Introduction to Thanksgiving Wine
Choosing wine for the holiday table is a bit like dressing everyone for a family photo. Is chardonnay presentable for the occasion? Will Cousin Sam’s favorite sauv blanc clash with the stuffing? Will Auntie Mavis even drink it? We looked to local experts for tips on how to pair complex flavor combinations — and personalities — for an easy drinking and potentially conflict-free Thanksgiving.
Do Pour Sparkling Wine Throughout The Meal
Thanksgiving dinner’s rich dishes and warm spices pair wonderfully with bubbles and, frankly, it’s a fun, splurgy idea that many guests can get behind. “My ol’ reliable will forever and always be Champagne,” said Alex Cuper, director of beverage and hospitality at El Che in the West Loop and Brasero in West Town. “It is a cheat code in the wine pairing world because it goes with everything, and it has bubbles, which means we’re celebrating, which means we should all be happy! How can you not be happy with Champagne?”
<img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" width="818" height="1024" src="https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-21-at-5.00.49-PM-818×1024.png?resize=818%2C1024&ssl=1" alt="Alex Cuper, beverage director at El Che and Brasero, calls Champagne his "’ol reliable" pick for pairing with Thanksgiving dinner." class="wp-image-953964" style="width:400px;height:auto" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-21-at-5.00.49-PM.png?resize=818%2C1024&ssl=1 818w, https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-21-at-5.00.49-PM.png?resize=240%2C300&ssl=1 240w, https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-21-at-5.00.49-PM.png?resize=768%2C961&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-21-at-5.00.49-PM.png?resize=780%2C976&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-21-at-5.00.49-PM.png?resize=400%2C501&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-21-at-5.00.49-PM.png?resize=706%2C884&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-21-at-5.00.49-PM.png?w=1002&ssl=1 1002w, https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot-2025-11-21-at-5.00.49-PM-818×1024.png?w=370&ssl=1 370w" sizes="(max-width: 818px) 100vw, 818px">Alex Cuper of El Che and Brasero calls Champagne a reliable pick for Thanksgiving dinner. He avoids big, assertive wines. Credit: Instagram/El Che
Example: Juvé & Camps Reserva de la Familia Gran Reserva Brut, Colin Champagne 1er Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Blanche de Castille
Don’t Ignore White Wines In Colder Weather
Many people automatically reach for a red at Thanksgiving, but white wines that have a “natural, vibrant acidity” pair beautifully with Thanksgiving’s autumnal flavors, said Richard Hanauer, who oversees wine programs at Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You restaurants nationwide. Try a semillon or a white bordeaux from France — or a Rioja Blanco for an interesting twist, Hanauer said. Example: Muga Blanco, Chateau Tour de Bonnet White Bordeaux
Don’t Forget About Chardonnay
“Chardonnay is a love or hate variety,” said Jake Bennie, wine director of West Loop’s Sepia and Proxi. Haters should know chardonnay works wonderfully with holiday dishes “because there is bright fruit and freshness that will bring levity to rich dishes while still being able to stand up to them in terms of body,” Bennie said. Soo Choi, who runs Plein Air Cafe in Hyde Park and helps select the products for its new wine shop, Plein Air La Cave, recommends a white Burgundy, which is made from chardonnay grapes in the French style. Example: Laurent Delaunay Les Grappillages Bourgogne Chardonnay
Medium-Bodied Reds
Medium-bodied varietals won’t overpower your fall cuisine, Hanauer said. Try a Zweigelt from Austria, a Schiava from Italy or a Gamay from France, all examples of lighter-bodied reds. Choi always stocks a Beaujolais Villages for Thanksgiving quaffing. Examples: Weingut Schwarz “The Butcher” Burgenland Zweigelt, Pardon & Fils Beaujolais Villages
Do Stick With The Familiar
Thanksgiving is not the time to “try to be the hero,” Cuper said. “Lots of palates leads to more of a chance to choose something that isn’t going to be for everyone.” At home, Cuper steers away from wines on the “‘natty’ side of things” or “super big and assertive” ones.
Don’t Overspend
David Kravitz, beverage director of La Grande Boucherie in River North, thinks a grenache from the Rhone Valley would be a great choice because it comes in all price points and isn’t so heavy as to put everyone to sleep. “When done right, these wines share the lightness of pinot with darker fruit and a note of black pepper,” he said. Example: M. Chapoutier “Barbe Rac” Châteauneuf-du-Pape
<img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" width="1024" height="653" src="https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Heritage_Thanksgiving-11.7.24-credit_-Ryan_Beshel-047-1024×653.jpg?resize=1024%2C653&ssl=1" alt="Thanksgiving a la carte options at Heritage Restaurant Partners include oyster and kimchi stuffing and caviar." class="wp-image-948834" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Heritage_Thanksgiving-11.7.24-credit_-Ryan_Beshel-047-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C653&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Heritage_Thanksgiving-11.7.24-credit_-Ryan_Beshel-047-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C191&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Heritage_Thanksgiving-11.7.24-credit_-Ryan_Beshel-047-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C490&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Heritage_Thanksgiving-11.7.24-credit_-Ryan_Beshel-047-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C980&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Heritage_Thanksgiving-11.7.24-credit_-Ryan_Beshel-047-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1307&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Heritage_Thanksgiving-11.7.24-credit_-Ryan_Beshel-047-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C766&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Heritage_Thanksgiving-11.7.24-credit_-Ryan_Beshel-047-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1276&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/Heritage_Thanksgiving-11.7.24-credit_-Ryan_Beshel-047-scaled.jpg?resize
