The holiday season is upon us, and more than likely, the family chefs have already started planning their menus and stocking up on food and decorations for the extravagant dinners and festivities scheduled for Thanksgiving day and Friendsgiving gatherings. For those kindly asked to keep out of the kitchen, here’s one good way to contribute to Thanksgiving dinner that the whole family will appreciate: Bring a few bottles of excellent wine.
While wine may seem insignificant, its place at food-rich events like holiday dinners is paramount. Not only does it bring people together, but wine, with its alluring aromas, fruity or savory nuances, and opulent texture, can amplify and elevate the many flavors of traditional dishes that grace the Thanksgiving table. It can really tie the meal together and enhance the holiday dinner experience. After all, few beverages say “Welcome” quite like the glass of sparkling wine that greets your hand when you enter a loved one’s door, and nothing washes down turkey and stuffing quite like a juicy red.
There are no hard-set rules regarding wines to pair with Thanksgiving dinner, but there are a few aspects to remember. The dishes typically prepared for the holiday can be considerably dense, so you’ll want to look for wines that complement or cut through all that richness. Dry whites with lean and crisp acidity can go a long way in cutting through fattier dishes, while oaked, fuller-bodied whites can boost their luxe flavor. Both lighter-style splashy reds with low alcohol and robust, powerful, full-bodied reds deserve a spot on the table as they can accommodate a range of palates and provide a mix of textures and tastes that make the meal feel more elegant. And when in doubt, pour up the bubbly. The bright profile of most sparkling wines allows it to pair with almost anything you can think to eat during your celebrations.
The wine options for a delectable Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving dinner are truly limitless, but that doesn’t necessarily make choosing the right bottle any less of a challenge. Fortunately, there are plenty of Black-owned wines that can add the perfect amount of joyful cheer to any holiday meal at a range of price points. Here are a few worth pouring.
This mouthwatering white wine comes from Ayesha Curry and her sister-in-law, Sydel Curry-Lee. It is made with Sauvignon Blanc grapes from two distinct Napa Valley Vineyards: Wappo Hill in the Stag’s Leap District and River Oaks in Alexander Valley. That blend of juicy fruit results in an incredibly refreshing wine with tropical nuances of guava, passionfruit, and melon and just the right amount of bright minerality and acidity to lift heavier foods and mesh with the lighter dishes floating around the Thanksgiving table.
Available at The Prisoner Wine Company
What started out as a hobby in winemaker Phil Long’s garage became a full-fledged winery in 2008 when Longevity Wines was launched. Located in California’s Livermore, Long, who is also the president of the Association of African American Vintners, produces a range of wines from the minerally bright and light Pinot Blanc to the big and bold Barbera. However, Longevity’s Chardonnay is a standout. Elegant and luscious, this wine is a meal in itself, full of beautiful, ripe fruit nuances balanced with fresh minerality, the slightest warming touch of oak, and clean acidity that makes the finish feel endless.
Available at Total Wine
Here’s a still rosé option for the table that is impeccably dry, delicate, and fresh. The wine, produced in France’s luxurious St. Tropez, is made with a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rolle, and Mourvèdre grapes and features fruity characteristics of strawberry and citrus and a healthy dose of minerality, which gives the wine some vibrancy. The third-most imported rosé in the U.S., La Fête is the lovechild of spirits industry mastermind Donae Burston, who oversaw the rise of Jay Z’s Champagne Armand de Brignac and various other LVMH powerhouse brands.
Available at Wine.com
Produced by sommelier and restauranteur-turned-winemaker Andre Heuston Mack, this wine hails from Oregon’s famous Willamette Valley. It features all the classic nuances of many Pinot Noirs from the area: spicy, woody, earthy, and herbal, catapulted by an abundance of cherry. While the wine is light enough to drink entirely on its own, it has the structure and complexity to really upgrade a meal like Thanksgiving dinner.
Available at Total Wine
Frichette has been a fixture of Washington state’s wine scene since Shae Frichette and her husband Greg established the winery in the Red Mountain region in 2013. The couple’s Cabernet Franc is a fabulous medium-bodied dinner wine that can be paired with various foods, from lighter to heartier fare. It’s a fruit-driven wine that features an essence of blueberry and raspberry aromas complemented by a hint of mocha on the palate. Its texture is velvety soft, with refined tannins that make the wine go down enjoyably smooth.
Available at Frichette Winery
Every Thanksgiving dinner requires at least one wine that is undeniably robust, big, and energetic—kind of like the melange of relatives that make up a large family. Meadows Estate’s Cabernet Sauvignon, made with grapes from the Umpqua Valley region of Oregon, has the power and structure needed to bring a massive dinner together. Although this wine exudes blackberry and plum aromas and characteristics, the palate evolves into a more savory territory with dark chocolate and earthy, spiced wood notes. The winery is founded by Dexter and Marilyn Meadows.
Available at Meadows Estate Winery
Issa Rae released a new Italian Prosecco Rosé in early October, the second delicious offering in her growing wine empire. Made with Glera and Pinot Noir grapes, this fresh and light, pretty pink sparkling is very easygoing. Strawberry and raspberry lead the aroma while the palate displays more vibrant and ripe red fruit flavors and an approachable profile that’s sure to please any crowd. Like its straight Prosecco predecessor, the bubbly can serve double duty as the perfect aperitif to kick off the holiday festivities and one to be enjoyed with food. Sit it next to the cranberry sauce and watch it disappear.
Available at Total Wine