7 Versatile Red Wines To Celebrate Thanksgiving

Many Americans are finalizing their shopping lists for Thanksgiving meals. I have some ideas to help in the beverage department. For Wine Wednesday, here are 7 versatile red wines to celebrate Thanksgiving. They come from around the world and are a variety of grapes and styles.

I like a mix of wine on my Thanksgiving table. You can't go wrong with fresh whites to lighten the load of some of the heavy and fatty sides dishes. Click here for some good ideas. Next week, I have some sparkling alternatives. But today, it's all about the reds.

Let's start in Italy. Italians might not have come over with the Pilgrims. However, they found their way to the U.S. continent in droves, brought vines and planted vineyards. Pasqua is from Verona, home to Romeo and Juliet

It is said to be inspired by love. The label resembles the sentiments of love written on the wall of Juliet's home in Verona. Hopefully love is the sentiment that will prevail around your holiday table.

Spaniards have also been important to weaving the fabric of our nation. This Conde Valdemar Rioja is by respected winery Bodegas Valdemar. The family has been making wine in Spain from some 130 years and are highly regarded. Many Spanish wines have a nice rustic characteristic that is nice with Thanksgiving foods.

You can rarely go wrong with pinot noir for this holiday. They often have earthy flavors such as mushrooms and can be herbal. While the concentration of fruit can vary, those fruits are often lighter and complimentary to many of the dishes on the Thanksgiving table.

EnRoute was created by the award winning Far Niente Winery and Nickel & Nickel wineries in Napa. However, these grapes come from Sonoma.

Blends are always a good idea for a smorgasbord of flavors. This one comes from Spring Valley Vineyards in Washington state. I originally picked this up for a story on WAugust, a clever title for Washington Wine Month in August. A wine like this is meant to be on a Thanksgiving table.

On to California. Quilt Napa Valley Fabric Of The Land Red is a tribute to the character of Napa Valley and its patchwork of vineyards. Kind of like the folks who will be at your Thanksgiving table, a patchwork of characters.

Finally, don't overlook a good zinfandel. Pedroncelli make some beautiful zins and The Legacy Block is new to their portfolio. The family owned winery has been in the business since the 1920's.

Finally, Cabernet Sauvignon. Some can be a little heavy for a typical Thanksgiving meal. This one however seems tailor made. You might be more familiar with La Crema Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. They are easy to find and on the affordable side.

The winery released its first ever cabernet in September. So if you serve this one, it will likely be a new discovery for many of your guests.

Put one of these versatile red wines to celebrate Thanksgiving on your table this season. Or use than as a guide for something similar. Cheers.

Drink responsibly.

The turkey might be the star of the show this holiday, however, it's not the only food item that gets Southwest Floridians excited. It's what accompanies the big bird every year that has mouths salivating. Here are 5 delicious side dishes for Thanksgiving that will leave your guests wanting more.

Every family has their Thanksgiving traditions. Not everyone cooks a turkey. Some families cook several turkeys using a different method for each. Regardless of whether you cook turkey, a leg of lamb or a plant based tofu turkey, filling the table with lots of sides is an important part of giving thanks.

Side dishes for a regular evening or weekend meal are usually thoughtfully planned to integrate flavors and themes. But at Thanksgiving, all rules and common sense food pairings are thrown out the window.

It's a free for all and it's one reason this meal is so beloved. Sure there are staples and they vary from house to house. If you are like me, there are some that are non-negotiable. If they are absent the meal seems incomplete regardless of how much is on the table.

However, I'm always looking for something new to try. It might be a new spin on an old favorite or something that is completely different from what I've made in the past.

Since we are on the countdown to Thanksgiving, my social media feeds are starting to fill up with food. It's getting me excited to sit around the table this year with family and friends and try a couple of these dishes. I threw in a bonus appetizer at the end.

If you don't have a TikTok account, don't worry. I've made it easy by taking these links from mine. Simply scroll down and watch from this post. Some of the recipe details are in the captions so you might have to click to see them in full.

Finally, share these videos and recipes with friends who also enjoy cooking or might be looking for some new side dishes for Thanksgiving this year.

