Three Perfect Wine Pairings for Thanksgiving Desserts
By Sydney Orradre
Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and of course, delicious food! While the turkey may steal the show, we all know dessert is what everyone really looks forward to. If you’re looking to enhance your dessert spread this year, Croma Vera has three wine pairings—one each for pumpkin, apple, and pecan pie—that will bring an added layer of indulgence to your Thanksgiving table.
1. Best Wine for Pumpkin Pie: Coastal Grenache
Pumpkin pie is a Thanksgiving classic, and what better way to enjoy it than with our Coastal Grenache? This wine brings bright red fruit flavors like ripe cherries and a touch of spice that perfectly complement the rich, creamy texture of pumpkin pie. The subtle spices in the Grenache enhance the warm notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove in the pie, creating a magical harmony of flavors. It’s a pairing that will have your guests coming back for seconds!
Why it works
The light yet fruity profile of Grenache balances the density of the pie without overpowering it. A sip of Grenache refreshes your palate, preparing you for another bite.
Pro Tip: Serve the Grenache slightly chilled to let its vibrant fruit notes shine.
2. Best Wine for Apple Pie: Refreshing Albariño
Apple pie is another holiday staple, and our Albariño makes for the perfect pairing. The tartness of the apples meet its match in Albariño’s crisp acidity. With hints of citrus and green apple, this wine cuts through the buttery, flaky crust of the pie, making each bite feel light and refreshing, even after a big Thanksgiving meal. It’s the ideal balance between sweet and tangy that will make you fall in love with apple pie all over again.
Why it works
The bright acidity of Albariño refreshes your palate, while its fruit-forward notes echo the apple flavors in the pie.
Pro Tip: Add a dollop of vanilla ice cream next to your apple pie for a decadent treat, and let the Albariño cleanse your palate with every sip.
How do you pronounce Tempranillo and Albariño?
3. Best Wine for Pecan Pie: Bold Tempranillo
For those of you who love the caramelized sweetness of pecan pie, our Tempranillo is your new best friend. This Spanish varietal boasts bold flavors of dark fruits, a hint of spice, and just enough tannin to balance the rich, buttery pecans. The slight earthiness of the Tempranillo complements the roasted, nutty flavors of the pie, while its subtle sweetness blends beautifully with the caramel filling.
Why it works
Tempranillo’s complexity stands up to the richness of pecan pie, while its dark fruit notes enhance the pie’s sweet and nutty profile.
Pro Tip: Let your Tempranillo breathe for a few minutes before serving to fully appreciate its nuanced flavors alongside your pecan pie.
What is Tempranillo?
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"Deep vivid red. An expansive, complex bouquet evokes fresh red fruit, candied flowers, cola and Moroccan spices. Smoothly blends depth and energy, offering appealingly sweet raspberry, kirsch, spicecake and mocha flavors and a touch of vanilla. Clings with impressive authority on the penetrating finish, which is framed by smooth, well-knit tannins." - Vinous
“Pear, melon and lime aromas meet with a boisterous white flower on the nose of this bottling. The palate rides a stony streak through stone fruit and ripe apple flavors across a tight texture.” - Wine Enthusiast
It's as soft and smooth as a bottle full of silk, tasting like a red but drinking like a white. We call that having your cake and eating it, too. On the nose, it's dark cherries coupled with the warm, spicy scent of wood spice. On the tongue, it's black plums that embody a robustness you might find in a hefty leather coat that wears you like it's been wearing you your entire life.
Article photo credit: Timothy Wolff on Unsplash