There is plenty of advice online for pairing wines with chicken, beef, lamb, and fish, yet less so for pairing wine with turkey. As turkey is the most common meat served for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, it is likely that you will want to accompany your meal with wine, and you may need some advice for the best selections.
Many people believe that you should only serve red wines with red meats and white wines with white meats. However, that is not the case, as there is such a vast choice of both red and white wines available, and each has a unique flavour profile. Therefore, there are both red and white wines that you can pair with turkey.
To help you make the best choice when pairing wine with turkey, here is an overview of some of the best wines to pair with turkey.
A Guide to Pairing Wine with Turkey
Turkey is lean meat with low-fat content and a mild flavour. It is ideally suited to either medium-bodied red wines or full-bodied white wines. You should also choose a wine that is relatively acidic and has either low or medium tannins. Below, we have made recommendations for the best white and red wines to pair with turkey.
Best White Wines to Pair with Turkey
The following are some of the best white wines to pair with turkey:
- Chardonnay: A full-bodied Chardonnay is the perfect wine pairing for turkey. Great examples are Chardonnays that come from California or Burgundy.
- White Burgundy: Produced in the Burgundy region of France, White Burgundy is a full-bodied, oaked wine.
- Champagne: Nothing says celebration quite like Champagne, so it is ideal if you are serving turkey at Thanksgiving or for Christmas dinner. Although Champagne makes a statement, it is all about the taste. Fortunately, the dry, crisp flavours of Champagne work well with turkey.
Best Red Wines to Pair with Turkey
Here are some of the best red wines to pair with turkey:
- Pinot Noir: This wine has high acidity, which makes it the perfect match for turkey. Two of the best varieties of Pinot Noir to pair with turkey are Burgundian Pinot Noir and Australian Pinot Noir, as these are both medium redds that complement the flavour and texture of turkey well.
- Rioja: According to Masterclass, Riojas is made predominantly from the Spanish Tempranillo grape, but it is a blended wine that also contains several other grape varietals.
- Merlot: If you want something that is a crowd-pleaser, then go for a Merlot. It has a smooth velvety taste that most people around your dinner table will enjoy with their turkey. Chilean Merlots are a good option.
- Beaujolais: Usually, Beaujolais wines are made from Gamay grapes. Beaujolais wine is low in tannin. Although there are white variations of this wine, red wines are more widely produced.
Pairing Wine with Turkey: The Final Verdict
There are more options when pairing wines with turkey than you may think, as you can serve this meat with both white and red wines. It is important to select the wine you serve with turkey carefully, so as it complements the mild flavours of this low-fat and lean meat. It is best to opt for wines with relatively high acidity and low or medium tannins. If you prefer to serve a white wine, then choose something full-bodied, such as a Chardonnay. Those who prefer red wines should choose a medium-bodied wine.