OUR TOP 10 WINE PICKS FOR YOUR THANKSGIVING DAY TABLE
GET THE FINEST. GET GOOD MANSION WINES!
Thanksgiving Day is a celebration of the harvest, and we think the best wines are the ones that bring the harvest to the table in a bottle.
Here are our top 10 picks for your table. In general, seek out wines with an abundant profile of fruit and baking spice notes, and stay away from tannin. We generally opt for whites, although offer plenty of red options.
Here are our top 10 picks for your table. In general, seek out wines with an abundant profile of fruit and baking spice notes, and stay away from tannin. We generally opt for whites, although offer plenty of red options.
10 – MERLOT
If you do seek out a Merlot for Thanksgiving, make sure you purchase one without a heavily oaked tannin. After all, the essence of Merlot is its soft and plush, fruity mouth that waters out in the back. Thus, making it compatible with game. We like South American Merlot for both their price and easy taste on the table. These can also be an economical option of the table. $10 – $50
9 – FRAPPATO
This light and fragrant red wine from Sicily is an easy accompaniment to most items on the Thanksgiving Day table. Named after the Frappato grape, this wine has truly “grapey” notes. It is particularly nice with stuffing and meat. Plus, it is virtually without tannin. A good Italian option for Italian Thanksgiving Day tables with pasta! $25
8- MUSCAT
Most people that think of the muscat grape think of sweet Moscato frizzante wines. However, the Muscat grape can produce beautifully aromatic, off dry white wines. These wines offer notes of orange, apricot and jasmine to the Thanksgiving Day table (think stuffing!). Its soft spot is with side dishes on the table. While we have a TON of the sweeter sparkling Moscato, you will only find the off dry versions at Good Mansion. $25-$30
7- FUMIN
Say what?? This obscure red wine is named after the Fumin grape from Val d’Aosta in the snowy northwest French speaking enclave of Italy. It is pure delight. Silky, intense notes of berry with a bit of spice on the back of the mouth make this wine the perfect accompaniment to dark turkey meat. For lovers of big red wines who are leery to leave tannin at the door, try this one. Only available at Good Mansion. $35-$45
6 – CHARDONNAY
Much maligned and much abused, Chardonnay seems to be taking a hit this Thanksgiving in the national wine media, for reasons that run counter to logic. After all, Chardonnay typically has notes of apple and pear, and is never too dry for the acids of fruits and gaminess of turkey. Either clean and rich in mineral like white Burgundies or steeled fermented New World versions, or creamy and buttery, we think Chardonnay is A-OK for the Thanksgiving Day table. Check out our extensive portfolio of white Burgundies that you will only find at Good Mansion. $10 – $150
5 – BEAUJOLAIS
Go Nouveau for a light, aromatic (and inexpensive!) red wine on your table devoid of any tannin whatsoever, or Beaujolais Villages for a spicier version, still low in tannin. This floral red wine from the south of Burgundy is made from the legendary Gamay grape, one of the lightest red grapes for wine making. We love it with most side dishes, and the Villages with turkey meat of any kind. $11- $25
4- PINOT NOIR
Red Pinot Noir wines appear often on Thanksgiving wine lists for obvious reasons. However, we prefer New World Pinot Noir wines in particular from Oregon and New Zealand. These are less earthy than Burgundy counterparts, less alcoholic than California counterparts, and have ample fruit notes that are silky and clean on the mouth, perfect to mingle with dark or light meat, stuffing and yams. $12 – $300
3- GEWURZTRAMINER
This typically off dry white wine commands its own corner on the Thanksgiving Day table, mostly from its uncanny notes of baking spices like you will find in no other wine. That in combination with exotic notes of lychee and rose pedal make this elegant white the most distinctive white wine on the list. Good Mansion has a plethora of Alsatian Gewurztraminer for the taking. $25- $35
2- PINOT GRIS
This suave white wine is clean and refreshing, with slight notes of citrus and floral that finish off sweet in the back of the mouth. Its calm profile allows it to enhance about everything on the table. For zesty fruit that is mostly in the front of the mouth, try Oregon Pinot Gris. For more structured Pinot Gris that are longer in the mouth, try Alsatian Pinot Gris. $20- $35
1-RIESLING
This noble white wine will and always will be the true love of Thanksgiving. Replete with harvest fruit notes like apple, pear and citrus, this wine delivers more of what we seek on the table in one bottle than any other wine. It is also the perfect accompaniment to triple creme and blue cheeses on your table. Produced mostly dry, Riesling from the Alsace of France has been the centuries long companion to game bird that is the basis for Alsatian cuisine. Produced sweeter, Rieslings from Germany’s Mosel Valley offer an extraordinary explosion of pineapple, pear, citrus, apple and zesty acidity that is ideal for turkey, stuffing and cranberry. Try a Riesling Beerenauslese or Eiswein with your pumpkin pie as well! No Thanksgiving Day table is complete without a Riesling, and you know what will be on our table! $15 – $150
