Wines to Pair with Turkey
Dec 20, 2023
By
tflavius
Wines to Pair with Turkey
Christmas can be a high-pressure event with all of the food prep, guest preferences, wine selections and seating arrangements, but it doesn't have to be. While ham tends to take the spotlight, turkey is also a favourite on the Christmas lunch spread that demands a perfect pairing. The white and dark meat of the roasted bird are pretty easy to please; however, if having with the herb-filled stuffing, cranberry sauce or roasted veggies, it can put the pairing pressure on for snagging the most versatile bottle of wine.
If you need some tried and true turkey pairing partners or are hoping to find some stellar wines that offer an adventurous tasting tour through lesser-known grapes or regions? We've got you covered.
Red Wine Ham Pairings
The turkey wine winner is hands-down Pinot Noir. There may not be a more versatile, capable, and willing food wine to cover such a wide variety of flavors, textures, seasonings, and palate preferences. When in doubt, reach for Pinot! Prefer bigger reds? Reach for Zinfandel, a quintessential turkey day wine giving its signature fruit meets pepper zing to everything from green bean casserole to both dark and white turkey meat.
Recommended White Wines
The name of the game for Christmas Day whites is acidity. Think Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc. While Riesling will give those with a sweet tooth a touch of residual sugar to enjoy with everything from sweet potato pie to dessert, Sauvignon Blanc often brings earthy herbal undertones to partner well with the similar savory notes of stuffing and well-seasoned turkey and gravy.
Recommended Sparkling Wines
These happy-go-lucky wine ambassadors are the perfect welcome glass for appetizers and keep on serving through all sorts of high flavour sides whether fried, salty, savory and even manage the sweeter end of the holiday spectrum with pie pairings. These bubbly wonders handle fried turkey with ease by cutting through the fat and salt with zesty acidity. Their typically lower alcohol content and effervescent personalities keep the party rolling from start to finish.
