Enjoying a turkey dinner, whether on Thanksgiving or any day, is enhanced by the right wine pairing. Selecting the perfect bottle can be overwhelming, but don't worry! Our expert guides discuss the best wines to pair with your turkey dinner. Whether you prefer full-bodied reds or lighter, fruitier options, we’ll help you find the perfect pairing.
The Perfect Wine Pairings for Turkey: A Complete Guide
Turkey is a great main dish that pairs well with wine. Whether you're having a classic Thanksgiving dinner or trying new international recipes, knowing how to choose wine for turkey can make any meal special. The key lies in recognizing turkey's mild, slightly sweet flavour profile and how different preparation methods can dramatically alter its character.
Understanding Turkey's Flavour Profile
Turkey's naturally lean meat provides a mild base that easily takes on surrounding flavours. Compared to bolder proteins such as lamb or beef, turkey's gentle taste allows both the wine and accompanying seasonings to stand out. This quality makes turkey particularly versatile for wine pairings, suitable for everything from crisp whites to robust reds, depending on the preparation and sides.
The white and dark meat of turkey offers a variety of wine pairing options. The tender, mild flavour of breast meat pairs beautifully with lighter wines, while the richer, more flavourful thigh and leg meat can handle wines with greater intensity and complexity.
Best Wines to Go With Classic Turkey Dishes
Roasted Turkey With Traditional Herbs
For herb-roasted turkey seasoned with sage, thyme, and rosemary, Pinot Noir is generally considered the ideal companion. With its bright acidity, silky tannins and earthy undertones, Pinot Noir mirrors the herbaceous qualities while its medium body won't overpower the delicate meat. The wine's natural acidity cuts through any richness from gravy or butter-based sides.
For those who prefer white wine, Chardonnay is another excellent option. The wine's creamy texture and subtle oak perfectly complement traditional turkey, while its acidity balances rich side dishes like stuffing and mashed potatoes.
Brined & Herb-Crusted Turkey
Brine intensifies the turkey's flavour and creates a more complex pairing opportunity. Côtes du Rhône blends, with their combination of Grenache and Syrah, provide enough structure to match the enhanced flavours while maintaining the elegance necessary for poultry. The wine's herbal notes echo the herb crust, creating a seamless pairing.
White Rhône blends offer another appealing option. These wines' fuller body and complex mineral profile complement the brined turkey's enhanced texture and flavour intensity.
Wine Pairing With International Turkey Meals
Mediterranean-Style Turkey With Lemon & Herbs
Turkish or Greek-inspired preparations featuring lemon, oregano, and olive oil call for wines with bright acidity. Sauvignon Blanc provides vibrant minerality and citrus notes that amplify the lemon elements while standing up to olive oil's richness.
Pinot Grigio offers another excellent pairing. Its fresh acidity and subtle herbal notes complement the preparation without overwhelming the turkey's delicate flavour.
Spiced Turkey With Middle Eastern Flavours
When turkey is prepared with warm spices like cinnamon, allspice, and cardamom, Gewürztraminer becomes an inspired choice. The wine's aromatic intensity and slight sweetness harmonize with exotic spices, while its acidity balances the pairing.
Rhône reds also work beautifully with spiced turkey dishes. These wines' complex spice profiles echo the seasonings, while their full body can handle the intensity of Middle Eastern flavours.
Asian-Inspired Turkey
Soy sauce, ginger, and five-spice preparations require wine that complements both sweet and savoury elements. Riesling provides the necessary acidity to cut through soy-based marinades, while its fruit character enhances any sweetness in the preparation.
Alsation Pinot Gris offers a lighter alternative. Its clean profile allows the Asian flavours to shine while providing a refreshing contrast to richer sauces or glazes.
Elevated Wine & Turkey Pairings
Smoked Turkey
Smoking the meat adds complexity that demands wines with corresponding depth. Zinfandel provides the intensity needed to match smoky flavours, while its fruit-forward character prevents the pairing from becoming too heavy.
Syrah is another excellent wine pairing to go with smoked turkey. Its natural smokiness and spice complement the preparation method while maintaining enough elegance to complement the turkey's inherent delicacy.
Turkey Confit
This preparation method creates rich, tender meat that pairs beautifully with aged Chardonnay. The wine's complex flavours and creamy texture match the richness of the confit, while its acidity provides the necessary balance.
Pinot Noir makes for a great red wine option. Its silky texture and complex earthiness complement the confit's concentrated flavours without overwhelming them.
Beyond the Main Dish
Keep in mind that the success of your wine pairings can be greatly influenced by the accompaniments just as much as by the main dish itself. Cranberry sauce's tartness pairs well with wines having natural acidity, while rich gravies may require wines with more tannin structure. Sweet potato dishes pair beautifully with fruit-forward wines, while savoury stuffings complement more earthy selections.
Discover Your New Favourite Wine
While understanding wine and food pairing theory is valuable, true learning comes from tasting and experimenting. Join us for our curated wine tours, where you will explore food and wine pairings through expertly crafted tastings led by our expert tour guides.
All of our Niagara wine tours include charcuterie crafted with a variety of meats and cheeses at one of our stops. Certain tours, such as our Wine & Charcuterie With Lunch Break Tour, offer you the opportunity to take a break in the beautiful downtown Niagara-On-The-Lake, referred to as 'Old Town', to shop, dine, and enjoy the stunning surroundings (lunch not included).
Book a guided Niagara-on-the-Lake wine tour today to uncover the perfect wine that pairs beautifully with all of your favourite dishes!