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If you do seek out a Merlot for Thanksgiving, make sure you purchase one without a heavily oaked tannin. After all, the essence of Merlot is its soft and plush, fruity mouth that waters out in the back. Thus, making it compatible with game. We like South American Merlot for both their price and easy taste on the table. These can also be an economical option of the table. $10 – $50
9 – FRAPPATO
This light and fragrant red wine from Sicily is an easy accompaniment to most items on the Thanksgiving Day table. Named after the Frappato grape, this wine has truly “grapey” notes. It is particularly nice with stuffing and meat. Plus, it is virtually without tannin. A good Italian option for Italian Thanksgiving Day tables with pasta! $25
8- MUSCAT
Most people that think of the muscat grape think of sweet Moscato frizzante wines. However, the Muscat grape can produce beautifully aromatic, off dry white wines. These wines offer notes of orange, apricot and jasmine to the Thanksgiving Day table (think stuffing!). Its soft spot is with side dishes on the table. While we have a TON of the sweeter sparkling Moscato, you will only find the off dry versions at Good Mansion. $25-$30
7- FUMIN
Say what?? This obscure red wine is named after the Fumin grape from Val d’Aosta in the snowy northwest French speaking enclave of Italy. It is pure delight. Silky, intense notes of berry with a bit of spice on the back of the mouth make this wine the perfect accompaniment to dark turkey meat. For lovers of big red wines who are leery to leave tannin at the door, try this one. Only available at Good Mansion. $35-$45
6 – CHARDONNAY
Much maligned and much abused, Chardonnay seems to be taking a hit this Thanksgiving in the national wine media, for reasons that run counter to logic. After all, Chardonnay typically has notes of apple and pear, and is never too dry for the acids of fruits and gaminess of turkey. Either clean and rich in mineral like white Burgundies or steeled fermented New World versions, or creamy and buttery, we think Chardonnay is A-OK for the Thanksgiving Day table. Check out our extensive portfolio of white Burgundies that you will only find at Good Mansion. $10 – $150
5 – BEAUJOLAIS
Go Nouveau for a light, aromatic (and inexpensive!) red wine on your table devoid of any tannin whatsoever, or Beaujolais Villages for a spicier version, still low in tannin. This floral red wine from the south of Burgundy is made from the legendary Gamay grape, one of the lightest red grapes for wine making. We love it with most side dishes, and the Villages with turkey meat of any kind. $11- $25
4- PINOT NOIR
Red Pinot Noir wines appear often on Thanksgiving wine lists for obvious reasons. However, we prefer New World Pinot Noir wines in particular from Oregon and New Zealand. These are less earthy than Burgundy counterparts, less alcoholic than California counterparts, and have ample fruit notes that are silky and clean on the mouth, perfect to mingle with dark or light meat, stuffing and yams. $12 – $300
3- GEWURZTRAMINER
This typically off dry white wine commands its own corner on the Thanksgiving Day table, mostly from its uncanny notes of baking spices like you will find in no other wine. That in combination with exotic notes of lychee and rose pedal make this elegant white the most distinctive white wine on the list. Good Mansion has a plethora of Alsatian Gewurztraminer for the taking. $25- $35
2- PINOT GRIS
This suave white wine is clean and refreshing, with slight notes of citrus and floral that finish off sweet in the back of the mouth. Its calm profile allows it to enhance about everything on the table. For zesty fruit that is mostly in the front of the mouth, try Oregon Pinot Gris. For more structured Pinot Gris that are longer in the mouth, try Alsatian Pinot Gris. $20- $35
1-RIESLING
This noble white wine will and always will be the true love of Thanksgiving. Replete with harvest fruit notes like apple, pear and citrus, this wine delivers more of what we seek on the table in one bottle than any other wine. It is also the perfect accompaniment to triple creme and blue cheeses on your table. Produced mostly dry, Riesling from the Alsace of France has been the centuries long companion to game bird that is the basis for Alsatian cuisine. Produced sweeter, Rieslings from Germany’s Mosel Valley offer an extraordinary explosion of pineapple, pear, citrus, apple and zesty acidity that is ideal for turkey, stuffing and cranberry. Try a Riesling Beerenauslese or Eiswein with your pumpkin pie as well! No Thanksgiving Day table is complete without a Riesling, and you know what will be on our table! $15 – $150