The Best Thanksgiving Wines of 2024

SPARKLING

1. Sokol Blosser, Brut Bluebird Cuvée 2021 | Willamette Valley, Oregon

Origin: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Varietals:  A proprietary blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Muscat
Price: $39.00
ABV: 12%

Sokol Blosser was founded in 1971 by Susan Sokol and Bill Blosser who were the first to plant vines in Oregon’s Dundee Hills.

The label on this wine bottle showcases Sokol Blosser’s long-time support of the Prescott Western Bluebird Recovery Project, with an image of a Western Bluebird. For more than 20 years, Sokol Blosser has offered needed shelter and support to preserve a breeding habitat for Western Bluebirds, with 15 bird houses on its organically-farmed property.

This pale-yellow sparkler reveals notes of pear and citrus blossom. The clean palate delivers apple, lemon and vibrant acidity, all culminating in a creamy, long finish.

> For more information, visit Sokol Blosser official website.

2. Biltmore Estate, Brut | North Carolina

Origin: North Carolina
Varietals: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Price: $39.00
ABV: 12.5%

The Biltmore Estate Winery is located in Asheville, North Carolina, and is part of the historic Biltmore Estate, which is known for its grandeur and beauty. The winery is one of the most visited wineries in the United States and is an integral part of the estate’s offerings.

The Biltmore Estate was established by George Washington Vanderbilt II in the late 19th century. The estate is famous for its French Renaissance-style mansion, which is the largest privately-owned house in the United States. The winery was established in 1985, adding to the estate’s rich heritage.

This pale-yellow sparkling wine offers aromas of apricot, citrus and brioche. The mouthfeel is pleasant with lively acidity, a creamy texture and a clean, elegant finish.

> For more information, visit Biltmore Estate official website.

3. Robert Mondavi, Sparkling Rosé 2021 | Carneros, Napa Valley, California

Origin: Napa Valley, California
Varietals: 76% Muscat, 13% Malbec, 11% Pinot Noir
Price: $35.00
ABV: 11.5%

In 1966, Robert Mondavi built his Napa Valley winery with a singular vision: to create wines that stand amongst the world’s finest. He believed that wines should reflect their origin, the soil, the climate, and the careful stewardship of those precious resources. Robert Mondavi was a pioneer in promoting California wines and helped establish the Napa Valley as a premier wine region.

This light salmon colored wine shows tiny bubbles and creamy effervescence. The bouquet opens with aromas of strawberries, floral hints and stone fruit. The palate reveals crisp citrus fruit, more stone fruit, juicy acidity balanced by a touch of residual sugar.

> For more information, visit Robert Mondavi Winery official website.

WHITE

4. Baldacci, 2022 Chardonnay | Carneros, Napa Valley, California

Origin: Carneros, Napa Valley, California
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Price: $50.00
ABV: 14.5%

Baldacci Family Vineyards is located in a beautiful part of the Napa Valley just off of the Silverado Trail (west side). The property was originally planted with grapevines in 1888; it was purchased by Tom & Brenda Baldacci in 1998. For approximately six years, the family sold grapes, including to notable producers such as Rombauer, Shafer Vineyards and Clos du Val. Eventually, Tom decided to build a winery rather than selling the property. Perhaps his family heritage had something to do with his decision, being the grandson of Italian immigrants, who made their own wine.

This golden yellow Chardonnay draws you in with aromas of apple, citrus, tropical and stone fruit. The palate is flavored with lemon zest, stone fruit and a hint of cookie dough.

For more information, visit Baldacci official website.

Pair the wine with pan-seared Dungeness crab cakes

Enjoy Baldacci’s 2022 Chardonnay with this recipe from Baldacci.

