Thanksgiving is a holiday that fills our senses. In the kitchen, you are welcomed with the scents of herbs, spices and roasted poultry. You feel the embrace of loved ones and the warmth of the oven. Maybe a fire is crackling in the background, beneath the sound of familial chatter or cheering football fans. You sit down and take a bite of each dish and think to yourself, ‘why don’t we make stuffing year round?’ To top it off, you pour yourself a beautifully paired glass of wine. This adds the ultimate layer of flavor and completes your meal. 

When thinking about wine for the holiday, acidity is the first thing on my mind. There’s a reason why people love cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving. Traditional Thanksgiving foods are typically rich, creamy and starchy. Cranberry sauce brings much needed acidity and brightness to the plate. Look for wines that are high in acid, fruit and aromatics. Below is a roundup of wines you should have on your table this year.

Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wine typically has some of the highest acidity levels. Not only are bubbles great to have in hand while grazing the appetizer table, but they also act as a great companion to many different foods. Our Thanksgiving pick: Camillo Donati "Il Mio Rosso"

Aromatic Whites

Aromatic white wines elevate and adorn a Thanksgiving feast. Look for something without too much oak, as it could overwhelm some of the more delicate flavors on the table. Sip on Riesling, Muscat, Vermentino or even a skin contact Müller Thurgau like this one.   

Fruit Forward Reds

When shopping for Thanksgiving reds, think of that beloved cranberry sauce. Light to medium bodied red wines with lower tannin and lots of fruit are what you’re looking for. Pinot Noir, Gamay and Carignan are all turkey’s best friends.

Lastly, I always encourage people to learn a little about the wine makers behind the bottle. Share what you know with your family and friends. You might just be the holiday favorite this year.