The 23 Best Wines To Serve At Thanksgiving

This sparkling red wine is produced with old-vine, organically grown grapes. "Displaying a wide range of juicy red—think cranberry—and black fruit, and framed by delicate acidity and frothy bubbles, this Lambrusco will keep you at your dinner table longer than anticipated," said Ryan Schmied, corporate director of food and beverage experiences at AHC Hospitality. "Perfect pairing for turkey and all the fixings.”

This Spanish red blend has "amazing layers of flavors that range from dark plums and dark cherries to chocolate," said Brandon Kalfut, chef at The Committee Chophouse in Omaha, NE. "The pairing options are endless, from a great appetizer wine to a dessert wine."

This full-bodied chardonnay is perfect for standing up to your turkey. "Rich and full in the mouth, this is a wine with structure, tight mineral texture, and beautifully juicy fruit," said Norbert Szalay, food and beverage manager at The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort. "The acidity is a strong part of this wine, giving a citrus tang to go over the wood aging."

For a great Thanksgiving wine that will "taste nicely with everything but the candles," as Victor King put it, executive chef and co-owner of The Essential, Bandit Pâtisserie, and Bar La Fête in Alabama. "Go with a malbec. This one is a triple threat: people pleaser, refreshing, and pairs so well with all Thanksgiving foods."

"For Thanksgiving, I love wines from France’s Rhone Valley," said Seth Dunagan, wine director at Birmingham, AL, restaurant Helen. "I love this Lou Coucardie red. The 2015 vintage is rich, bold, and concentrated without being heavy or cloying. Perfect with your classic Thanksgiving roasted meats and hearty vegetable sides."

Robert D’Arcangelo, general manager of Bellini Providence in Rhode Island, said it's best to start the celebration with something sparkling, but "then I recommend moving into a barbaresco from the Piedmont region," he said. "100 percent Nebbiolo, amazing red fruit, and gentle tannins."

The grapes for this white wine, called Falanghina, are grown in the volcanic soils of Mount Vesuvius. "The warmer climates of southern Italy give Falanghina a rich and oily texture," said Matthew Orawski, senior beverage manager for Eataly North America. "Falanghina is always made dry and smells and taste of lemon rind, white flowers, peach, honey and almonds."

This orange wine might seem like an unusual choice for Thanksgiving, but sommelier Debbie Jones of two-Michelin-starred Jungsik loves it.

"This is a wine with complexity, tannins, and structure to stand up to all different Thanksgiving dishes," she said. "Santa Chiara is explosive and highly aromatic with notes of macerated peach, white pepper, orange, and white flowers."

“One of my favorite ways to kick off a party is with a bottle of sparkling wine," said Kathleen Standridge, wine director at The Shipwright's Daughter in Mystic, C.T. "A great and affordable alternative to Champagne is Crémant, a sparkling wine that comes from France made in the same style as a champagne, but comes from outside of the Champagne region." She loves this one from Moillard.

Another one of Standridge's Turkey Day go-to's is this lambrusco. "What’s not to like about a lightly effervescent, chilled red wine with a touch of sweetness from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy?" she said. "If you’ve never tried one before, be prepared to have your mind blown."

Beverage director Laura Sundh at Robert Et Fils in Chicago describes this reisling as "textured and exquisitely structured with the nose of elderflowers and granny smith apples and gives way to stone fruit and spices on the finish."

Bourbon barrel aging makes this Cabernet have notes of cedar and a touch of caramel with a subtle hint of bourbon, which blend harmoniously with flavors of baked fruits...meaning it pairs perfectly with pies.

When it comes to Thanksgiving, the day is all about pacing yourself. And this iconic wine-based apéritif is perfect to start the marathon. Serve it chilled and topped with soda water along with some apps before the big feast really begins.

"When choosing a good wine for our Thanksgiving menu, I recommend sticking to something light and fresh," said Oscar Amaya, beverage director at the Rusty Pelican in Miami. He goes for lighter bodied red wines like pinot noir and cru beaujolais from France or the Willamette Valley in Oregon. This rec of his is a beaujolais from France.

"Hailing from The Hudson Valley Region, Millbrook Proprietor’s Special Reserve Cabernet Franc has notes of earthy, warm spices and berries that compliment a Thanksgiving meal beautifully," said Laura Pica, better known as The Boozy Bartender.

If you typically go for white or rosé but feel like it's only right to sip on red in the fall, this is the bottle for you. It's light-bodied and goes well with turkey, cranberry sauce, and roasted veggies.

Thanksgiving foods are heavy, so even crisp, sparkling whites need a little body to stand up to them. This bottle has it.

Dark meat lovers will find a friend in Zinfandel, which is bold, rich, and often a bit higher in alcohol content than other wines. This one clocks in at 14.5 percent ABV.

Pinot Noir is like the cousin that keeps the peace: It just puts everyone at ease. Sip on one of the best with this one; it has notes of plum and dark berry.

Only close-minded people say rosé is just a summer drink. This bottle is bubbly, rich, and robust, so it holds up to hearty meals—like, say, turkey with 20 sides.