CRAB CAKE INGREDIENTS:
– 1/3 cup mayonnaise
– 1 large egg, beaten
– 2 tbs. Dijon mustard
– 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
– 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
– 1/2 tsp hot sauce
– 1 tsp lemon juice
– Kosher salt
– freshly ground black pepper
– 1 lb. Dungeness crab meat
– 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
– 2 tbs fresh parsley, chopped grapeseed oil for frying lemon wedges, for serving

REMOULADE SAUCE:
– 1 cup mayonnaise
– 1 tsp. paprika
– 1 tsp. dry mustard
– 1 tsp. whole grain mustard
– 1 tb. Tabasco
– 1 tb. fresh lemon juice
– 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
– 2 green onions, chopped
– 2 tb. fresh parsley, chopped
– 2 celery, minced
– 1 clove garlic, minced
– 1 tsp. salt
– 1/2 tsp. black pepper
– 1 tsp. capers
– 2 tb. green olives, chopped

METHOD:
• In a large bowl, whisk together mayo, egg, and all liquid ingredients.
• Add all other ingredients and mix well.
• Form the mixture into cakes that are about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. They should firm enough to hold their shape, but not too firmly packed.
• Heat a large skillet (cast iron is recommended for a crispy sear) over medium high heat. Add crab cakes and cook until golden and crispy, 3-5 minutes per side.
• Serve with lemon wedges and remoulade sauce (to prepare sauce, whisk all ingredients together).

5. Paradise Springs, Petit Manseng 2022 | Virginia

Origin: Virginia
Varietal: 100% Petit Manseng
Price: $33.00
ABV: 13.5%

​Paradise Springs Winery is located in the historic town of Clifton in Fairfax County, Virginia. The winery opened its doors in 2010 and has quickly become a significant player in Virginia’s wine industry. The estate is rooted in history, with the original property dating back to the early 18^th century.
This bright golden colored wine draws you in with aromas of honeysuckle, peach and candied orange peel. The palate has notes of pineapple, lemon zest and a touch of caramel.

> For more information, visit ​Paradise Springs Winery official website.

6. Ram’s Gate, Estate Pinot Blanc 2022 | Sonoma, California

Origin: Carneros, California
Varietal: 100% Pinot Blanc
Price: $40.00
ABV: 13.4%

With its cool climate, Carneros produces crisp wines with vibrant acidity and layered complexity and distinction. Situated upon a rolling hillside, where the San Francisco Bay meets the edges of Napa and Sonoma counties, Ram’s Gate Winery patiently awaits. Winemaker Joe Nielsen is parlaying the estate vineyard into a model of thoughtful precision farming and sustainability, while also elevating each wine in the portfolio to its highest vineyard expression.

This bright yellow wine shows attractive aromas of stone fruit and lemon zest. The palate delivers flavors of blanched almonds, Granny Smith apple and a touch of vanilla. The wine culminates in a very refreshing and bright finish.

> For more information, visit Ram’s Gate Winery official website.

7. William Hill, Sauvignon Blanc 2022 | California

Origin: California
Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Price: $15.99
ABV: 13.4%

William Hill Winery is located in the Napa Valley region of California, specializing in producing high-quality wines, particularly focusing on Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. Founded in 1976 by William Hill, the winery sits on a beautiful estate in the Silverado Bench area, which offers a unique climate and soil composition ideal for growing premium grapes.

This straw-colored Sauvignon Blanc is perfumed with aromas of honeysuckle, green apple, tropical fruit and lemon zest. The palate bursts with Meyer lemon, stone fruit and melon, all wrapped in juicy acidity.

> For more information, visit William Hill official website.

8. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Aveta, Sauvignon Blanc 2023 | Napa Valley, California

Origin: Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California
Varietals: 68% Sauvignon Blanc, 27% Sauvignon Musque, 4% Sémillon, 1% Muscat Canelli
Price: $30.00
ABV: 13.5%

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is one of the most iconic wineries in Napa Valley, California. Founded in 1970 by Warren Winiarski, the winery quickly gained international fame when its 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon won the red wine category at the 1976 “Judgment of Paris,” a blind tasting that shocked the wine world by elevating California wines to the level of top French Bordeaux and Chardonnay.

Aveta is named for a water goddess often depicted carrying fruit. It is a fitting name to express the vibrant fruit flavors and minerality of their Sauvignon Blanc which is crafted from fruit grown in the alluvial soils of their estate vineyards as well as other exceptional Napa Valley sites.

This light-yellow Sauvignon is perfumed with aromas of tropical fruit, stone fruit and a hint of spice. The palate shows grapefruit, lemon zest, crushed stone and juicy acidity.

> For more information, visit Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars official website.

