Author: Dirk Chan
Wow…Thanksgiving week is fast upon us, where did September go? So here is our annual picks to accompany the classic turkey and/or ham dinner with all its fixings. Start your evening off with a sparkling wine, followed by whites, reds, a dessert wine and perhaps a port to end.
Note we are closed on Thanksgiving Monday.
Sparkling Wines
Sparkling wines are a great way to start any function whether its a greeting aperitif or to pair with appetizers. Lively and clean, these will get everyone ready for what’s to come next.
NV Pere Ventura Chic Barcelona Cava Brut (Penedès, Spain) – $21.49
NV Lini 910 Lambrusco ‘Lambrusca’ (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) – $26.49
NV Domaine Rosier Cuvee Ma Maison Rosé Cremant de Limoux (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $31.99
NV Château de Rhodes Methode Ancestrale Brut (Gaillac, France) – $41.99
NV Benjamin Bridge Underwater Quest Rosé Methode Classique (Nova Scotia, Canada) – $99.99
Champagne
Now if you serve Champagne, your audience will immediately know you’re here to do some serious partaking and celebrating.
NV Charles Mignon Premium Reserve Brut (Champagne, France) – $69.99
NV Champagne Forget-Brimont Brut Rosé Premier Cru (Champagne, France) – $79.99
NV Domaine Rousseaux-Batteux Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Extra Brut (Champagne, France) – $98.99
NV Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve Vieilles Vignes (Champagne, France) – $119.99
2009 Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart Extra Brut Vintage (Champagne, France) – $144.99
2008 Champagne Gardet Prestige Charles Gardet Brut Millesime (Champagne, France) – $189.99
2019 Champagne Agrapart Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Mineral (Champagne, France) – $299.99
Whites & Pinks
Whites with a touch of sweetness is preferred because of the sweetness of some of the fixings – candied yams, cranberry sauce, and honey for the glazed ham. A completely dry white will seem more austere and void of fruit due to the sweetness of the food so I recommend Rieslings (dry or off-dry, both work), sweet Chenin Blancs or other Germanic or Alsace varietals. Having said that, some will always go with a dry creamy Chardonnay irregardless and that’s perfectly fine. Also, don’t forget that rosés work really well too!
2025 Agricola Fattori Roncha Pinot Grigio (Veneto, Italy) – $21.49
2024 Vineland Estates Unoaked Chardonnay (Ontario – Niagara, Canada) – $23.99
2025 Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand) – $27.99
2024 Lucien Lardy Beaujolais-Villages Chardonnay (Beaujolais, France) – $30.99
2013 Muller-Catoir Gimmel Riesling Kabinett (Rheinpfalz, Germany) – $36.99
2022 Tommasi Ammura Etna Bianco (Sicily, Italy) – $44.99
2024 Hubert Brochard Sancerre (Loire Valley, France) – $45.99
2023 Alheit Vineyards Cartology Bush Vines White (Western Cape, South Africa) – $59.99
2023 Remirez de Ganuza Blanco Reserva (Rioja, Spain) – $73.99
2023 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #10 (Mosel, Germany) – $96.99
2022 La Chablisienne Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos (Chablis, France) – $134.99
2022 Olivier Leflaive Puligny Montrachet (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $259.99
2025 Maison Austruy Peyrassol Mediterranée Rosé (Provence, France) – $25.99
2024 Domaine de la Begude Bandol Rosé (Bandol, France) – $41.99
Reds
For reds, try to avoid the big oaky tannic monsters. Oak and tannins are the enemies when pairing with slightly sweet food, try for a red with lots of up-front fruit, little oak and a soft tannins like a Beaujolais (served slightly chilled) or a Pinot Noir.
2024 Spinelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (Abruzzo, Italy) – $19.99
2024 Domaine Reine Juliette Carignan (Pays d’Oc, France) – $22.49
2025 Earl Paul Durdilly et Fils Beaujolais Les Grandes Coasses (Beaujolais, France) – $25.99
2023 Herdade do Mouchao Dom Rafael Tinto (Alentejo, Portugal) – $26.99
2025 Tracy & Cie Les Marnes Pinot Noir (Loire Valley, France) – $28.99
2024 Bertani Valpolicella Valpantena (Veneto, Italy) – $31.99
2025 Elena Walch Schiava (Alto Adige, Italy) – $34.99
2022 Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc (BC – Okanagan, Canada) – $49.99
2024 Castello di Verduno Pelaverga Piccolo Basadone DOC (Piedmont, Italy) – $57.99
2018 Tentenublo Escondite del Ardacho El Abundillano (Rioja, Spain) – $74.99
2017 Herdade do Mouchao Mouchao (Alentejo, Portugal) – $81.99
2021 Louis Jadot Beaune Theurons Premier Cru (Burgundy – Cote de Beaune, France) – $99.99
2013 Sordo Giovanni Barolo Perno (Piedmont, Italy) – $119.99
2013 Marchesi di Gresy Barbaresco Camp Gros Riserva (Piedmont, Italy) – $154.99
2021 Agricola Querciabella Camartina Toscana IGT (Tuscany, Italy) – $185.99
2010 Château Magdelaine Grand Cru Classé (Bordeaux – St. Emilion, France) – $229.99
2009 Le Carre Grand Cru (Bordeaux – St. Emilion, France) – $329.99
2009 Château La Conseillante (Bordeaux – Pomerol, France) – $579.99
Dessert
Sweet dessert wines and Port are always good for the final touches of a meal:
Arnaud de Villeneuve Rivesaltes Ambre Tradition 5 Year Old (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $29.99
Warre’s Otima 10 Year Old Tawny Port (Douro, Portugal) – 500mL – $32.99
2016 Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos Aszu (Hungary) – 250mL – $38.99
2021 Brigaldara Recioto della Valpolicella (Veneto, Italy) – 375mL – $46.99
2018 Borgo Scopeto Vin Santo del Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy) – 375mL – $66.99
2021 Château Sigalas Rabaud Premier Cru Classé (Bordeaux – Sauternes, France) – 375mL – $69.99
2018 Croft Quinta da Roeda Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $74.99
2010 Hexamer Riesling Eiswein Meddersheimer Altenberg (Nahe, Germany) – 375mL – $89.99
2015 Villa Calcinaia Vin Santo (Tuscany, Italy) – 375mL – $104.99
2016 Quevedo Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $119.99
2009 Domaine Huet Cuvee Constance (Loire Valley, France) – 375mL – $169.99
2011 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $219.99
Kopke 40 Year Old (Douro, Portugal) – $249.99
1957 Kopke Colheita (Douro, Portugal) – $419.99
1994 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $499.99
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!