The Thanksgiving menu is a particularly interesting one for wine pairing for several reasons.

1. There is a lot of food! The menu is longer than an average meal, which means more flavors, more textures, and more kinds of food.
2. There are some common Thanksgiving dinner ingredients that are not normally part of a menu. Let’s start with cranberry sauce, which brings bright, tart-yet-sweet flavors to basic turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy. To that you add a variety of possibly creamed vegetables, yams or sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping, and don’t forget a molded gelatin salad that could appear. These unique foods raise the bar on easy wine matches considerably.
3. Red wine matches must work with all of the food challenges listed above, which will rule out many traditional options.

So here we are. We want wine at the Thanksgiving table that will enhance the meal and we have the challenges listed above to overcome. Where do we go from here?

Oliver’s Wine Buyer Richard Williams is no stranger to the challenges of the holiday meal, and he has selected four delicious and reasonably priced wines to feature this week, all of which are guaranteed to not only work with meal, but to shine with the meal. Without further ado, here they are:

Domaine Bulliat “Bibine” Beaujolais Villages, 2021, France, $13.99

There is possibly no better choice for Thanksgiving wine than Beaujolais. The soft nature of the wines and their fresh, fruity, and slightly spicy notes create a match for the majority of offerings on the table. The wine has a bright cherry color with hints of purple. There is complexity between fresh red fruits, cinnamon, and pepper. The nice balance between fruitiness and spices lead to a fresh finish. “More stuffing please!”

Valley of the Moon Pinot Gris/Viognier, 2021, Sonoma County, $12.99

Here are two great Thanksgiving wines in one!! Not only is this a great wine to greet your guests with, but both varietals are ideally suited for the meal. The vibrant acidity from the Pinot Gris assures that it will hold up to the varied fare, and the fruit forward and spicy notes of the Viognier make it a perfect, mouthwatering match for the meal. Bright, fresh notes of pear and tropical fruit are on the nose, and on the palate, there are notes of white peach and melon with a vibrant finish.

Angels and Cowboys Rosé, 2021, Sonoma County, $12.99

As we like to say: “Rosé every day!” Gone are the days of “Rosé is only for the warm months” As with the Pinot Gris/Viognier, this is an ideal aperitif for your gathering, and the food friendly nature of Rosé ensures that this will work with the meal from start to finish. This Grenache-based Rosé opens with mandarin orange and white blossoms. On the palate there is strawberry with dried herbs leading to a long and delicious finish.

Trentadue OPR Red, 2021, California, $11.99

Let’s face it: Not everyone is planning on having Turkey for dinner on Thanksgiving! Our Meat Department knows this and is at the ready. With Standing Rib Roasts and Bone-in Pork Roasts on sale, this big, bold wine is a perfect addition to your table. The wine has a dark red color with intense black cherry aromas, blueberries, and cherry cola as an immediate impression. There are nuances of ripe plums, vanilla, and cocoa followed by a light dose of oak and toast. On the palate, the wine is fresh and juicy with a long and appealing finish. What a match!

A few More Picks…

For this all-important two-week Holiday ad, in addition to the Four featured wines selected for the Thanksgiving table, we are featuring Martin Ray Winery as our Winery of the Week.

We have selected three of our favorites to feature here that are Ideal for the Meal.

Martin Ray Pinot Noir – 2021, Sonoma Coast – This is a succulent, youthful Pinot, with notes of Bing Cherry and earthy mushroom. The wine is well structured and crying out for food.

Martin Ray Sauvignon Blanc – 2021, Sonoma County – This juicy and refined Sauvignon Blanc is elegant and balanced. A real crowd pleaser and very food friendly.

Martin Ray Rose of Pinot Noir – 2021, Sonoma Coast – Always crisp and inviting with Stone fruit, cherry blossoms, and a creamy mouthfeel, this wine goes with practically anything!

So there you have it: a great selection of wines to grab to welcome your guests that will work well throughout your meal, and all at reasonable prices.

Note: All quoted prices are in effect through November 29, 2022 at all four Oliver’s Market Sonoma County locations.

Don’t forget that our wine team is standing by in the Wine Departments at all four Oliver’s Market locations, ready to answer any question or solve any pairing dilemma. They are always happy to assist you in finding wine, beer, cider, and spirits for any occasion.

Cheers to a delicious Thanksgiving from everyone at Oliver’s Market!