you can actually buy this glass for $18.95. um, wow.

I really wasn’t going to do straight-up wine pairing suggestions for Thanksgiving. But I’ve been reading a lot of these other articles and there are some…”interesting” suggestions flying around, so I realized you may want a grapefriend in your time of need. Also, my mom sent me an email saying I should do it.

So here’s the #1 rule about pairing wine with Thanksgiving dinner: there is no right answer. TG dins is a mishmash of a million different dishes and everyone makes different things. The one common denominator is turkey, and that is SO boring. It ain’t the tryptophan that makes you sleepy it’s just the thought of this big boring bird plopped in the center of a table that makes you want to snooze.

So here’s what I’d suggest – and we’re going all-American!

bubbles

Bubbles are great for any cocktail hour or any time at all pre-dinner, on any holiday or any day of the year really! You could even just keep drinking this all throughout dinner if you’re that much a fan of the bub.

pilgrim budget: Domaine Ste. Michelle NV Brut, $11: a very decent go-to from a winery that makes a fabulous Riesling (which I wouldn’t suggest for TG, fyi)

fat o’ the land budget: Iron Horse Classic Vintage Brut, $33: Iron Horse is an iconic American sparkling wine. This one’s 68% Pinot Noir and 32% Chardonnay – remember those two grapes as we move on!

whites

To me, white is gonna be your best bet for TG. You’ve got the boring bird and staple sides like potatoes and bread stuffing, which all pair well with white – just make sure it’s full-bodied.

pilgrim budget: Kunde Viognier, $15 but selling for $10 here. I love Viognier, sooo flavorful and this one has fantasticly subtle pear and peach flavors. If you want to do something a little more fruity, this is a fun time.

You could also go MacMurray Ranch Pinot Gris, $18, which also has a peachy-pear fruit thing going on and that famous copper hue. Mmmm!

fat o’ the land budget: Kistler Chardonnay, $55. Chardonnay is a great choice for TG. There are thousands out there, and I’m sure you have your go-to, but Kistler is a fantastic high-end choice.

red

You want to stick with light reds, since nothing on a typical TG menu supports anything bold and tannic.

pilgrim budget: We already know not to go Nouveau when it comes to Beaujolais, but the light and fruity Gamay grape actually goes great with turkey sides. Lots of people poo-poo the DuBoeuf stuff, but they’re really good for the price. I’ve already told you about the Fleurie, and you could also try the Jean Descombes Morgon, $17, which has some raspberry, strawberry and violets going on.

fat o’ the land budget: Flowers Pinot Noir, $52. A yummy good Pinot with plum, typical cherry and cassis flavors. Pinot is worth splurging on – a tough grape to grow so good ones often cost more for the effort.

Ooooh I just love being thankful for wine! Enjoy!