The Best $20 and Under Wines to Serve at Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving brings to mind a lot of our favorite things. Family and friends gathering together? Yes please. Turkey, mashed potatoes, candied yams, and pie? Um, we’re literally drooling. But almost nothing brings a smile to our face like taking a sip of wine that complements our Thanksgiving meal perfectly — especially when we know that the bottle was totally affordable.

Believe it or not, it’s easy to get a bottle of Thanksgiving wine for $20 or less that you can pair with your meal. The key is knowing what you and your guests like. You don’t have to settle for Chardonnay or Pinot Noir if that’s not what you’re into — why not branch out and explore a Tempranillo, or even a sparkling wine?

Of course, we like to buy a variety of bottles, so everyone can have what they like. And when the wine is this affordable, you don’t even have to feel guilty about stocking up.

Whether you prefer red or white, sweet or dry, there’s a Thanksgiving wine here for every palate.

Chateau St Michelle 2017 Indian Wells Chardonnay

Chardonnay is always a safe bet when served alongside roasted turkey, and this one has a rich, creamy mouthfeel that will complement the lushness of your gravy and the fatty, crispy turkey skin.

Erath Pinot Noir 2017

With flavors of dark red berry, stone fruit, and spice, smooth and versatile pinot noir is always a fave for the Thanksgiving table.

14 Hands Late Harvest Viognier

The acidity in this Viognier makes it the perfect wine to cut through buttery Thanksgiving dishes. It has delightful aromas of orange blossom and flavors of nectarine and dried apricot.

Bodegas Volver Tempranillo 2016

With berry fruit flavors, a light acidity, and moderate tannins, this Spanish red plays well with rich foods at the dinner table, providing the same much-needed tang to your palate as cranberry sauce.

Francois Montand Brut Blanc de Blancs

Sparkling wines aren’t just festive. A dry sparkling white, like this French Blanc de Blancs, is balanced, creamy, and smooth, with just enough acidity to pair well with everything you’d serve during a rich holiday meal.

Tobin James Ballistic Zinfandel

Low tannins, a smooth body, hints of spice; you can’t go wrong with a bottle of Zin on Thanksgiving, and Tobin James reds are a treat any time of year.

Jam Cellars Butter Chardonnay

It’s all in the name — this buttery Chardonnay, with notes of stone fruit and vanilla, pairs well with the buttery mashed potatoes and rich side dishes at your holiday feast.

Gerard Bertrand Cote Des Rosé

Believe it or not, rosé is a great choice for Thanksgiving. Not only is it affordable (and this bottle is certainly eye-catching), but it brings a bright, balanced acidity and fruity flavor to your palate that plays nicely with candied yams, cranberry sauce, and turkey alike.

Donovan-Parke Pinot Noir

We’ve said it once, we’ll say it again — it’s just not Thanksgiving without a bottle of Pinot Noir on the table.

Mozelle Riesling

Don’t be afraid of riesling. This German bottle is medium-dry, meaning it has some sweetness, but that sugar content means that it can stand up to the wild array of flavors on your Thanksgiving table. It’s also nice to have a bottle on hand for people who don’t enjoy drier varietals, but even those folks might find themselves sneaking a glass of this tart, fruity, almost floral wine.

Chaucers Mead Wine

Made with honey, save this mead for dessert. Serve small cups of it along with your pumpkin, apple, and pecan pies, or simmer it with spices on the stovetop and serve it as a dessert course in itself.

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