There is a lot to get stressed out about around the holidays – Which wine to bring or to serve should NOT be one of them.  Here are the simple answers to the big question, “What wine do I serve at Thanksgiving? How do I pair with all these flavors and sides?!

Here are my ultimate Thanksgiving wine picks. 

Sparkling Wine or Champagne:

Every holiday should start with a little festive fizz.  I suggest a cava or a prosecco, which is affordable. Bubbly pairs well with everything, especially a cheese plate and whatever appetizers you’re serving. This Levert Cremant De Bourgogne Brut Sparkling Wine from Total Wine would be a great option.

For White Wine: I recommend Chablis/Beaune or Vouvray:

Chardonnay is divisive, but it really doesn’t have to be.  My suggestion:  go French.  Specifically, go to Burgundy.  Chablis is chardonnay so it is a food-friendly wine and a crowd-pleaser, but it won’t upset the oak-haters.  It’s fresh and dry with bright green apple acidity and nice mineral undertones. You could also pick a wine from Beaune. This Chardonnay will have a bit more body and flowery undertones but won’t overwhelm. I like this Edouard Delaunay Septembre Bourgogne Chardonnay from Total Wine.

Another option is this Bougrier ‘V’ Vouvray Sec Dry, 2021 from Total Wine. Vouvray is from the Loire Valley in France and the grape used to make it is Chenin Blanc. For Thanksgiving, you should opt for a “sec” or “demi-sec” selection. Vouvray has aromas and flavors of honey, nuts, ginger, fig, apples. So delicious with turkey and all the fixings.

For Red Wines I recommend: Cru Beaujolais or Zinfandel:

Beaujolais is my NUMBER ONE holiday wine pick.  If you only serve one wine, it’s this. 

There are three different levels of Beaujolais:

• Nouveau
• Villages
• Cru 

Opt for a Cru Beaujolais if you can, they are light to medium bodied, full of glorious red fruit aromas and it goes with everything. They can be served a bit chilled too, which will please the white wine drinkers.

Just to confuse you a bit, the Cru Beaujolais aren’t labeled that way.  They have the individual Crus listed on the label.  I’d suggest Brouilly if you want a lighter bodied choice; Fleurie if you want a medium bodied choice; or Morgon for the most complex and fuller bodied choice. I like this Chateau Des Deduits Fleurie, 2020 from Total Wine.

And, because I can’t talk about Thanksgiving wines and include only French selections… my final suggestion is a…

Zinfandel from California

Zinfandel is definitely not a lighter wine like Beaujolais.  It’s for people who want their fruit-bomb, with some spice. You can get some amazing Zinfandel from California. The Truett Hurst Zinfandel Three Vineyards Sonoma County is a good choice from Total Wine.

Here’s an Optional Sweet Ending:

Moscato di Asti

If you want to bring dessert but don’t want to bring a pie, bring a chilled Moscato di Asti. It’s lightly sparkling Italian dessert wine that is the perfect sweet ending to a meal, with aromas of orange blossom and honey.  You can enjoy it with any dessert you’ll find in the spread, even apple pie. I like this Marchese Dell’Elsa Moscato D’Asti from Total Wine.

So there’s your list! Take it with you to your Total Wine store and their knowledgeable wine experts will help you find what you’re looking for. Now, tell me what your favorite holiday beverages are in the comments! I’m dreaming up my menu.