Turkey meat can be white or dark, roasted and smothered in gravy or even dipped in cranberry sauce. So how does a host or a guest choose the right wine to pair with Thanksgiving food? Look for a wine that has fewer tannins and more fruit.

The tannins usually go better with steak because they cut through the fat. For poultry, try a Pinot Noir from California. It’s light enough to balance the delicate turkey flavor and just the right amount of fruit to compliment side dishes without tasting like a wine cooler. Pinot Noir has long held a place at the Thanksgiving table because, other than merlot, it’s an incredibly popular choice.

If you’re willing to try something that’s not 100% American for this U.S. holiday, try French. A good crux Beaujolais would be a wise choice this year as many labels have benefited from a healthy harvest, are wonderfully priced and few people have paired them with turkey. Beaujolais Nuevo Day this year falls very close to Thanksgiving, on November 21. But these bottles are not always the best, so stick with the crux version unless you’ve tasted the Nuevo. Oh, and don’t forget Nuevos must be served slightly chilled.

The great thing about turkey is that it also pairs well with white wines for people who are not red wine drinkers. Rieslings actually work better than chardonnay, which might not work at all for this roasted bird. The main reason is the presence of oak flavor and the lack of fruit flavor. You really want to read the labels and look for a wine boasting cherry, pear, apricot or lemon.

Gewurztraminer (pronounced “gah-verse-da-me-nor”), an Alsatian white wine, is another great choice because you can get a delicious bottle from Germany, South Africa, New Zealand, or California. It’s crisp with a little bit of sweetness but is still a dry white wine. The New Zealand’s will be even sweeter, with the taste of pair, whereas the South African wine makers will bring you more earthiness.

If all this is too intimidating, just walk into a store and ask for a mid-range California Pinot and you’ll be pointed in the right direction.

Gobble gobble!