Turkey is a staple at many holiday meals, especially Thanksgiving. But what wine pairs best with this lean, mild flavored poultry? Should you serve red or white wine with turkey? The good news is you have options with both red and white wines. Here’s a guide to picking the perfect wine for your turkey feast.
White Wines That Go Well With Turkey
White wines offer brightness and acidity to complement turkey’s delicate flavor. Here are some top white wine varietals and styles to consider:
-
Chardonnay – A full-bodied, oaked Chardonnay provides richness to balance the turkey’s leaner texture. The vanilla and spice notes from oak aging also pair nicely.
-
Riesling – Riesling ranges from dry to sweet. Dry styles have racy acidity to cut through the turkey’s fattiness. Off-dry versions with residual sugar match nicely with any spicy seasonings.
-
Sauvignon Blanc – Thezippy citrus notes of Sauvignon Blanc cut through turkey’s richness. Herb-driven styles complement poultry seasoning.
-
Chenin Blanc – Chenin Blanc offers fresh stone fruit flavors along with bright acidity It’s a very food-friendly pairing for turkey.
-
Viognier – Viognier’s stone fruit aromas and fuller body complement turkey’s delicate flavor. It adds richness without being too heavy.
-
Sparkling Wines – Bubbles like Cava Prosecco and Champagne make fantastic palate-cleansing matches with turkey. Acidity and effervescence cut through the dish’s richness.
Red Wines That Go Well With Turkey
Don’t rule out red wines with poultry. Lighter bodied reds with soft tannins make great options:
-
Pinot Noir – Pinot Noir offers cherry, earth, and herbal notes. The soft tannins and acidity balance the turkey. Cooler climate styles work best.
-
Gamay – Fresh, juicy Gamay like Beaujolais has bright cherry fruit with very subtle tannins. It’s an easy drinking match for turkey.
-
Grenache – Grenache also has approachable tannins. Red fruit flavors pair nicely with traditional sides like cranberry sauce.
-
Zinfandel – Zinfandel offers bolder red and black fruit flavors along with a hint of spice. It can hold up to boldly seasoned turkey.
-
Malbec – Argentina’s signature red also has softer tannins. Its plum and dark fruit flavors complement the poultry.
Key Factors in Picking Wine for Turkey
Consider these elements when selecting turkey’s ideal wine pairing:
-
White vs. Dark Meat – Leaner white breast meat calls for lighter wines like Pinot Noir or Chenin Blanc. Fattier, richer dark thigh meat can handle medium-bodied reds like Malbec.
-
Preparation – Simple roasted turkey goes well with bright, acidic wines like Sauvignon Blanc and Gamay. Deep fried or heavily seasoned turkey can take bolder wines like Chardonnay or Zinfandel.
-
Sides – Classic creamy, buttery sides need higher acid wines like Riesling or Beaujolais. Things like roasted fall vegetables can pair with softer reds like Pinot Noir.
-
Condiments – Tart cranberry sauce wants fruity, bright wines. Gravy and stuffing need weightier whites like Viognier or light reds like Pinot Noir.
Serving Tips
-
Offer a range of light, medium, and fuller-bodied wines so guests can taste and choose favorites.
-
Chill reds like Pinot Noir and Gamay slightly before serving.
-
Include a sparkling wine or Rosé as a festive starter before the meal.
-
Pour whites and lighter reds first to enjoy while turkey is mild in flavor. Move to more robust wines as flavors develop.
-
Cleanse palates between bites with sips of a crisp white, sparkling, or chilled light red.
The takeaway? Both reds and whites work beautifully with turkey. Taste different bottles to see what suits your palate. And don’t overthink it too much – enjoying good company over the holidays is much more important than the “perfect” wine pairing!
Best Wine and Turkey Pairings
When it comes to enjoying a turkey dinner, whether on Thanksgiving or any other day of the year, the perfect wine pairing can take your meal from good to great. It may be a bit overwhelming when trying to select the right bottle, but worry not!
In this blog post, the Hillside Turkey Farms team will discuss the best red, white, and rosé wines to complement your turkey dinner. So, whether you’re a traditionalist who prefers a full-bodied red wine or you enjoy a lighter, fruitier taste, we’re here to help you find the perfect wine pairing for your turkey meal:
Red wines are a staple for Thanksgiving dinner, especially if you enjoy a heartier meal. Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel are all excellent choices as they pair well with the rich flavors of turkey and gravy. If you prefer a more bold wine, choose a Cabernet Sauvignon—it has a strong taste, making it perfect for red meats.
