Pinot Noir is far and away the most popular red wine to grace Thanksgiving tables across the country, and these four are excellent choices. Pinot Noir wine goes well with everything from turkey and gravy to cranberries and pumpkin pie. You cannot go wrong with one of these distinguished Pinot Noir wines on your Thanksgiving table. 

Pinot Noir for Thanksgiving

There is nothing novel or trailblazing about recommending Pinot Noir with turkey. They have been happy partners for a very long time. There are a number of factors about Pinot Noir that render it such a good turkey and Thanksgiving partner. These include:

Pinot Noir wines are generally light to medium bodied in weight. 

This can be a very important factor to consider. Powerful full-bodied wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon (especially if young and New World) can easily overpower a turkey-centered meal. Additionally, because the Thanksgiving meal usually lasts several hours, it is best to avoid big, powerful wines, which can make you and your guests tired and sleepy more quickly.

Pinot Noir exudes vibrant red and black fruit. 

Pinot wines are characterized by their delightfully vibrant palette of juicy red and black cherry and berry fruit. This liveliness and juiciness will enliven and enhance the succulence of any turkey or stuffing (even if they seem a bit dry when cooked).

Pinot Noir has an elegant flavor profile. 

Gentle aromas and flavors of red and black fruit, layered with subtle savory and earthy notes, spice and often a distinct floral or gamey note make it a very versatile wine to pair with the many different turkey preparations, the stuffing as well as a spectrum of different side dishes.

Pinot Noir has bright acidity and gentle tannins. 

These two aspects of Pinot Noir are important. The bright acidity brings out the juiciness in the turkey as well as the flavor in the sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, mushroom dishes, etc. The gentle tannins marry well with all the green vegetables such Brussels sprouts, leafy greens such as kale, chard or spinach, as well as the proverbial dish of green beans.