A Thanksgiving Table Worth Toasting.
Thanksgiving isn’t a performance — it’s a gathering. A coming together of stories, laughter, imperfections, and flavors that somehow always seem to fit. It’s the moment the whole season has been building toward, the quiet gratitude of the early November days giving way to the joyful noise of family and friends.
And if you’ve savored the prelude — the week of reflection, cooking, and slow anticipation — you already know that Thanksgiving isn’t about rushing. It’s about tasting every note of the day, just as you would a well-crafted wine.
The Spirit of the Feast
At its heart, Thanksgiving is an act of gratitude — a tradition born from the idea of sharing abundance and giving thanks for another year’s harvest. Before grocery stores and gadgets, before recipes were measured in cups and teaspoons, it was simply a meal shared between people who depended on one another.
In that sense, the Thanksgiving table isn’t just a feast — it’s a reminder that community and generosity are timeless. Every dish tells a story. Every bottle uncorked is an offering. Every toast is a small, shimmering act of appreciation.
The Wines of the Table
Thanksgiving is famously one of the most wine-friendly meals of the year, but it’s also one of the most challenging. Sweet meets savory, spice meets butter, and no two plates look the same. The secret isn’t to find one perfect pairing — it’s to fill the table with wines that invite conversation and complement the diversity of flavors on every fork.
Here’s how to think about the day, course by course.
The Welcome Toast — Light and Lively
The first pour sets the tone. Keep it bright, crisp, and full of energy — a gentle awakening for the palate and a nod to celebration itself.
SOMM&SOMM Recommends:
Pair with: Light bites — spiced nuts, baked brie, stuffed mushrooms, or shrimp cocktail.
Sommelier’s notes: The bubbles cut through salt and richness, preparing the palate for the meal ahead while lifting spirits from the very first sip.
The Starters — Texture and Warmth
As the first plates appear — roasted squash soup, cranberry salads, caramelized root vegetables — it’s time for wines that echo autumn itself.
SOMM&SOMM Recommends:
Pair with: Sweet-savory starters like glazed carrots, roasted apples, or savory tarts.
Sommelier’s notes: A touch of sweetness complements early-course flavors and balances any spice or tartness.
The Main Event — Harmony Over Dominance
Turkey is the canvas; the sides are the art. Between gravy, herbs, and stuffing, you’ll want wines that harmonize rather than compete.
SOMM&SOMM Recommends:
- Pinot Noir (Oregon, Burgundy, or Santa Barbara)
- Grenache or GSM blends from the Rhône or Paso Robles
- Chardonnay (unoaked for brightness, lightly oaked for comfort)
Pair with: Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and all the trimmings.
Sommelier’s notes: Pinot Noir’s bright acidity and soft tannins play well with almost every dish. Chardonnay, when balanced, provides the creamy bridge between rich and delicate flavors.
The Unexpected Pairings — For the Adventurous
Thanksgiving is also the perfect excuse to open something surprising.
SOMM&SOMM Recommendations:
Pair with: Hearty sides, smoked meats, or sweet-savory stuffing.
Sommelier’s notes: Rosé bridges red and white worlds beautifully. Lambrusco’s bubbles and berry notes bring fun to the table, while Zinfandel amplifies the warmth of holiday spices.
The Sweet Finish — Grace in the Glass
Dessert deserves its own quiet moment — the table calm, candles low, and the laughter softer now.
SOMM&SOMM Recommends:
Pair with: Pumpkin pie, pecan tart, apple crisp, or cheese boards with dried fruit.
Sommelier’s notes: These wines mirror the season’s sweetness, adding depth to desserts without overwhelming them.
Tammy’s Pumpkin Pie
PASTRY FOR SINGLE-CRUST PIE
- 1 ¼ cups All-Purpose Flour
- ¼ tsp Salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) Cold Unsalted Butter, cut into ½ inch pieces
- 3 to 4 tablespoons Cold Water, as needed
Combine flour, salt and butter in bowl. Rub butter into flour mixture to resemble cornmeal. Add 3 tablespoons cold water and stir using fork or electric mixer, adding more water as needed, until dough is just hydrated and comes together. Shape the dough into a ball and flatten slightly. Wrap in wax paper and chill for 30 minutes. Roll dough into a circle about 1/8 inch thick. Lightly grease the pan. Place the rolled dough in the pan and crimp the edges. No need to pre-bake this crust.
FILLING
- 2 cups Mashed Cooked Pumpkin
- 1 12 oz can Evaporated Milk
- 2 Eggs
- ¾ cup Packed Brown Sugar
- ½ tsp Ground Cinnamon
- ½ tsp Fresh Grated Nutmeg
- ½ tsp Ground Ginger
- ½ tsp Salt
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Separate eggs and beat whites until soft peaks form.
Beat the pumpkin, egg yolks, evaporated milk, eggs, brown sugar, and spices with an electric mixer until well blended. Fold in the beaten egg whites. Pour into the pie crust and bake for 40 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean.
Wine Beyond the Glass
As the plates empty and the conversation lingers, you start to realize: Thanksgiving isn’t really about the food or the wine. It’s about the shared space between them — the way stories unfold between sips, how laughter softens over dessert, and how gratitude seems to fill every empty glass.
Wine simply becomes the language of connection — a way to express joy, generosity, and the beauty of being together.
Thanksgiving isn’t about getting to what’s next — it’s about honoring what’s now.
Gregory Dean, SOMM&SOMM
A Toast to What Matters
In a world that moves too fast, Thanksgiving reminds us to slow down. It’s not the opening act of Christmas or the final note of fall. It’s its own moment — rich, deliberate, and full of heart.
So pour the good bottle. Use the nice glasses. Light the candles and let the meal stretch long into the evening. Because Thanksgiving isn’t about getting to what’s next — it’s about honoring what’s now.
Here’s to the people who fill your table, the stories that flavor your meal, and the wines that remind you why gratitude is best served slow.
SOMM&SOMM Thanksgiving Series
- Part I: Giving Thanks — And Maybe a Little Grace
- Part II: Pouring the Prelude — The Week Before Thanksgiving
- Part III: The Feast — A Thanksgiving Table Worth Toasting
A Closing Note from SOMM&SOMM
As we raise our glasses this Thanksgiving, it’s worth remembering that not every chair at the table will be filled. Some seats will stay empty — for loved ones who’ve passed, for those too far away, or for relationships still finding their way back to warmth.
It’s in those quiet spaces — the pauses between laughter, the flicker of a candle beside an untouched plate — that Thanksgiving reveals its deeper meaning. Gratitude isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about honoring both the joy and the ache, the abundance and the absence, and still finding reason to give thanks.
Perhaps that’s why this holiday can feel overlooked or even avoided. It asks us to slow down, to feel, to remember. It doesn’t glitter like Christmas or thrill like Halloween — it simply invites us to be human. To gather, to share, to forgive, and to savor the fleeting beauty of now.
So wherever you find yourself this season — whether surrounded by a crowd or holding close to a single memory — may your glass be full, your heart be open, and your gratitude unhurried.
– With love and thanks,
Greg & Tammy Dean, SOMM&SOMM
Cover Photo by Monstera Production on Pexels.com
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