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French & Italian Wine Education

The Complete Thanksgiving Wine Guide

The Best French, Italian & American Wines for Every Thanksgiving Dish

Thanksgiving is one of those magical meals where every plate on the table tastes delicious… but nothing tastes the same.

Turkey, creamy sides, sweet sauces, warm spices — it’s a beautiful chaos.

And chaos is exactly what makes wine pairing tricky.

But don’t worry. For each dish, I’ll give you one white wine and one red wine — with options from France, Italy, and the US — so you can choose the style you love without ever overpowering the food.

Whether you’re cooking the classics or hosting Friendsgiving, this guide will help you pick a bottle with total confidence. Santé, Salute… and happy Thanksgiving pairing!

🥂 Start the Meal: Bubbles First

Appetizers... Sparkling wine cleans the palate, wakes everyone up, and pairs with almost everything on the table.

  • White option:

    • France: Champagne Brut

    • Italy: Franciacorta

    • USA: California Brut, Oregon Sparkling or Finger Lakes Brut

  • Red option:
    → We usually don’t serve red bubbles here, but Lambrusco Secco works if your crowd loves something fun and fresh.

🥗 Goat Cheese Salad

Tangy + fresh means you need a crisp, aromatic wine.

  • White options:

    • France: Sancerre

    • Italy: Gavi

    • USA: Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma or Washington)

  • Red options:

    • France: Loire Pinot Noir

    • USA: Oregon Pinot Noir
      (Light, fresh, and never overpowering the goat cheese.)

🍂 Butternut Squash Soup

Creamy and slightly sweet — the trick is balancing the texture and the warmth of the spices.

  • White options:

    • France: Alsace Riesling

    • Italy: Langhe Arneis or Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi

    • USA: Washington State Chardonnay or Dry Riesling (Finger Lakes)

  • Red options:

    • France: Beaujolais Villages

    • Italy: Schiava

    • USA: Very light California Gamay

🦃 Turkey & Stuffing

The star of the table — and surprisingly delicate meat. Forget Cabernet; it overwhelms everything.

Soft tannins + bright acidity = happy turkey.

🥔 Mashed Potatoes

Rich, buttery, and smooth.

  • White options:

    • France: Pouilly-Fumé

    • Italy: Pinot Bianco

    • USA: California Chardonnay (not too oaky)

  • Red options:

    • France: Merlot-based Bordeaux (Right Bank)

    • Italy: Barbera d’Asti or a Chianti Classico

    • USA: Washington State Cabernet

Cream + wine = joy.

🍒 Cranberry Sauce

This is where many wines crash and burn. You need fruit, acidity, and zero bitterness.

  • White options:

    • France: Vouvray Demi-Sec

    • Italy: Moscato d’Asti (light sweetness helps!)

    • USA: Off-dry Riesling

  • Red options:

    • France: Beaujolais (Fleurie or Morgon)

    • Italy: Dolcetto

    • USA: California Zinfandel (yes! its jammy fruit works beautifully) or California Merlot

🥗 Green Bean Casserole

Creamy mushrooms, crispy onions — the umami crunch combo.

🍠 Sweet Potato Gratin

Sweet + creamy + spiced… this dish loves contrast.

  • White options:

    • France: Condrieu (Viognier)

    • Italy: Arneis

    • USA: Viognier (Virginia or California)

  • Red options:

    • France: Northern Rhône Syrah

    • Italy: Langhe Nebbiolo

    • USA: Sonoma or Washington State Syrah

🥧 Pumpkin Pie

Warm spices + sweetness = dessert wines only, please.

  • White options / Sweet wines:

    • France: Sauternes or Monbazillac

    • Italy: Vin Santo

    • USA: New York Ice Wine or Late Harvest Riesling

  • Red option:
    → Not recommended — stick to a luscious sweet white for the best match.

🍷 Final Tip: You Only Need 3 Bottles

To keep things simple:

Buy one sparkling + one white + one red.

Choose your favorite region, and it will pair beautifully with 80% of the meal.

If you want the full deep-dive, watch my video — I walk you through each dish step-by-step.

And don’t forget to grab your free guide:
📘 How to Talk Wine Like a Pro — it’s your quick start to tasting and talking about wine with confidence.

New videos drop every week on my YouTube channel Vio's Food & Wine!

Cheers! 🍷🥂

Vio

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