1-2 days; Reds, Whites, and Rosés for 3-5 days; and Dessert Wines for 5-7 wines.

After the holiday, you can either enjoy your leftover Thanksgiving wine leisurely, pair it with leftover food, or use it for cooking. Mostly, it’s red wines for cooking and dry white wines for cooking, while sparklings, desserts, and rosé wines are used for cocktails.

Final Thoughts

We hope this blog helps you choose the best wine for Thanksgiving, be it for dinners or diners, and answers all possible queries about the right quantity, price, storage, serving, and leftover precautions. Remember, these are general guidelines for selecting a good wine for Thanksgiving, not rigid rules—use them to set the perfect scene.

Also, explore our Thanksgiving wine gifts collection, offering these great Thanksgiving wines and more at competitive prices with nationwide delivery. Whether you’re hosting or gifting, we also let you personalize wine bottles with custom messages and hand-painted designs or pair them with chic glassware, accessories, and gift baskets of mimosa, spa, cheese, chocolates, and more.