Best Wines for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is one of those times when the right wine can lift the whole occasion. Thanksgiving is the great wine pairing challenge of the American calendar — turkey is mild, sides are rich, and everyone has different preferences. This guide gives you the styles to look for, the bottles that consistently deliver, and ideas if you are bringing wine as a gift.
What to pour at the table
Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, dry Riesling and Zinfandel are the traditional choices. Pinot Noir is the safe bet for a single bottle on the table. The traditional choices for Thanksgiving have evolved over the years and there is no single right answer — but the styles below are the ones that hosts and guests both reach for time and again.
If you are giving wine as a gift
A bottle that pairs well with turkey and feels celebratory enough for the occasion. Cru Beaujolais and Russian River Pinot Noir are reliable picks. A bottle of wine remains one of the most thoughtful thanksgiving gifts because it gets used, shared and remembered.
Find wines for this guide at Prism Fine Wine
Every wine in our store is hand-selected by our team. We offer expert curation, US shipping and next-day delivery in many ZIP codes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What wine is traditional for Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is the great wine pairing challenge of the American calendar — turkey is mild, sides are rich, and everyone has different preferences.
What is the best thanksgiving wine to gift?
A bottle that pairs well with turkey and feels celebratory enough for the occasion. Cru Beaujolais and Russian River Pinot Noir are reliable picks.
How many bottles do I need for thanksgiving?
Plan on roughly half a bottle per adult guest as a baseline, more if the meal runs long or you are pairing different wines with different courses.