Thanksgiving Wine, Made Simple: Dinner at The Mill Street Tavern on Nov 26

Thanksgiving is the hardest meal of the year to pair wine with, and also the easiest. Hard, because the table is all over the map: savory, sweet, rich, tangy, sometimes all on one fork. Easy, because once you stop looking for the perfect match, a few flexible wines handle almost everything.

This year, The Mill Street Tavern is open on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26, from 3 to 8 PM. Dinner is by reservation only. Book your table and come hungry. Here's how I'd think about the wine.

Choose flexible, not powerful

The biggest Thanksgiving mistake is reaching for the heaviest wine you can find. Big tannins and lots of oak overwhelm a holiday plate and clash with anything sweet or tangy. Wines with bright acidity, plenty of fruit and moderate alcohol get along with far more of what's on the table.

Reds that work

Pinot Noir is the classic answer for good reason, and our Mill Select Pinot Noir is the one I'd pour. It's light enough for poultry, with enough fruit to handle the sweeter side dishes. In general, look for reds that are juicy and low in tannin. If someone at your table insists on a bigger red, a fruit-forward style works better than a heavily oaked one.

Whites that work

A crisp white with bright acidity is one of the most food-friendly choices there is. It cuts through rich dishes, and one with a little fruit plays well with anything glazed or tangy. A Chardonnay with only light oak is a good choice for the guest who wants something rounder.

Open with bubbles

Sparkling wine is the easiest way to start a holiday meal. It's festive, it wakes up the appetite, and it keeps working as dinner goes on. Some families never switch to anything else, and I don't blame them.

Order one of each

For a larger group, don't try to find one wine for everyone. A bottle of white and a bottle of red on the table lets each guest follow their own plate. If you're not sure where to start, tell your server what you're eating and what your family usually enjoys, and we'll help you choose.

Leave the dishes to us

The best part of Thanksgiving out is that nobody is stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is at the table. Spend the afternoon with your people, on Shem Creek, with a glass of something good.

Thanksgiving at The Mill Street Tavern: Thursday, November 26, 3 to 8 PM, reservation only. Reserve your table now.

Sophia, Sommelier