We are just days away now from the big Thanksgiving feast. And one of the most common questions is "What wine pairs best with the Thanksgiving meal?"

As previous stated, the trick is to pair your wine with the type of sides you are serving, not the turkey itself. Typically, along with the turkey, you are going to have stuffing and mashed potatoes and cover them all in a rich gravy. And then you throw in the yams, cranberry sauce, a couple more casseroles and the vegetables and you end up with some big, rich favors on your plate. This means that a red wine will certainly pair wonderfully with your Thanksgiving meal.

But, if you insist on a white wine, try a dry Riesling (look for 'Trocken' on the label) or a crisp New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. But I say "Give a red wine a try."

Some of my favorites for Thanksgiving are:

Beaujolais - Light, dry and fresh with fruity flavors. And you can serve it chilled.
Pinot Noir - A light bodied red with flavors of cherry, raspberry and strawberry. In the French wine section at your store, this is called a red Burgundy. And this too can be served slightly chilled.
Rhône Blends - Rhône wines focus on Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre (GSM) grapes, producing medium-bodied blends.
Zinfandel - This medium bodied red wine can really work with a Thanksgiving meal. It has characteristics that include plummy, jammy flavors with spicy or peppery notes.

And the timing is also perfect for trying a Beaujolais Nouveau that was just released this past Thursday.

Regardless, don't stress over the wine. Enjoy it. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Cheers!