Just as important as the turkey dish so is the wine you choose to serve alongside it. From Pinot Noir to Chardonnay, there are a lot of selections. There are no steadfast rules to follow. I say pick all-purpose crowd-pleaser wines that you like. The main things to keep in mind is that turkey is white meat and is particularly low in saturated fat. Therefore, your wine choice should ideally be either medium-bodied red or full-bodied white wine.
The best wines are the ones we drink together.
Here are some of my conventional and unconventional top picks.
pinot noir
Pinot Noir is certainly the favorite choice for heavier turkey dishes like roasted turkey and smoked turkey. This light red is characterized by its silky textures and vibrant palette of juicy black cherry and berry fruit. This juiciness enhances the succulence of any turkey. As well, Pinot Noir has bright acidity that brings out the juiciness in turkey and flavor in cranberry sauce. I find the tannins intermingle well with green vegetables such as broccoli, swiss chard, kale, or spinach.
beaujolais NouveAu
Beaujolais Nouveau is the name of a small area in France that makes wines Gamay grapes. Similar to Pinot Noir, Beaujolais wines are synonymous with turkey. Light and delicate, they are fruit-driven, low tannin. Therefore, they are easy to drink and won’t compete with the variety of flavors on the table.
GRENaCHE NOIR
Along with hints of oak and smoke, Grenache Noir has plenty of red fruit flavors. They include raspberry strawberry and hibiscus. This wine is a match made in heaven for both roasted turkey with gravy and smoked turkey legs. That’s especially if it’s accompanied by caramelized roast roots veggies such as parsnips, beets, and carrots.
CHABLIS CHARDONNAY
A full-bodied Chablis Chardonnay, preferably from a cool climate, pairs amazingly with turkey and cranberry sauce. The zing and citrus acidity goes well and cuts through the richness of gravy. You just need to be sure the gravy is more on the light side, however. It is a suitable wine to have for guests who favor white wine to red. So, always have a white and a red on the table.
GERMAN RIESLING
One of the most aromatics of white, German Riesling’s versatility perfectly complements a full turkey feast. That’s especially if you are pairing it spicy turkey dishes like cajun spiced turkey. It is not too alcoholic. Its crisp acidity and touch of sweetness just makes the food taste better and refreshes the palate.
Pinotage
Pinotage is a very dark red made from a black-skinned South African grape with deep fruit and bold flavors. It pairs well with barbecued or smoked dark meat turkey. You’ll find flavors of sweet tobacco, hoisin and raspberry in this tasty wine. Pinotage is also delicious with piquant turkey dishes such as hoisin glazed turkey or peri peri turkey.