Mashed potatoes are a must at Thanksgiving. Some people also love scalloped potatoes. Heck any kind of potato is appropriate. This is a new twist (at least for me) on a popular dish.

Not everyone likes sweet potato casseroles. But it is a tradition for many households and according to this home cook, once you try this recipe you will be sold.

Cranberries are another Thanksgiving staple. They come from a can, are added to cocktails, put in desserts and now you can use them in a dip. The addition of jalapeño adds an unsuspecting kick. Put on the main table or use for an appetizer.
https://www.tiktok.com/@mazerlazer_/video/7432339249728425259?_r=1&_t=8rDq4MWQyqp

Green bean casserole is another tradition people have a love/hate relationship with. It typically has cream of mushroom soup and is topped with those crispy onions. If it has run its course but you still want a green bean presence, try this one on for size.

This is more on the healthful side of sides. It incorporates a lot of the seasonal vegetables you might be serving. This just tosses them all together.
https://www.tiktok.com/@healthyishfoods/video/7298852494053018926?_r=1&_t=8rDp9JX8nc2

I have to throw this one in for a bonus. It wins a creativity award. Take that tired charcuterie and turn it into table art for a fun appetizer or addition to the buffet.
https://www.tiktok.com/@chefgenevieve/video/7432788714000043310?_t=8rDqgvmCe2E&_r=1

The turkey might be the star of the show this holiday, however, it's not the only food item that gets Southwest Floridians excited. It's what accompanies the big bird every year that has mouths salivating. Here are 5 delicious side dishes for Thanksgiving that will leave your guests wanting more.

Every family has their Thanksgiving traditions. Not everyone cooks a turkey. Some families cook several turkeys using a different method for each. Regardless of whether you cook turkey, a leg of lamb or a plant based tofu turkey, filling the table with lots of sides is an important part of giving thanks.

Side dishes for a regular evening or weekend meal are usually thoughtfully planned to integrate flavors and themes. But at Thanksgiving, all rules and common sense food pairings are thrown out the window.

It's a free for all and it's one reason this meal is so beloved. Sure there are staples and they vary from house to house. If you are like me, there are some that are non-negotiable. If they are absent the meal seems incomplete regardless of how much is on the table.

However, I'm always looking for something new to try. It might be a new spin on an old favorite or something that is completely different from what I've made in the past.

Since we are on the countdown to Thanksgiving, my social media feeds are starting to fill up with food. It's getting me excited to sit around the table this year with family and friends and try a couple of these dishes. I threw in a bonus appetizer at the end.

If you don't have a TikTok account, don't worry. I've made it easy by taking these links from mine. Simply scroll down and watch from this post. Some of the recipe details are in the captions so you might have to click to see them in full.

Finally, share these videos and recipes with friends who also enjoy cooking or might be looking for some new side dishes for Thanksgiving this year.

Mashed potatoes are a must at Thanksgiving. Some people also love scalloped potatoes. Heck any kind of potato is appropriate. This is a new twist (at least for me) on a popular dish.

Not everyone likes sweet potato casseroles. But it is a tradition for many households and according to this home cook, once you try this recipe you will be sold.

Cranberries are another Thanksgiving staple. They come from a can, are added to cocktails, put in desserts and now you can use them in a dip. The addition of jalapeño adds an unsuspecting kick. Put on the main table or use for an appetizer.
https://www.tiktok.com/@mazerlazer_/video/7432339249728425259?_r=1&_t=8rDq4MWQyqp

Green bean casserole is another tradition people have a love/hate relationship with. It typically has cream of mushroom soup and is topped with those crispy onions. If it has run its course but you still want a green bean presence, try this one on for size.

This is more on the healthful side of sides. It incorporates a lot of the seasonal vegetables you might be serving. This just tosses them all together.
https://www.tiktok.com/@healthyishfoods/video/7298852494053018926?_r=1&_t=8rDp9JX8nc2

I have to throw this one in for a bonus. It wins a creativity award. Take that tired charcuterie and turn it into table art for a fun appetizer or addition to the buffet.
https://www.tiktok.com/@chefgenevieve/video/7432788714000043310?_t=8rDqgvmCe2E&_r=1