9. Fiddlehead Cellars, 2017 Grüner Veltliner | Sta. Rita Hills, California

Origin: Sta. Rita Hills, California
Varietal: 100% Grüner Veltliner
Price: $32.00
ABV: 13%

Having already established herself as a pioneer in both Santa Barbara County and Willamette Valley in the early 1990s, Fiddlehead owner and winemaker Kathy Joseph was eager to introduce people to an elegant and serious Grüner Veltliner, representative of the great wines of Austria that she loves. In 2012, she took a leap of faith, planting almost three acres of vines which already had four years of age at her famed Fiddlestix Vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills, becoming the first in the region to produce this grape.

This wine is fermented in a combination of French oak and stainless steel. It shows a light yellow color and typical Grüner Veltliner aromas of jasmine, citrus, peach, pear, white pepper and a touch of mineral. The palate delivers flavors of lemon zest and stone fruit, all blended in juicy acidity.

> For more information, visit the Fiddlehead Cellars official website.

Watch our exclusive video interview of Alison Laslett, CEO of Santa Barbara Vintners Association.

10. Materra, Yamabuki 2023 | Napa Valley, California

Origin: Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, California
Varietals: 100% Albariño
Price: $38.00
ABV: 14.2%

Materra, by Cunat Family Vineyards, is a family-owned winery located in Napa Valley, California. The word “Materra” is a combination of “maternal” and “terra,” reflecting the winery’s focus on the maternal aspect of winemaking, as well as its deep connection to the land.

Materra specializes in producing small-lot, estate-grown wines that reflect the unique terroir of Napa Valley. Yamabuki Albariño pays homage to the official flower of Kawakami, Japan. In hue and floral character, it is reminiscent of the wild river rose, a welcoming symbol to weary mountain travelers.

This light golden Albariño shows aromas of pineapple, lemon zest and rose petals. The palate is well-balanced, with plenty of white peach and melon, silky acidity and a lingering finish.

> For more information, visit Materra official website.

RED

11. J.Lohr, 2022 Gesture, GSM | Paso Robles, California

Origin: Paso Robles, California
Varietal: 83% Grenache, 16% Syrah, 1% Mourvèdre
Price: $40.00
ABV: 15.9%

J. Lohr Vineyards & Wine is a prominent and respected family-owned winery in California, known for producing a wide range of high-quality wines. It was founded by Jerry Lohr in 1974 after extensive research into the best regions for grape growing. J.Lohr owns and farms over 4,000 acres of vineyards across California’s prime wine regions, including Paso Robles, Monterey County and Napa Valley.

This dark red Rhône-style blend shows wild berries and a hint of spice on the nose. The palate is loaded with dark red fruit, black pepper and juicy tannins with good acidity to balance it all.

> For more information, visit J. Lohr Vineyards & Wine official website.

12. Jonata, Todos 2021 | Santa Ynez Valley, California

Origin: Ballard Canyon, Santa Ynez Valley, California
Varietals: 66% Syrah, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petite Sirah, 2% Merlot and 2% “chaos”
Price: $50.00
ABV: 14.9%

Jonata is a winery located in the moderate climate of the Ballard Canyon appellation in Santa Ynez Valley, part of California’s Central Coast wine region. Established in the early 2000s, Jonata cultivates 14 grape varietals planted across 80 acres of Careaga sand, which accumulated 5.3 million years ago as the hills began their emergence from the Pacific Ocean. With elevations ranging from 700 to 1,200 feet, the rolling hills offer a wide range of exposures and the diurnal shifts can be dramatic. All these factors result in fruit with complexity, minerality, freshness and aromatics. The name “Jonata” is derived from a Chumash word meaning “tall oak,” reflecting the region’s rich natural history.

This dark red wine is perfumed with aromas of red berries, blackberries, spices and a hint of oak. The palate draws you in with layers of dark black fruit, well-integrated tannins and acidity, all culminating in a long, energetic finish.

> For more information, visit Jonata official website.

13. Raeburn, High Flier, Pinot Noir 2022 | Sonoma, California

Origin: Russian River Valley, California
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Price: $33.00
ABV: 14.2%

Raeburn Winery crafts complex, elegant wines inspired by founder Derek Benham and his great appreciation of nature. The name Raeburn is Old English for “the river where one drinks” — a nod to the beauty of Sonoma County and the winery’s Russian River Valley roots. The winemaking team crafts wines that deliver delicious varietal character and express the spirit of some of Sonoma County’s most sought-after vineyards.

