Gearing up to play host this holiday season? Celebrate the long weekend with family, laughter, and a feast complemented with the perfect wines. As Thanksgiving looms, we’re here to help with a delicious lineup of wine and food pairings to elevate your dining experience. Starting with an easy appetizer full of cheesy goodness!  

Three Pairing Ideas for Your Table 

Appetizer: Craving a simple yet divine appetizer? Brie is a classic choice for the holidays. You can serve it as the star on a cheese plate with crackers or bake it in the oven with a drizzle of honey, fresh herbs, and seasonal fruit toppings, from apples and cranberries to raspberry jam. Our top pick, however, is red pepper jelly!  

Sweet and spicy, this easy Red Pepper Jelly Baked Brie appetizer can be whipped up in minutes and paired with a variety of local Ontario wines, including crisp and fruity white wines. 

Wine pairing: Crisp and fruity with notes of lemongrass, citrus and gooseberry, the soft tannins and acidic finish make BASK Sauvignon Blanc a great match with Brie’s creamy texture. The refreshing notes contrast Brie's richness perfectly, leaving your palate craving more. 

Main: Turkey’s juicy and sumptuous flavour profile opens a plethora of wine pairing options, from rich, earthy, and fruit-forward red wines to refreshing and crisp white wines. For red wine enthusiasts, Pinot Noir with turkey is a must-try pairing! The soft tannins and fruity notes are delicate enough, which work to complement the turkey without being overpowering. When cranberry sauce is added to the mix, the earthy tones in Pinot Noir are a wonderful contrast.  

Wine pairing: A standout red wine and classic pairing with turkey is Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve Pinot Noir. Its earthy nuances, intertwined with fresh red fruit, plum, and blueberry offer a captivating flavour on the palate. Its bright acidity and juicy tannins seamlessly pair with not just turkey, but a range of delicious side dishes on your table – be it stuffed mushrooms, bacon-wrapped asparagus, butternut squash, or roasted root vegetables.

Dessert: When it comes to desserts like the classic pumpkin pie, the rule is simple: The wine should be sweeter than what’s on your plate. The benefit of pumpkin pie is that it pairs with a variety of wines, from a late harvest Gewurztraminer to a rich Chardonnay and chilled Icewines. Crisp and light wines complement pumpkin pie’s richness whereas a sweeter Icewine is a wonderful contrast for a creamy pumpkin pie that’s less sweet with a hint of spicy nutmeg.

Wine pairing: One of our favourite pumpkin pie pairings is an iconic Icewine, like Inniskillin Vidal Icewine – a symphony of mango, apricot, and honey aromas. With flavours of peach and candied brown sugar, balanced by a bold and refreshing acidity that will cleanse the palate with every complementary bite. Not a pumpkin pie fan? Opt for a classic cheesecake instead!