Date: October 28- November 1, 2026
The Wines: See below!
Thanksgiving Wine Tasting
West Sea Wine Cellars & Tasting Room
These five French wines offer a wonderful progression for a Thanksgiving tasting, beginning with festive sparkling rosé, moving through two fresh, food-friendly whites, and finishing with two contrasting reds.
1. Bouhélier NV Crémant de Bourgogne Cuvée Éponine Rosé
Burgundy, France | Sparkling Rosé Grape Varietals: 100% Pinot Noir
Location: Chaumont-le-Bois, Châtillonnais, northern Côte d’Or, Burgundy, France. Crémant de Bourgogne AOC.
Tasting Notes: A delicate, pale pink sparkling wine offering aromas of fresh strawberries, raspberries, and subtle red berries. The palate is lively and refreshing, with fine bubbles, crisp acidity, and a pleasing balance between bright fruit and gentle roundness. Made from hand-harvested Pinot Noir with brief skin contact and aged for 18 months on the lees, it offers an elegant, fruit-driven expression of Burgundian sparkling rosé.
Thanksgiving Food Pairings: An excellent wine to begin Thanksgiving festivities, particularly alongside baked brie, smoked salmon appetizers, deviled eggs, charcuterie, and cranberry-topped crostini. Its vibrant acidity and refreshing bubbles cut through creamy cheeses and rich appetizers, while the subtle red-berry flavors complement cranberry-based dishes. It is also a delightful match for roasted turkey, especially white meat, and can beautifully accompany a holiday ham with a lightly sweet glaze. The wine’s combination of freshness and delicate fruit makes it versatile enough to enjoy from appetizers through the main meal.
About the Producer: Domaine Bouhélier is a family-owned winery in the Châtillonnais region of northern Burgundy, near the Champagne border. Sylvain Bouhélier planted the estate’s first vines in 1988, helping revive a historic winegrowing area particularly well suited to traditional-method sparkling wines. Today, Sylvain, Anne, and Paul Bouhélier cultivate approximately seven hectares of vineyards, producing estate-grown Burgundy wines and Crémants de Bourgogne. The family oversees production from vineyard to bottle, emphasizing traditional methods and the distinctive character of its northern Burgundian terroir. Cuvée Éponine is their elegant Brut Rosé, crafted entirely from Pinot Noir.
2. Agnès & Didier Dauvissat 2025 Petit Chablis
Burgundy, France | White Wine Grape Varietals: 100% Chardonnay
Location: Petit Chablis AOC, Chablis, Yonne, northern Burgundy, France. Vineyards near Beine and Fyé.
Tasting Notes: A beautifully fresh, elegant Chardonnay displaying aromas of crisp green apple, white flowers, ripe pear, and delicate white peach. The palate is bright and precise, with refreshing acidity, a clean mineral character, and a graceful finish. Its freshness and subtle fruit concentration make this a particularly approachable expression of Petit Chablis.
Thanksgiving Food Pairings: A wonderful pairing for herb-roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, roasted cauliflower, and traditional bread stuffing. The wine’s crisp acidity balances buttery potatoes, creamy casseroles, and rich poultry gravy without overwhelming the delicate flavors of turkey. Its citrus and mineral qualities also complement lighter appetizers such as oysters, shrimp cocktail, and goat cheese. For a vegetarian Thanksgiving, it pairs particularly well with roasted Brussels sprouts, savory mushroom tarts, and herb-seasoned vegetables, where its clean finish helps refresh the palate.
About the Producer: Domaine Agnès & Didier Dauvissat was established in 1986 in the village of Beine, near Chablis. Agnès and Didier planted their original vineyards themselves, gradually building an estate with holdings in Petit Chablis, Chablis, and Premier Cru Beauroy. Their son Florent has joined the family business, bringing additional winemaking experience gained in Burgundy and California. Their Petit Chablis vineyards occupy contrasting clay and limestone soils, including fossil-rich limestone near Fyé. The family favors classical Chablis winemaking, using stainless steel fermentation and lees aging to preserve freshness, purity, and the distinctive mineral expression of northern Burgundy.
3. Domaine Adèle Rouzé 2024 Quincy Sauvignon Blanc
Loire Valley, France | White Wine Grape Varietals: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Location: Quincy AOC, Centre-Loire, Loire Valley, France. Vineyards near Ivoy-le-Pré, on sandy and gravelly soils over clay.
Tasting Notes: A bright, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc showcasing aromas of fresh lemon, green apple, white flowers, and delicate herbal notes. The palate is lively and expressive, revealing citrus zest, subtle tropical fruit, and a refreshing mineral finish. Its crisp acidity and elegant balance offer a classic expression of Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc.
Thanksgiving Food Pairings: A beautiful choice for roasted turkey breast, herb stuffing, green bean casserole, asparagus, and roasted Brussels sprouts. Its vibrant acidity cuts through buttery side dishes and creamy casseroles, while the wine’s citrus and herbal characteristics complement traditional Thanksgiving seasonings such as sage, rosemary, and thyme. It is particularly enjoyable alongside goat cheese appetizers, herb-roasted vegetables, and lighter poultry dishes. The wine’s clean, refreshing finish provides a lovely contrast to the richness of a traditional Thanksgiving feast, making it an excellent option for guests who prefer crisp, aromatic white wines.
