FEATURED IN THIS SET:

Bailly Lapierre, Brut Reserve, Cremant de Bourgogne, France
(Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay, Aligoté)

A sparkling gem from Burgundy, this Crémant de Bourgogne by Bailly Lapierre is a fitting start to our Explorer Celebration Thanksgiving Set. Crémant wines, crafted using the traditional method outside Champagne, deliver elegance and finesse—and this bottle exemplifies the style beautifully. Hailing from the village of Bailly, the birthplace of the AOC Crémant de Bourgogne, Bailly Lapierre has been making sparkling wines since 1972, using hand-harvested, noble Burgundian grapes and maturing them patiently in a stunning underground quarry.. This Crémant opens with a bouquet of fresh orchard fruits and delicate floral notes, rounded with a balanced, lively freshness. Poised and polished, it’s a delightful, crowd-pleasing sparkler that pairs effortlessly with the entire Thanksgiving meal—from appetizers to dessert. Raise a glass and let the celebration begin!

2023 Illahe, Pinot Gris, Willamette, Valley, Oregon
(100% Pinot Gris)

A beautiful addition to our Explorer Celebration Set, Illahe Vineyards’ Pinot Gris brings an artisanal touch from the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Established in 2006 by Pauline and Lowell Ford, Illahe embodies a vision of sustainability and time-honored craftsmanship. Their vineyard, which is LIVE-certified (Low Input Viticulture and Enology), follows an eco-friendly approach that includes using Percheron draft horses for harvest and spring mowing, setting them apart as one of the few wineries with such a commitment to traditional practices. This Pinot Gris, vinified in large neutral oak casks, takes on a rich, Alsatian-inspired character. It pours a pale yellow-green and entices with aromas of crisp apple, spiced Bartlett pear, apricot, verbena, and a touch of ginger tea. On the palate, it’s dry with a creamy, medium body, balanced acidity, and a lush, almost oily texture. Ideal for Thanksgiving, this wine pairs perfectly with dishes like roasted turkey, creamy sides, and spiced root vegetables, adding a delightful elegance to the holiday table.

2023 Champalou, Vouvray Sec, France
(100% Chenin Blanc)

If you select just one white from this set for Thanksgiving, this is our top recommendation. It is best enjoyed third if you plan to try all the whites. Catherine and Didier Champalou founded their Vouvray estate over 20 years ago, planting a mere half-hectare parcel that they have since grown to 20 organically farmed hectares. The Champalou family, now joined by their daughter Céline, has been crafting exceptional wines for over two decades in Vouvray’s limestone-rich soils. This dry (sec) style shows off the versatility of Chenin Blanc with a delicate interplay of stony minerality and floral, almost honeyed fruit. From its apple-laden, honeyed, and floral nose to its fresh limestone finish, this wine brings both vibrancy and richness to the Thanksgiving table, pairing beautifully with everything from savory sides to delicate poultry.

2021 Moric, Blaufrankisch, Burgenland, Austria
(100% Blaufrankisch)

In the capable hands of Roland Velich, one of Austria’s premier winemakers, Blaufränkisch reveals a beautiful balance of elegance and terroir expression. Often likened to the finest Crus of Beaujolais, Blaufränkisch is an ancient Austrian variety with a distinctive character that thrives in Burgenland's rich soils. Here, Velich crafts wines that highlight the "goût de terroir"—the essence of the land itself—showcasing how the challenging climate and deep-rooted vines shape its flavor. The 2021 vintage is vibrant ruby, with enticing aromas of ripe dark fruit—cherry, plum, and berries—mingling with notes of mushrooms, tea leaves, savory herbs, and a touch of floral. On the palate, it’s dry, medium-bodied, with youthful tannins and lively acidity that make it both food-friendly and age-worthy. This Blaufränkisch is a beautifully versatile choice for Thanksgiving, pairing effortlessly with a range of dishes, and is unpretentious yet built to impress.

(Bonus wine: The Moric 2016 Blaufränkisch Reserve is featured in our Elevated Thanksgiving Collection. Email us to add a bottle to this delivery to compare and contrast.)

2019 Alpha Estate, Hedgehog Vineyard, Xinomavro, Amyndeon, Greece
(100% Xinomavro)

Aged to perfection, this Xinomavro is an ideal companion for Thanksgiving, especially alongside the rich, savory flavors of turkey dark meat and gravy. This exceptional Greek red comes from Amyndeon’s cool, high-elevation Hedgehog Vineyard, which brings out the elegance and depth of the Xinomavro grape. We curated this wine a few years ago, specifically for a 2024 release to our wine club members and this year's Thanksgiving set. This 2019 vintage, now at its peak, shines with a vibrant ruby color and a salmon rim, revealing complex aromas of savory blackberry, dark figs, plums, leather, and warm spices like vanilla, black pepper, and clove. On the palate, it’s smooth and savory, with medium-plus rounded tannins, balanced acidity, and well-integrated oak. With its earthy structure and supple tannins, this harmonious blend of fruit, spice, and texture makes it an outstanding choice to enhance your Thanksgiving table.

2021 Lou Dumont, Bourgogne, Burgundy, France
(100% Pinot Noir) We recommend decanting this wine 1 hour before dinner.

Japanese sommelier Koji Nakada’s love of Burgundy led him from Tokyo to Beaune, where he met Jae Hwa Park, a fellow expat and future partner in both life and wine. Together, they founded Maison Lou Dumont in 2000 with a mission to create pure, honest Burgundy that captures the soul of the region. This 2021 Bourgogne Rouge exemplifies their approach to respectful, minimal-intervention winemaking. Grapes were carefully selected from a minimum of 30-year-old (a strict rule of theirs) organically farmed vines, including some from a biodynamic vineyard in the Côte Chalonnaise; this wine is bursting with character. It has a medium concentration of ruby and is beautifully aromatic with notes of ripe and crunchy red cherries, pomegranate, raspberries, currants, violets, and rose petals, earth, with subtle backing spices. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, has medium tannin levels with a fine-grained texture, and medium+ acidity. The finish is fresh earth and mushrooms with tarragon, red crunchy fruits, and a floral lift. A beautiful, expressive Pinot Noir that’s polish is sure to delight and elevate your Thanksgiving table!