A Wine Lovers’ Guide to Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday and there is no better time to showcase some of the most delicious wines America has to offer. Did you know that over 80% of all wines from the U.S. are grown in the Golden State? Whether you’re hosting a large crowd or just a few close friends this year, our recipe round-up will help you treat your guests to a California wine-centric meal from appetizers to desserts.

A Very Sustainable Holiday

The choices we make as consumers have an impact when it comes to sustainability. Taking a moment to plan ahead and consider how we might be more sustainable is especially important around the holidays when food waste is at its peak. By choosing to purchase produce from local farmers at farmers’ markets or looking for California-grown items at the supermarket, you are not only supporting the local economy and farming families, but you’re also reducing your carbon footprint. Here’s a shopping guide from our friends at California Grown that can help you tell if what you’re buying is from the Golden State. 

The same goes for wines — 90% of California wines come from certified sustainable wineries. That’s a lot of wine to choose from! So how can you tell if the wine you’re looking at is sustainable? The easiest thing to look for is the “Certified Sustainable” logo located on the back of the bottle. To date, about 228 million bottles bear the logo. In addition to the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing Program, another 22% of California winegrape acres are certified to other sustainability programs, with some vineyards certifying to more than one program. Other logos to look for include Napa Green, LODI RULES and SIP Certified to name a few. When in doubt, you can always check out this list of Certified Sustainable wineries and this list of Certified Sustainable wines to help you make the best choice for your Thanksgiving (or any) meal.

The Ultimate Thanksgiving Table with California Wines

Now that you know how to find locally-grown produce, dairy and meats as well as sustainable wines to go with your meal, we can get down to business. These recipes are totally California-inspired and totally delicious.