Podcasts Arts Wine for Normal People Ep 451: Thanksgiving Wines on a Budget

Ep 451: Thanksgiving Wines on a Budget

Published: Nov. 22, 2022, 1 a.m.

Happy Thanksgiving/Harvest Meal 2022. For this episode, we\u2019re discussing wines that will give you great bang for your buck, pair perfectly with the meal, and impress your guests.

Photo: Pumpkins & Pais!
(c) Wine For Normal People

These pairings are really for any traditional western meal \u2013 Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any sort of food that celebrates autumn flavors.\xa0

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Here\u2019s the list for 2022...

The Welcome Wine

  • Sparkling options: Sekt from Germany (Riesling is best), South African Cap Classique, Lambrusco
  • Sherry: Our favorite type of Sherry is Amontillado. It\u2019s great with nuts and generally well liked by people when they try it. Good producers: Hidalgo la Gitana, Valdespino, Lustau, Osbourne, and Bodegas Dios Baco are some great producers.

Dry white wines



  • OR More acidic whites -- better with acidic food with a lot of citrus/acidity or for contrast:
    • Vernaccia di San Gimignano (Tuscany)
    • Australian Riesling from the Clare and Eden Valleys
    • Finger Lakes Riesling

Off Dry Whites for dishes with fruit or with sweetness (yams, corn):

  • Mosel Riesling from Germany
  • Off-dry Finger Lakes Riesling
  • Vouvray from the Loire Valley, France

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Light Reds and ros\xe9 (good with turkey, ham, pork):

Heavier reds (for non-turkey meals):

  • Bordeaux \u2013 general Bordeaux or Bordeaux Superieur for MVP, Right Bank (St. Emilion, Fronsac) and C\xf4tes de Bordeaux for meats or heavier vegetables with more delicate, herbal flavors, M\xe9doc for more robust meats with more charred notes
  • Primitivo for robust meats
  • Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon or Carm\xe9nere for heavily flavored, braised, charred meat

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Dessert:

  • Ruby Port for chocolate desserts
  • Muscat-based wines \u2013 Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, Muscat de Rivesaltes for fruit or custard desserts
  • Bring back the off-dry Sekt or Lambrusco from the beginning of the meal to enjoy at the end of the meal. Lambrusco is good with berry or cherry desserts, Sekt with apple and custards

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Tips:

  • Don\u2019t buy too much wine.
  • If you have a limited number of drinkers, limit the choices for the meal. If you plan to serve dessert wine, don\u2019t go overboard with options at the beginning of the meal or you\u2019ll have no takers.
  • If your meal has a theme \u2013 it\u2019s very savory or is very vegetable focused, stick to the wine that will best suit those dishes and don\u2019t offer too many choices

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Check out the Wine For Normal People book for more tips on pairing!\xa0

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Have a safe, happy, healthy holiday. We are so grateful to you for listening and for your continued support!!

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