This crimson red Pinot Noir reveals notes of cherry, candied orange peel and a hint of cigar box. The palate delivers layers of blackberry, pomegranate and a hint of plum, all balanced with juicy acidity and culminating in an enduring, elegant finish.

> For more information, visit Raeburn official website.

14. Beaulieu Vineyard, 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley, California

Origin: Napa Valley, California
Varietals: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Charbono, 4% Petite Sirah, 3% Merlot, 2% Touriga Nacional, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec
Price: $38.99
ABV: 14.7%

Beaulieu Vineyard (BV) is one of Napa Valley’s oldest and most respected wineries, with a history that dates back to 1900. It was founded by French immigrant Georges de Latour and his wife, Fernande, who named the estate “Beaulieu,” which means “beautiful place” in French, after being captivated by the beauty of the Rutherford region in Napa. In 1938, Georges de Latour made a strategic decision to hire famed winemaker André Tchelistcheff who brought European winemaking techniques to Napa Valley. Tchelistcheff is often credited with elevating the quality of Napa wines, and his influence helped BV earn its place as one of the most prestigious wineries in the U.S.

This dark red wine unfolds layers of aromas of red and black berries, cherries, plum and cedar. The full-bodied palate is loaded with rich, red fruit, spice, floral notes and well-integrated tannins. The wine finishes with length and complexity.

> For more information, visit Beaulieu Vineyard official website.

15. Linne Calodo, Problem Child 2022 | Paso Robles, California

Origin: Willow Creek District, Paso Robles, California
Varietals: 65% Zinfandel, 14% Carignan, 12% Mourvèdre, 9% Syrah
Price: $88.00
ABV: 15.4%

Established in 1998 by Matt and Maureen Trevisan, Linne Calodo is a pioneering icon of Rhône-variety blends and Zinfandel-based wines from Paso Robles. The winery is named after the limestone and calcareous Linne Calodo soils found at the estate vineyard which contribute to the unique terroir and character of the wines. Winemaker Matt Trevisan subscribes to a “nature-positive” farming ethos that emphasizes biodiversity, native lifeforms and species coexistence for the sake of creating responsibly grown, vineyard-centric wines.

Deep ruby, purple in color, this expression of Paso Robles fruit boasts lots of cherry, dark berries and gariguette on the nose. The palate reveals raspberry coulis mingled with spice and cedar. The bold finish is long and spiked with well-integrated tannins and acidity.

> For more information, visit Linne Calodo official website.

16. Edio Vineyards, Grenache 2023 | California

Origin: El Dorado, California
Varietals: 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah
Price: $40.00
ABV: 14.2%

The siblings behind El Dorado County’s Edio Vineyards came together 8-years-ago to uplift the reputation of their native wine region and revitalize their family’s farm. All graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with enology and agriculture degrees, the trio of 4th generation farmers, who are also members of the Pechanga tribe, pooled their resources and purchased Delfino Farms, shifting the focus to crafting serious Alpine wines that honor their land and grandfather Edio’s legacy.

The wine shows a crimson red color. The bouquet is bursting with red fruit with a hint of roasted spices. The mouthfeel is balanced with lots of fruit and herbs, juicy acidity and rounded tannins.

> For more information, visit Edio Vineyards official website.

17. San Simeon, 2020 Syrah | Paso Robles, California

Origin: Paso Robles, California
Varietal: 100% Syrah
Price: $22.95
ABV: 14.5%

San Simeon Wines are terroir-driven wines shaped by unique soils and the Pacific Ocean’s influence, which cools the vineyards at night to give their wines a distinct freshness. Their name pays homage to the vital role the fog and cool air from the sea plays in their vineyards, and their label honors the heritage of the region by featuring the historic San Piedras lighthouse.

This Syrah reveals a deep red color. The nose boasts aromas of black currant jam, spices, chocolate and pomegranate. The palate is rich and delivers ripe dark red fruit, flowers, mocha and oaky spices.

> For more information, visit the San Simeon Wines official website.

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