The finest Thanksgiving Wines for 2020

With the change of the seasons comes one of the best holidays of the year: Thanksgiving. The annual feast for which family and friends come together to bond over good food and fine wine, and while the 2020 festivities have been somewhat curbed, who’s to say we can’t still cook up a storm and indulge in some fine wines? We still have a lot to be thankful for, and certainly, lots to be hopeful for. 

Here to make sure your Thanksgiving feast chimes to the cheerful sound of clinking flutes, we’ve curated a list that will leave you lip-smacking your way through each course, and not only because of the food.

From appetizers through to dessert, we’ve got all bases covered, with great wines to match the textures and rich flavours across each. We’ve even thrown in some more robust options for those who enjoy something heavier. So read on and join us in raising a glass in thanksgiving. 

Have you come across a Billecart you didn’t like? Us neither, but this one does excel. A blend of Grand Cru grapes including Côte des Blancs Chardonnay and Montagne de Reims Pinot Noir, it is fresh and complex Champagne with a satisfyingly dry finish. Expect apple, peach and brioche with plenty of finesse and a beautiful mouthfeel. Perfectly primed to be enjoyed now and no better occasion than Thanksgiving.

£115 | $129.87 from The Whisky Exchange

It seems that where celebrations go, Dom Perignon follows; a reliable libation in times of commemoration. One of this year’s exciting Champagne releases, the 2010 was born of a challenging year, yet still manages to deliver a fantastic champagne that’s well-balanced with delicate notes of yeast, tropical fruit and a vein of minerality.

£152 from Clos19

When you’ve got a heavy meal planned with two or three courses, often a lighter red will see you through nicely. In true Pinot Noir style, this Resonance has the lightness in body and bone dry palate that will serve well alongside charred turkey skins and roast potatoes. Yet, it packs more of a punch than your everyday Pinot Noirs in that it has some beautifully developed flavours of black plum, tobacco and spice matched with elegant tannins and a touch of salinity. There’s some commendable complexity to this wine.

£58 from Harrods

Celebrations such as these call for Super Tuscans. The Lucente 2018 is a red that will carry you through the evening nicely. It is a flawless blend of Sangiovese and Merlot grapes, showcasing ripe red fruits, chocolate and leather with some lightly spiced notes of nutmeg and clove. It’s got some good body and plenty of structure, so a rich roast dinner will be a worthy match.

£30 from Tannico

From one of California’s first female winemakers comes another great vintage that showcases her skills. Give this wine half an hour to open up and you’ll see some wonderfully developed flavours unravel. It has fantastic structure, while red fruits and charred oak notes come into their own. An ideal match for your Thanksgiving turkey.

£80 from Harvey Nichols 

We’re sure a bottle of 2012 Verité will disappear all too quickly at any Thanksgiving dinner table- a loveable, good-time red with plenty of poise. It is a merlot-dominant vintage with a touch of Cabernet Franc and Malbec. While it needs 45 minutes to open up, when it does it unveils an array of sumptuous flavours worthy of any meal. Perfectly ripe with dried fruit flavours and laced with festive spices, it has plenty of body and a wonderful, smooth finish.

£384 from Hedonism

A good Bordeaux always goes down well whatever the occasion, so a bottle of Château Lassègue Grand Cru, with its wonderful depth of flavour, is sure to be a winner at the Thanksgiving festivities. Hearty notes of tobacco, toast and red fruits shine through from nose to palate with subtle hints of caramel and cooked blackberries. Elegant and enjoyable - this is one to savour.

£55.90 from Vinvm 

Elegant and inviting, this is a wine that is both dry and bright on the palate. A sumptuous Chablis that truly showcases finesse through an exciting profile of yeast notes with sweet green apple, lemon and some salinity to balance. The acidity will certainly help keep the flavours in check throughout each course.

£41 from Harvey Nichols

Why not make a statement with an exceptional vintage in magnum size? Tolpuddle is the perfect Chardonnay for those creamy carbs like mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole and not forgetting the star of the show: the turkey. This vintage has really benefited from some ageing and it’s in perfect drinking order today. It has some perfectly developed flavours offering a harmonious palate of yeasty flavours, peach and green apple.

£110 from Harvey Nichols

One for the vegetarians and vegans who have their nut roasts lined up but need the right tipple to match. Awash with bright, juicy flavours of nectarine combined with salinity and creamy notes of oatmeal from lees ageing, this Chenin Blanc from South Africa is terroir-expressive and a robust match for a nut roast.

$69.99 from Wine Library

The latest release from New Zealand’s most celebrated Sauvignon Blanc winery. It’s light and crisp with fresh grassy notes, tropical fruits and wet stone. The salty, creamy textures of a Thanksgiving dinner are well-suited to that of a Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc.

£24 from Clos19

Now, this is going out with a bang! You’d be lucky getting your hands on a bottle of this but Thanksgiving calls for a little indulgence. This Riesling pairs beautifully with pumpkin pie, offering flinty notes with pear, lemon and some soft tropical fruit. One to leave you well and truly satiated.  

£601.32 | €650 from Vinatis 

Made of straight Malvasia grapes, this is a stunning Tuscan dessert wine that would be a perfect match for a chocolate dessert that breaks away from Thanksgiving tradition. Rich in complex flavours, it offers an indulgent profile of marzipan, caramel, vanilla and charred oak. It’s hard not to be wooed by those caramel flavours.

€46 from Tannico