On the other hand, Pinot Noir is a bit lighter, with notes of earth, berries, and spice, so it’s a great wine for those who prefer a subtler taste. Lastly, Zinfandel is a versatile wine with fruity and spicy notes, perfect for those who enjoy a spicier turkey dish.
White wines are typically lighter and crisp, pairing well with a variety of dishes. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Riesling are excellent choices to accompany your turkey dinner. Sauvignon Blanc is a light and citrusy wine that compliments turkey well, as it doesn’t overpower the dish’s flavor.
Chardonnay is a more robust white wine featuring notes of vanilla and butter. If you prefer your wine a bit sweeter, Riesling is an ideal pick—it features fruity and floral aromas with a balanced sweetness perfect for turkey stuffing.
If you’re looking for something different and fun, try a rosé wine! Rosé wines are trendy right now, with light and fruity notes making them great for your Thanksgiving or holiday meal. The best rosé wines to accompany your turkey dinner are those with a bit of sweetness and a light, refreshing flavor.
Look for a rosé with a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah grapes for a richer flavor. Another good option is a rosé made with Pinot Noir grapes, which has subtle notes of cherry and strawberry.
The Perfect Wine Pairing
Finding the perfect wine to pair with your turkey dinner can be challenging, but it’s worth the effort. In general, if you plan to serve a sweeter dish, such as cranberry sauce, a dry or off-dry wine is best.
A fruity or spicy wine will complement a savory dish, like stuffing or mashed potatoes. Lastly, for a smoky or spicy turkey dish, look for a wine with a higher sugar content to balance these flavors.
What Wine Should You Serve With Turkey?
FAQ
Does turkey go better with white or red wine?
Great wine matches with turkey include relatively full-bodied white wines or medium-bodied reds with low-to-medium tannin levels and high acidity.Nov 4, 2024
Does red or white wine go with Thanksgiving dinner?
For Thanksgiving, white wines like Chardonnay or Riesling and red wines like Pinot Noir or Zinfandel are popular choices, as they tend to pair well with turkey and traditional sides. Presentation: Bring the wine in a nice bag or wrap it attractively if you want to add a thoughtful touch.
Do you serve red or white wine with roast turkey?
Finding the perfect wine to pair with turkey, alongside all the other side dishes and sauces, might seem challenging, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Richer whites and lighter reds are ideal for complementing turkey’s succulent flavour.
Can you drink Pinot Grigio with turkey?
Pinot Grigio is a light and dry white wine and will not enhance the flavour of your Turkey very well.Aug 7, 2023
What wine goes with a white meat turkey?
Chardonnay is a perfect choice for pairing with white meat turkey. Look for a California Chardonnay if you love that buttery, oaky flavor that’s delicious with mashed potatoes. Similar to chardonnay, Chenin Blanc has a bright acidity and notes of green apple that mingles really nicely with a turkey that has a fruit glaze.
Red vs White wine: Which is healthier?
The difference between red and white wine is the colour of the grapes which are used. To make white wine, grapes are pressed and skin, seeds and stems are removed before fermentation. However, to make red wine, the crushed red grapes are fermented with seeds, skin and stems. As a result, red wine is rich in plant compounds that are present in those skins such as tannins and resveratrol. Overall, red wine has slight edge over white because it has higher amounts of vitamins and minerals. Red wine helps in reducing heart disease risk, increase good HDL cholesterol and helps with diabetes. Red wine helps with cancer and eases joint pain.
How do you choose a wine for a turkey dinner?
As a Certified Specialist of Wine, curating balanced and exciting food and wine pairings is part of the joy of mealtimes. Picking a wine for your turkey dinner can be pretty straightforward if you stick to choosing it based on the color, but when you start considering the nuances it can quickly become overwhelming.
What wine goes well with cold roast turkey leftovers?
For cold roast turkey leftovers, food and wine expert Fiona Beckett wrote in a previous Decanter article that she’d opt for ‘a riper, more robustly fruity Pinot Noir from, say, California, Oregon or New Zealand’. Younger reds can work, too.
What wine goes well with a fried turkey?
Champagne is the perfect wine pairing if you love to deep fry your turkey. The Champagne will cut through the greasy fried turkey and amplify the herbal flavors used to season the turkey. Gamay is one of the most popular wines served on Thanksgiving Day. Gamay wine has high acidity and low tannic activity.
What wine should I drink if I eat turkey meat?
That said, dark turkey meat or turkey slathered in gravy has a weightier profile that can tolerate a bit more tannin. For optimal balance, stick to wines with low to medium tannins, like sangiovese, barbera, malbec, and pinot noir.