After all of that, a glass of wine is well deserved. But following the hubbub, what fills your glass can easily become an afterthought.
However, it doesn’t have to be.
When it comes to pairing wines with the dishes most likely to adorn your table, why not open a bottle of something grown close to home? Arizona’s wine regions have plenty to boast about and they produce an impressive and dizzying array of wares to choose from.
To make decisions easier, we asked Arizona wine aficionados to assist with narrowing down the field. Their recommendations span whites, roses and reds with options versatile enough to take you through multiple courses.
Many of these wines are available at the following bottle shops and at other locations where Arizona wines are sold. If you are unable to find an exact wine, don’t worry, stick to the grape varieties these metro Phoenix experts describe to find the perfect pairings for your Thanksgiving feast.
Experts: Katie and Scott Stephens, Co-owners of Beckett’s Table
Recomendation: Page Springs Cellars' Tres Condados Blanca 2021If you’re a white wine fan, Katie Stephens recommends a viognier or grenache blanc, choices much bolder than the common chardonnay, which are ideal with Thanksgiving dishes. The two grape varieties are often blending companions and that is true in this white blend from Page Springs. Here, the viognier brings weightiness with notes of apricot, honeysuckle and floral nuances. The grenache blanc’s green apple, lemon and melon flavors provide acidity, which is a match for anything rich or fatty.
“A near-perfect balance of racy acidity married with a rich, lingering mouthfeel has your taste buds watering for the next helping of creamy mashed potatoes,” Katie says. “(This) would be a beautiful pairing with not only roast turkey, but a traditional side such as green bean casserole.”
Recommendation: Rune Wines' Grenache 2020
Scott calls grenache “the Swiss Army knife of red wines," as it can be light- to medium-bodied, or can express deep richness. For this particular rendition, Rune's winemaker James Callahan uses a wild yeast approach, meaning the grapes spontaneously ferment without his interference. The resulting wine tastes of berried jams and baking spices with a hint of white pepper.
“Grenache and Thanksgiving fare are noble partners in an unforgiving display of deliciousness,” Scott says. “Grenache loves savory smoked meats and grilled vegetables. It complements a robust stuffing and the fatty turkey leg brilliantly.”
Expert: Zoya Vora-Shah, Owner of the Wine Collective of Scottsdale
Recommendation: Rune Wines' Rose 2022A blend of grenache, syrah, mourvedre and graciano, this Rune red pairs perfectly with green bean casserole and sweet potatoes with nutmeg and cinnamon, Vora-Shah says.
“It has beautiful minerality and hints of cranberry and watermelon that will pair well with all the sides,” she says.
Deep Sky Vineyard's Stellar Grenache 2020
For pinot noir lovers, Vora-Shah suggests grenache, such as this one from Deep Sky, as a great alternative to pair with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce.
“This particular grenache has aromas of baking spices, strawberry, rhubarb, blackberry and pomegranate fruit flavors,” she says. “It has a beautiful mouthfeel taste that lingers to pair with the gaminess of turkey and creaminess of mashed potatoes.”
Chris French, Co-owner of Far Away Wine and Provisions
From Los Milics, Jules is "going to compliment a turkey like an Academy Award winner and their agent,” says Far Away Wine and Provisions co-owner Chris French.
Far Away Wine and Provisions
This Queen of Cups rose is a field blend — a wine composed of two more grape varieties from the same vineyard that are co-fermented together at the winery — that French describes as “delicious, light and super fruit forward.” The bright and tart cranberry and strawberry notes hold their own throughout the meal.
“Think of (it) as an accent to the meal, much like cranberry sauce, for turkey, ham, wild rice stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and yams,” he says.
Los Milics' Jules 2022
This white wine from Los Milics is mostly vermentino with a healthy splash of petit manseng. The vermentino brings acidity and minerality while the petit manseng comes to the party with some richness and a hint of sweetness, creating a balanced wine that plays well with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole and roasted cauliflower.
“It’s going to compliment a turkey like an Academy Award winner and their agent,” French says. “(It has) brilliant citrus and tropical tones with a slightly herbal fennel kiss. It’s one of the most beautifully acidic white wines we’ve ever had coming out of Arizona.”
Tracy and Chuck Dempsey, Co-owners of ODV WINES
Callaghan Vineyard's Love Muffin Rosé 2022 The Spanish graciano grape gets all the attention in this pink wine from Callaghan. Its tart, cranberry, red fruit profile paired with a dry finish makes it an ideal accompaniment for just about anything that makes an appearance on the Thanksgiving table. And maybe an out-of-the-box snack like freshly popped popcorn, buttered or not.
“Enjoy this from start to finish, especially with pumpkin pie and the late evening, post-cleanup turkey cranberry chutney slider on a homemade Parker House roll,” Chuck recommends.
Twisted Union Wine Co. Berried Hits 2018
This juicy red blend of grenache, mourvedre and petite sirah begs to join forces with all the faves. Chuck envisions sipping this offering from Twisted Union with chocolate meringue pie, while Tracy sees a glass pairing with a variety of her Thanksgiving offerings.
“The Berried Hits will make my cranberry chutney sing alongside the turkey or ham, as well as my caramel apple galette,” she says. “The herbaceous notes of this wine will shine in between mouthfuls of that savory sage and sausage dressing.”
