The perfect 'mixed case' of wine for your Thanksgiving table

Price: ~$100

Available on Wine.com

If your budget allows, Champagne provides that special touch to the meal. I love Pol Roger, which has a really complex flavor profile and lots of crisp acid.

Price: $30

Available on Wine.com

White or red for Thanksgiving? Go pink! And not just pink, but Sparkling Rose. I love Gruet's entire lineup of sparkling wines, but the Grand Rose is my favorite. This will compliment almost any dish. Bonus fun fact: this wine is grown and made in New Mexico.

Price: Under $40

Available on Wine.com

Chardonnays offer a nice balance of body and crispness. There are many, many really good Chardonnays on the market, but I like the Drouhin for its balance of fruitiness and acidity. Many Chardonnay's get a bit heavy when the alcohol or oak levels get too high. The Drouhin does a nice job keeping everything in control while being delicious. This vineyard also makes great Pinot Noirs (~$50.) Look for unoaked Chardonnays with a meal like Thanksgiving and, again, look for lower alcohol levels (below 14% and ideally 13% or less.)

Price: ~$30

Available on Wine.com

People either love or hate New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Generally, if you love grapefruit you will love a good Sav Blanc. And Cloudy Bay's Sauvignon Blancs are consistently strong examples of New Zealands most prevalent style of wine. The high acid and low alcohol level makes for a great white wine option. This also might be the easiest wine to find on this list, as it was among the first Sauv Blancs from New Zealand to conquer the USA.

Price: ~$25

Available on Wine.com

This may be more difficult to find, but it is well worth the search. Arneis is a fruity and crisp grape grown primarily in Northern Italy. This style of wine is a bit more restrained than the Cloudy Bay and is a great white for a meal as varied as the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Many wine retailers won't carry more than one Arneis, but if by chance you find a retailer that has several, the Vietti label is consistently excellent.

Price: Under $60

Available on Wine.com

Pinot Noir is an excellent choice for Thanksgiving dinner. The lighter body and (typically) more restrained flavor profile allow for great pairing with everything from the turkey to the veggies and stuffing. Adelsheim produces many, many wonderful Pinot Noirs, and the Elizabeth Reserve is the top of their lineup in my opinion. Many modern Pinot Noirs are made with higher alcohol levels. Some taste and feel more like a Cabernet Sauvignon than a Pinot. This Pinot Noir has a 13% ABV (Alcohol by Volume) and is extremely food friendly.

Price: $20

Available on Wine.com

I love French Beaujolais, and this wine is an excellent example of the style. Like Pinot Noir, this is a lighter red wine which won't overwhelm the Thanksgiving dinner. It is also an excellent value, which makes this a great wine to buy by the case if you are expecting a lot of people (and leftover bottles keep just fine!) If possible, look for a Beaujolais sourced from a specific region (in this instance, Moulin-a-Vent, but there are eight regions in Beaujolais and they are all wonderful.)

Price: Under $35

Available at Wine.com

Some prefer bolder, bigger red wines. For them, Zinfandel is a great choice at your Thanksgiving table. I especially like the Frog's Leap Zinfandel as an bolder red option. Many Zinfandels overpower your taste buds and would overwhelm much of your meal. This isn't the case with the Frog's Leap, which has managed to keep all of the positive traits of a good Zinfandel while keeping the flavors and alcohol in balance.

Price: Under $25

Available on Wine.com

Il Matane comes from Puglia in Southern Italy and if you love Zinfandel, you will likely love Primitivo as the Primitivo and Zinfandel grapes are virtually identical (both descend from a common grape originally from Croatia.) Like Zinfandel, Primitivo can get big and feel hot (caused by the high alcohol levels.) This Primitivo does a nice job keeping things in check. This and many other Primitivos represent great value for your Thanksgiving table. Also great with pizza, pasta, and chicken.

Price: Under $60

Available on Wine.com

This red is about as food-friendly as a wine can get. The spicy flavors linger in your mouth for a very long time, and it pairs well with virtually any food. Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a subregion in France's Rhone valley. If you can't find this wine, there are many other lovely Chateauneuf-du-Papes and many equally delicious wines come from the nearby regions of Gigondas, St. Joseph, Vacqueyras, Cornas, Hermitage, and Lirac. For less money, you can find really good Cote de Rhone wines that aren't typically as dynamic but are much more friendly on the pocketbook and wonderful additions to your Thanksgiving table.

Price: Typically less than $10 a bottle

What is more autumnal than apples? I'm not nearly as experienced in the varieties and producers of hard ciders as I am with wine, but a good cider would really add something to your Thanksgiving meal. I prefer a dry cider (often called Brut) with a meal, but you may wish to try an off-dry or even sweet cider. (Technically, all ciders are alcoholic even though we Americans often call apple juice cider.) I will have a bottle on my Thanksgiving table.

You can try these wines on Thanksgiving — or with a nice bowl of pasta. There is something for virtually everyone on this list. Regardless of whether you serve a $100 Champagne or the $20 Beaujolais, these wines will make a special meal even more special.