The Top 3 Italian Wines to Pair with Thanksgiving Dinner

You know the traditional American Thanksgiving foods: turkey, pumpkin pie, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes. And if you’re a wine connoisseur you’re probably familiar with a lot of the “classic” Thanksgiving wine pairings- Turkey with Pinot Noir; and Sherry or Madeira with Pumpkin Pie, being the most common examples.

But if you’re tired of the same old thing every year and looking to add a unique and delightful twist to your Thanksgiving feast, consider pairing it with Italian wines.  While Italian wines may not be the first wines that come to mind when choosing wines to pair with traditional Thanksgiving foods, in this article we’ll make some pairing recommendations you’ll be sure to enjoy.

Wine Pairing Basics

When pairing wine with food, it’s important to consider the characteristics of both the wine and the dishes. White wines are typically lighter and crisper, making them a good match for lighter dishes. And white wines that have bright acidity can cut through rich, creamy flavors.  Red wines are generally paired with more hearty dishes, including most meats, but the success of a pairing depends on the amount of tannins and acidity in the wine as well as the fat content, sweetness, and acidity in the food. Now, let’s explore the top 3 Thanksgiving wine and food pairings.

Turkey with Chianti Classico or Fiano di Avellino

The great thing about traditional roasted turkey is that it is very versatile in terms of what wines can be paired with it.  There aren’t a lot of foods that can be paired with both reds and whites, but turkey is one of them.

The easy choice would be to go with Pinot Nero (aka Pinot Noir) but I promised you something different, which brings us to the one red (Chianti Classico) and one white (Fiano di Avellino) I am recommending.

Chianti Classico

Chianti Classico, from the heart of Tuscany and comprised 100% of Sangiovese grapes, is a beloved Italian red wine known for its medium body and bright acidity. Its notes of cherry, plum, and earthiness make it a versatile choice. Its acidity and subtle spice notes can help bring out savory flavors in the turkey and the fact that it is usually not oaked (or lightly oaked) means that its fresh, fruity flavors won’t overpower other tastes.

Fiano Di Avellino

Fiano di Avellino, from Avellino in the Campania region of Southern Italy, is somewhat similar to, but not exactly like, what most Americans would think of when they drink Chardonnay. Many Fianos are oaked and aged on lees (both common for American Chardonnay), which gives them a medium body and bready/biscuit notes. They generally also feature melon, honey, and nut flavors. The reason why it is such a good pairing for roasted turkey it’s not too light and its fruit and honey flavors can provide a contrast to the salty and savory nature of the turkey.

Cranberry Sauce with Barbera d’Asti

This is a fairly easy one. Barbera d’Asti, made from Barbera grapes in the Asti region (see how that works?) is an affordable, medium bodied red wine that is meant to be drunk young. But the reason I said this was an easy pairing to come up with is because its flavor profile perfectly complements cranberry sauce. One of the most common notes in Barbera is- you guessed it- cranberry. Along with its other “sour” notes like sour cherry, and a “juicy” taste and mouthfeel, Barbera is a perfect match for cranberry sauce.

Pumpkin Pie with Late Harvest Moscato

While it’s not impossible to pair traditional red and white wines with desserts, generally speaking it is usually not a good match. That rule of thumb definitely applies to pumpkin pie. Given the sweetness of the pie and the soft texture of the pumpkin, it is best to pair it with a wine that has similar characteristics: a sweet dessert wine.

In this case, I recommend a late harvest Moscato Bianco such as a Moscadello di Montalcino or something similar.  To be clear, it should not be a regular Moscato. It  needs to be a late harvest Moscato. Why? Typically, late harvest wines are made from grapes that have stayed on the vine for an extended period of time and developed a higher sugar content. Not only do late harvest grapes have higher sugar content, but the longer they stay on the vine the more they dehydrate, thus concentrating the sugar even more.

Late harvest Moscato Bianco is characterized by a golden color, caramelized fruit flavors, a beautiful aroma, and a sweet, velvety elegance on the palate. Perfect for pairing with pumpkin pie or even apple pie.

Let me know if you end up trying out any of these pairings at your family feast. Have a great Thanksgiving!