Howell Mountain AVA in northern California is famous for its altitude, diverse soil types, and intense sunlight. A wine like this top-rated Bordeaux-style blend showcases the area’s unique setting in explosive blueberry and cassis, layers of garrigue, sweet spice, Black Forest cake, and hints of cedar. Full-bodied and bold with firm yet fine tannins plus notes of bittersweet chocolate and licorice, this red has the power to go toe-to-toe with a full Thanksgiving turkey dinner and rich non-meat options. Its fruitiness highlights the classic cranberry sauce while its intense earthy notes are a match made in heaven for roast veggies while its acidity balances the creaminess of mashed potatoes and crispy turkey texture.

Also from northern California but located along the valley floor rather than in the heights, is Oakville AVA. This spot is renowned for some of the world’s most opulent Cabernet Sauvignons and esteemed for its Bordeaux blends, like this top-scoring red wine. We chose this blend because of its core of crunchy boysenberry, cassis, and juicy black plum tones peppered with lilac, tea, cinnamon, and black truffle. Spicy and powerful, yet restrained and elegant, this medium to full-bodied blend enhances the fruity, earthy, and creamy features of a classic holiday dinner but also boasts a freshness that balances out all that richness. It goes great with a slice of pumpkin pie too!

Hailing from the celebrated Walla Walla Valley AVA in Washington state, this Rhône-style red reflects the rich and varied soils and warm, semi-dry climate of this region. Another top-rated wine, this Syrah displays an array of aromas and flavors that make it refined yet approachable and versatile, making it ideal for the Thanksgiving menu. This red is on our list because it bursts with ample blackberry lifted by a brush of violet making it an ideal match for cranberry sauce and rich turkey with all the trimmings. Forest floor and delectable smoky, savory notes give it a profile that pairs perfectly with earthy roast vegetables, creamy, mushroom dishes, and tasty turkey stuffing. Despite its layers of power, typical of the region, this Syrah is amazingly light, so it won’t overpower anything on your table.

Renowned in the world of wine for top-tier varietal Cabernet Sauvignon wine, the winemaking in western Washington State doesn’t get much better than this red, a great showcase for this famed region. With its smooth texture and lush, ripe, juicy dark fruit, this deep, full-bodied red could have been made for the holiday dinner table. Its finesse and opulence make it food-friendly with seamless fruit and elegant oak matching the myriad of flavors and textures in a Thanksgiving menu. Its balance means it’s the ideal backdrop for highlighting the tart flavors of cranberry at one end of the taste spectrum to buttery potatoes at the other. Lively tannins and spicy oak give it the brawn to match turkey and gravy while its liveliness cuts through the richness typical of holiday dishes.

The beauty of American winemaking is its diversity. Reds come in big, bold styles as often as graceful, light offerings like this Santa Cruz AVA Pinot Noir. Just south of San Francisco and north of Monterey, this wine sub-region is known for its Mediterranean-like climate, mountain vineyards, and mineral-rich soils. Its resulting wines are fresh and bright with a seam of appealing minerality. Our choice from this area is a typical style with a fragrant, floral profile, a core of strawberry and blueberry, and tones of wet, crushed rocks. Silky and lively, this elegant wine has the fresh fruit notes and well-integrated tannins to complement the succulent, meat of turkey, while a hint of Pinot Noir earthiness matches vegetables and vegan/vegetarian fare. Sensual and nuanced, its lively acidity stands up to the buttery, crisp richness of many Thanksgiving dishes while never overpowering anything on the menu. A top pick if you prefer lighter reds.