Thanksgiving dinner brings sweet, savory, tart, and rich flavors to the same plate, which may make it a challenge to choose just the ideal wine to serve with the meal. However, award-winning winemaker Corry Craighill suggests that the Commonwealth’s multitude of winemaking styles and vineyard locations makes it ideal for finding wines that have the potential to suit every palate. She offered up her suggestions on how to reach for the right wines, and some tips on how to make the pairing special.
If you were choosing Virginia wines for a Thanksgiving table, which varietals or styles would you reach for, and what dishes would you pair with each?
Cabernet Franc would be my first choice because of the variety of styles in Virginia. The 2022 Cab Franc at Septenary is savory and textural, while the 2024 Valley Road Cab Franc is fresh, fruity, and vibrant. Pair with stuffing that has some sausage in it, but your cranberry sauce accidentally spilled off the turkey and smudged into it.
For whites, I would go classic with Chardonnay. I know Chardonnay can be controversial, but now is your chance to convince your aunt and uncle that they actually do love this varietal because this one comes from Virginia. My impression is that Virginia winemakers tend to be lighter on the oak and malo, so think fresh acidity but without losing texture to stand up to a full meal. Pair with turkey and gravy -- classic meets classic.
Turkey gets most of the attention, but Thanksgiving sides often have much stronger flavors. Are there particular Virginia wines you love with dishes like stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, or green vegetables?
With the specific dishes here, I would suggest Sauvignon Blanc because it usually has bright acidity that can cut through some of those heavier dishes, and it often has grassy notes to complement the vegetables on your plate.
What pairing mistakes do people commonly make with Thanksgiving dinner, and what would you suggest instead?
The mistake that has happened at our dinner table is choosing a wine that is too big and bold for the meal. There are a lot of flavors going on, so choosing a wine that overpowers the meal makes for more chaos.
For someone who wants to serve just one or two bottles that will work across most of the meal, what qualities should they look for when choosing a Virginia wine?
Bring a wine that has a story behind it. Don't bring it just for the tasting notes or the awards it has won, bring it to share because you want to talk about the winemaker you ran into after your tasting or a fun fact you learned while enjoying the vineyard setting. Share your experience with friends and family so they can understand the work that went into the Virginia wine on the table. If there is just going to be one bottle on the table, make it memorable.
Is there a Virginia wine or Thanksgiving pairing that might surprise people but works particularly well, and what makes that combination successful?
Don't forget about the sparkling wine to start the night off!
Anything else you’d like readers to know:
Keep supporting your Virginia wineries. When you share a wine with folks unfamiliar with our area, you're not just sharing a bottle but an experience you had. Get people curious about the wines we are making here because we have a lot of talent, camaraderie, and ideas that should be celebrated.
Meet the Winemaker Behind the Pairings
Corry Craighill began her winemaking career at Blenheim Vineyards in 2011. After traveling to work harvest in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, and the West Coast (twice), she returned to Virginia to take on a role as head winemaker in Loudoun County. In 2020, she moved to Charlottesville, where she has been working at Septenary Winery. Craighill makes custom crush wines for Valley Road, Chisholm, and Southern Revere, all at Septenary's location. This year, she won the 2026 Governor's Cup with the 2023 Cabernet Franc Reserve she made for Valley Road.