Here is our ultimate guide to Thanksgiving Entertaining, complete with the perfect cocktail – including four fabulous fall drink recipes at the bottom of this page. If you have other questions, feel free to stop by and ask any of our celebration specialists at the store. And remember to Celebrate Responsibly.

Don’t worry about rules. The right wine is the one you enjoy. But if you’d like some tips, here are some ideas to consider as you plan your Thanksgiving Dinner menu. 

1. Turkey (or Chicken) with or without Dressing (Stuffing)

Choice: Trimbach Gewurztraminer Alsace France

Splurge: Ken Wright Cellars Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir

2. Ham, Pork or Beef Tenderloin (or roasts)

Choice: Sean Minor Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Splurge: Amiral de Beychevelle Saint Julien

3. Dessert

Choice: Gonzalez ByassPedro Ximenez Sherry

Splurge: Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Tawny Port

Check out our nifty Food & Wine Pairing Chart for ideas about what wines to pair with all those food choices!

Greet your guests with a glass of one of these selections for the perfect start to your Thanksgiving gathering. 

Have you thought about hosting a no-stress Friendsgiving holiday party with your best buds? Here's your guide to help you set the tone for a fun take on a Thanksgiving gathering!

Fall harvest flavors for the season!

• ice

• 4 oz. Tito's Handmade Vodka

• ¼ cup cranberry juice

• ½ cup sparkling apple juice

• 2 ginger beers

• fresh cranberries for garnish

Directions 

Fill two large glasses with ice. Add the vodka and cranberry juice. Add the sparkling apple juice and then fill the rest of the way with the ginger beer. Stir gently to combine and serve immediately. Garnish with fresh cranberries. 

• 6 oz. apple cider (heated)

• 2 oz. Tuaca liqueur

• whipped cream

• pinch cinnamon and nutmeg

• 1 cinnamon stick

Directions 

In a glass coffee mug or heat-resistant goblet, combine your heated cider and Tuaca. Top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Garnish with cinnamon stick. 

• 2 oz. Wild Turkey
• 1 orange peel
• 3 Tbsp. honey sage syrup*

DIRECTIONS

Put ice into Old Fashioned glasses and pour bourbon and cooled syrup over ice. Twist the orange peel directly over the glass until you see the oils release.

Garnish with a fresh sage leaf.

HONEY SAGE SIMPLE SYRUP

• 1 cup water
• ½ cup honey
• 10-12 fresh sage leaves

DIRECTIONS

Bring the water, honey, and sage (if using) to a boil in a pot over medium high heat. Reduce to low and simmer 3 minutes. Turn off heat and let syrup cool.

• 2 oz. Tito’s Handmade Vodka

• 1 Tbsp. canned pumpkin pie mix (make sure it’s canned pumpkin pie mix, and not just canned pumpkin)

• 0.5 oz. spiced syrup* (see recipe)

Directions 

Shake all ingredients and DOUBLE STRAIN into a large rocks glass. (Use a 3” fine mesh strainer. Mixture will strain slowly, so use a spoon to agitate the mixture in the strainer to speed up the process.) 

*Spiced Syrup

In a 2 quart saucepan, add:

• 4 cinnamon sticks (3-inch size)

• 8 small slices of fresh ginger (skin on is fine)

• ½ of a vanilla bean (split open)

• 30 whole allspice berries

• 20-25 whole cloves (stems on)

• 6 whole star anise pods

• 2 cups of sugar

• 2 3/4 cups of water

Directions 

Simmer all ingredients on low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let steep for another 2-3 hours. Add a little water if the mixture is too viscous (resembling thickness of honey). Then, strain into a glass container and store in the refrigerator until needed.

Garnish: A small amount of fresh, grated nutmeg.