About the Producer: Domaine Adèle Rouzé was established in 2003 by Adèle Rouzé in the Quincy appellation of France’s Loire Valley. Working alongside her brother, who is both a winemaker and an enologist, Adèle cultivates approximately 12 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc vineyards planted on sandy, gravelly soils over clay. The estate follows environmentally conscious vineyard practices and belongs to the Independent Winegrowers of France. The wines are fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and aged on fine lees to preserve their freshness and aromatic purity. Quincy holds historical significance as the first appellation in the Centre-Loire to receive AOC recognition in 1936. Adèle’s dedication to showcasing the region has earned her wines recognition in French and international wine competitions.
4. Domaine des Coteaux des Travers 2024 Zouzou Côtes du Rhône
Southern Rhône Valley, France | Red Wine Grape Varietals: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault
Location: Côtes du Rhône AOC, Southern Rhône Valley, France. Vineyards on the Massif d’Uchaux, approximately 280 meters above sea level.
Tasting Notes: A vibrant, light-bodied Rhône red bursting with fresh red cherry, raspberry, and strawberry aromas. The palate is juicy and fruit-forward, featuring soft tannins, lively freshness, and a deliciously approachable finish. Produced using carbonic maceration to emphasize its aromatic fruit character, this wine is particularly enjoyable served slightly chilled.
Thanksgiving Food Pairings: A remarkably versatile Thanksgiving red, especially alongside roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, sausage stuffing, glazed ham, and roasted root vegetables. Its juicy red-fruit flavors naturally complement the tart sweetness of cranberry relish and the caramelized edges of roasted sweet potatoes and carrots. The wine’s soft tannins and refreshing acidity allow it to accompany both white and dark turkey meat without overpowering the delicate flavors. It also pairs wonderfully with sage-and-onion stuffing, roasted mushrooms, and holiday dishes featuring fresh herbs. Served slightly chilled, Zouzou offers a refreshing alternative to heavier red wines, particularly for a Thanksgiving meal featuring a wide variety of sweet and savory dishes.
About the Producer: Domaine des Coteaux des Travers is a family-owned estate in the Southern Rhône Valley with a winemaking history dating to 1920. The Charavin family has cultivated vineyards across four generations, with Robert Charavin helping guide the estate toward organic and biodynamic farming practices. His children, Marine and Paul, joined the family business in 2016 and continue working alongside their father. The estate received Biodyvin biodynamic certification in 2018 and produces wines from several distinctive Rhône terroirs, including Rasteau, Cairanne, and the Massif d’Uchaux. Zouzou comes from vineyards planted on red sandy soils scattered with flat stones, known locally as lauzes. Crafted using carbonic maceration, Zouzou represents the family’s playful, approachable side: a fresh, fruit-driven red intended for sharing with friends and enjoying with food.
5. Domaine Desperrier 2022 Moulin-à-Vent Clos de la Pierre Monopole
Beaujolais, France | Red Wine Grape Varietals: 100% Gamay (Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc)
Location: Moulin-à-Vent AOC, Beaujolais, France. Clos de la Pierre vineyard, Romanèche-Thorins, Saône-et-Loire, southern Burgundy/Beaujolais.
Tasting Notes: An elegant yet structured expression of Gamay, featuring aromas of ripe black cherries, dark plums, violets, and delicate baking spices. The palate combines concentrated red and dark fruit with refined tannins, refreshing acidity, and subtle earthy undertones. Its balance of fruit, structure, and savory complexity showcases the impressive aging potential of Moulin-à-Vent.
Thanksgiving Food Pairings: An outstanding choice for roasted turkey with gravy, wild mushroom stuffing, sausage dressing, roasted root vegetables, and herb-crusted poultry. The wine’s dark cherry and plum flavors complement the savory richness of turkey, particularly dark meat, while its earthy undertones pair beautifully with mushroom-based dishes and roasted vegetables. Its refined tannins and vibrant acidity help balance rich gravy, buttery mashed potatoes, and traditional stuffing without overwhelming the meal. This wine is especially well suited to Thanksgiving dishes featuring rosemary, thyme, sage, and slow-roasted flavors. It would also pair beautifully with duck, roasted pork, or a mushroom Wellington for an alternative holiday centerpiece.
About the Producer: Domaine Desperrier is a fourth-generation family estate located in Romanèche-Thorins, in the heart of the Moulin-à-Vent appellation. The family farms approximately three hectares of vineyards, focusing on the expression of Gamay grown on the region’s distinctive granite-based soils, which are rich in manganese. The estate is particularly known for Clos de la Pierre, a historic vineyard acquired by the family in 1998 and owned exclusively by Domaine Desperrier. This single-owner status gives the vineyard its designation as a monopole. Under the direction of Serge Desperrier, the estate emphasizes controlled yields, careful vineyard management, and traditional winemaking methods. Moulin-à-Vent is widely regarded as one of Beaujolais’ most structured and age-worthy crus, and Clos de la Pierre exemplifies this reputation through its depth, elegance, and ability to develop complexity with bottle age.
