Thanksgiving Wine Pairing: Expert Tips from Delaware Sommelier

Looking for the perfect wines to pour alongside your Thanksgiving feast? We asked a local sommelier for tips and advice on choosing the best wine for the occasion. From underrated wine regions to choosing a bottle on a budget, Gregory Fulkerson shares everything you need to know to plan the perfect Thanksgiving wine pairings.

Fulkerson serves as the sommelier at The Sycamore Wine Bar in New Castle. He recently became a Certified Wine Educator—the first in Delaware. The sommelier also works in education administration, overseeing language learning and teaching for the Delaware Department of Education. At The Sycamore, Fulkerson marries his passion for education with his extensive knowledge of fine wine.

“I help inform the wine list and provide guidance and educational experiences to patrons,” he explains. “Wine education and service is a true passion for me, and I plan to focus on it full-time in the coming years.”

As for Thanksgiving wine pairings, Fulkerson has some insider knowledge pertaining to the approach, best varieties, and specific wine recommendations to match with your favorite holiday dishes.

How do you approach pairing wines with a meal as diverse as Thanksgiving dinner?

“Thanksgiving presents a unique challenge because most of us don’t serve the meal course by course — everything ends up on one plate—or at least it does in my family,” Fulkerson says. “With so many flavors and textures, no single wine can be perfect for every element. The goal really becomes finding a wine that is flexible enough to harmonize across the different dishes.”

For Thanksgiving wine, Fulkerson recommends starting by identifying the main players on the plate. For many households in Delaware, these players will likely be turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.

Once you’ve identified what will be on the plate, it’s time to break down the flavor profiles. Turkey, for example, is lean with a delicate flavor. Stuffing is savory and herby, and cranberry sauce adds sweetness and acidity to the plate.

“From there, I consider which wines are versatile enough to complement these core flavors,” Fulkerson says, “typically leaning toward sparkling wines, light-bodied reds, fuller-bodied whites, or off-dry whites that can handle both savory and slightly sweet elements.”

“With so many flavors and textures, no single wine can be perfect for every element. The goal really becomes finding a wine that is flexible enough to harmonize across the different dishes.”

—Gregory Fulkerson, Sommelier & Certified Wine Educator

Are there any underrated wine regions or grape varieties you suggest exploring for holiday meals?

Fulkerson emphasizes that the classic options like champagnes, burgundy pinot noir, and chardonnay or off-dry Alsatian and German rieslings are always excellent. If you’re looking for something unexpected, some of his favorite “hidden gems” include:

• Beaujolais (France): These are bright, juicy reds made from the gamay grape that pair beautifully with turkey and sides.
• Cava (Spain): Spain’s answer to Champagne, these traditional-method sparkling, mineral-driven wines are super versatile for a range of Thanksgiving flavors.
• Godello (Spain): These wines have a creamy texture like Chardonnay but with lively acidity that complements rich or creamy Thanksgiving sides.
• Frappato (Sicily): These wines are light with soft tannins and bright red fruits, which make them perfect with turkey, ham, or roasted vegetables.
• Grüner Veltliner (Austria): These wines are crips, peppery, and super versatile and work well with sage, poultry, and root vegetables.

Is it better to serve one wine throughout the meal, or different wines with different courses?

“Serving by course would make wine pairing simpler, but Thanksgiving traditionally blends many dishes on one plate,” Fulkerson says.

If you do have multiple courses—appetizers, main, and dessert, for example—Fulkerson recommends three wines:

• Appetizers/Salads: Sparkling wine such as Champagne, Cava, or Crémant de Loire rosé.
• Main Course: Light-bodied red, like Beaujolais or a burgundy or Oregon pinot noir.
• Dessert: Match sweetness with sweetness—off-dry riesling, medium-sweet Chenin Blanc, or a sweet Vidal ice wine (in small quantities, of course!)

If someone is on a budget, what are your tips for finding a great Thanksgiving wine pairing without breaking the bank?

“There are many high-quality wines around $25 or less,” the sommelier says. “You just need to know where to look.”

He offers these insider tips to find the perfect bottle on a budget:

• Explore lesser-known regions such as Beaujolais villages; Oregon’s Umpqua Valley, Bierzo, Spain; or Le Marche, Italy.
• Focus on over-delivering grape varieties such as Albariño, Picpoul de Pinet, Grüner Veltliner, Gamay, or Grenache (Grenache in Spain).
• Look for cooperative or grower-based producers. These often offer excellent quality at a better price.
• Consider buying magnums (1.5L). These large bottles, which are equivalent to two bottles, make an impressive, festive presentation and are often a better value per ounce.

What would you pair with the most common Thanksgiving dishes?

Fulkerson leaves us with more than just tips and tricks—he applies his own advice to offer specific recommendations. Each wine mentioned is currently available at The Sycamore Wine Bar, so you can even taste for yourself before you commit to purchasing the bottle.

Thanksgiving turkey

• Benoni Red Hill, Douglas County Pinot Noir, OR, 2023
• Talmard, Chardonnay, Mâcon-Uchizy, France, 2023

Glazed ham

• Domaine Jaume, Côtes du Rhône Blanc, France, 2021

Traditional stuffing

• Piazzo Fil Rus, Barbera d’Alba, Italy, 2022

Deviled eggs

• Jadix, Picpoul de Pinet, France, 2023

Sweet potato casserole

• Galil Alon Bordeaux-Style White Blend (Viognier & Chardonnay), Israel, 2023

Pumpkin pie

• Bele Casel, Asolo Prosecco, Italy, NV

Related: How to Cook the Perfect Turkey, According to Delaware Pros