Sommelier Thanksgiving Day Sips - Wine Enthusiast

Wine Enthusiast tapped top wine experts from around the country to find out their ultimate wine and Thanksgiving dinner pairings.

By Melanie Nayer - Wine Enthusiast Magazine



The turkey is roasting, the stuffing is simmering and the sweet potatoes are browning. Thanksgiving dinner is about to be served. But while you're salivating over the scents coming from the kitchen, don't forget the most important ingredient: the wine. So what pairs well with the various flavors on the table? W.E. tapped top sommeliers from around the country to find out their ultimate wine and Thanksgiving dinner pairings.

Sommelier: Allison Foote, Rialto Restaurant at The Charles Hotel
Wine recommendation: 2010 Robert Sinskey Abraxas Vin de Terrior Scintilla Sonoma Vineyard
Pairs well with: "To avoid a redundant Thanksgiving dinner menu scheme, I like to pair wines that are expressive and show fragrant, high-toned fruit that suggest a sense of seasonal flavors. The Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Gewürztraminer blend is a perfect pairing for not only roasted turkey, savory stuffing and harvest vegetables, but its floral component would work well with soft cheeses and dried fruits."

Sommelier: Jeffrey Andrus, Charlie Palmer at The Joule, Dallas
Wine recommendation: 2009 Robert Foley Vineyards Charbono
Pairs well with: "This wine never fails to delight and intrigue. Its huge, dark, candied berry aromas, dense textures and spicy character delight serious red wine drinkers. Its light, almost non-detectible, silky tannins enamor the less frequent red wine drinkers in the group. What's especially exciting about this wine is how well it pairs with items containing sweet components, like cranberry sauce, candied yams and sweet glazed ham. Not only does this wine excel with Thanksgiving foods, it has the ability to become even more explosive in its aromas."

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