Thanksgiving Wine Pairings

From stuffing to pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving's traditional dishes are rich and heavy. To complement these big flavors, the wines you choose should be full-bodied and tinged with acidic and fruit-forward notes.

As far as whites go, you'll want heavy wines with legs and complexity that can dance with Thanksgiving sides such as sweet potatoes. Reds are fair game too as long as you choose pairings that partner up with each dish.


Here are some of our $10-and-under favorites with their Thanksgiving dish match-ups.
Reds
2008 Cycles Gladiator Pinot Noir ($10): Approachable for relatives who don't typically drink wine, this light-bodied California Pinot packs a punch with milk-chocolate, plum and cherry notes and a seamless finish of velvety tannins. Pair with turkey or simply prepared vegetables so that the food does not overpower the wine.

2007 Wily Jack Zinfandel ($8): We poured this Cali Zin for friends then waited for jaws to drop. (They did.) This would pair well with sweet potatoes incorporating vanilla, maples and spices. Notes of cinnamon emerged after some air, and there is major heat on the finish.

2008 Tapena Garnacha ($6.99): Starting with its earthy nose, this Spanish Garnacha is luscious, velvety with a hint of blueberry on the finish. Match it with your spiciest dish.

2008 Bodegas Borsao Campo de Borja Vina Borgia ($5.99): With hints of spice and rich plum notes, this Spanish wine is one of the best bargains we've seen all year. Indigo color in the glass, this pour goes great with cranberry dishes.

Wild Hare Cabernet Sauvignon ($6.99): This approachable, full-bodied California Cabernet Sauvignon (another good pick for relatives not savvy about wine) has raspberries on the nose and a spicy, soft finish that lingers. We think it's a lovely red to sip with turkey.

Whites
2008 Domaine de Pouy Côtes des Gasgogne ($8): Notes of Granny Smith apples and lots of minerality make this French wine a nice pairing with salads, but it would also hold up to mashed potatoes. A dish that incorporates sharp, hard cheeses (our favorite being Pecorino Romano) –- or cut pears or apples -– would marry well with this wine.

2008 Motos Liberty Pinot Grigio ($8.99): This very unusually bright and acidic (for a Pinot Grigio) from California produces honeysuckle and rose petals on the nose, and a tiny bit of effervescence on the finish. Drink with sweet potatoes.

2008 Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc ($10): A tad less zippy than a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, but just as vibrant, this California wine would work well as a starter wine or with any dish having Asian or Indian influences.

2007 Six Prong Chardonnay Horse Heaven Hills ($10): With a good mouth feel and pear notes, this wine would suit both the wine snob and the wine novices at your table. We would pair this Washington Chardonnay with bread (especially herb breads if you've got them) –- with pats of butter, of course.

Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut ($10): Pour a glass of this Spanish sparkling wine with pumpkin pie or provide guests with a flute of it when they arrive. The tropical notes and dry, firm finish will win them over.