Why Cider Wines Pair So Well with Thanksgiving
When it comes to Thanksgiving, we often think of pairing traditional wines with our holiday spread, but there’s a flavorful, refreshing alternative that’s been growing in popularity:
Cider wines. 🍎🍐🍷
From bright and crisp to richly complex, ciders offer a unique taste profile that can elevate everything on your Thanksgiving table. Let’s explore why cider wines are a perfect match for the diverse and rich flavors of this beloved meal.
1. The Flavor Versatility of Ciders Complements Thanksgiving Dishes
Thanksgiving dinners bring a medley of flavors, from the savory notes of turkey and stuffing to the sweetness of yams and cranberry sauce. Ciders are known for their range in flavor, from tart apple to sweet pear, with hints of honey, herbs, and spices that can beautifully mirror or contrast these flavors. A crisp, dry cider can cut through the richness of buttery mashed potatoes or creamy green bean casserole, while a sweeter or spiced cider pairs delightfully with roasted vegetables or pecan pie.
Pairing Tip: A dry, tart apple cider is fantastic with roasted turkey, as its acidity enhances the meat’s flavor without overwhelming it. Meanwhile, a sweeter cider complements caramelized or roasted dishes, like sweet potatoes or glazed carrots.
2. Ciders Are Naturally Refreshing and Light
Thanksgiving meals are famously hearty and filling. Ciders, with their light, refreshing nature, can provide a crisp break between bites, cleansing the palate and balancing the richness of the food. Unlike some heavier wines, ciders often have a lighter body and lower alcohol content, making them easier to sip throughout a long meal without feeling weighed down.
Pairing Tip: Try a bubbly, effervescent cider with appetizers like cheese boards, charcuterie, or even creamy dips. The bubbles will help lift rich flavors, making each bite taste as fresh as the first.
3. Ciders’ Natural Acidity Matches Thanksgiving Herbs and Spices
Ciders have a natural acidity that can bring out the best in Thanksgiving herbs and spices like sage, rosemary, thyme, and cinnamon. This acidity adds depth to savory dishes without competing with the complex, earthy flavors of traditional Thanksgiving ingredients.
Pairing Tip: Look for ciders with subtle herbal or spice undertones to serve alongside stuffing, herb-roasted turkey, or mushroom dishes. The cider’s acidity will brighten these flavors, creating a harmonious taste experience.
4. Perfect Pairing for Poultry and Pork
Turkey, the main attraction of Thanksgiving, can vary in flavor depending on how it’s prepared, from classic roasted to smoked or spiced. Cider’s versatility makes it an ideal pairing, as it works well with the mild flavor of turkey as well as pork-based sides, like bacon-wrapped appetizers or sausage stuffing. Ciders, especially those with a hint of sweetness, can add a delicious contrast to the smoky, savory flavors in these dishes.
Pairing Tip: Opt for a semi-sweet pear or apple cider if you’re serving smoked turkey, as the gentle sweetness enhances the smoky notes without overpowering them. Ciders with light wood-aging or oak influence also bring a subtle complexity to roasted meats.
5. Ciders Pair Beautifully with Traditional Thanksgiving Desserts
Pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and apple crisp are Thanksgiving staples that have warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Cider wines, especially those with residual sweetness or spiced notes, are perfect companions for these desserts. The natural fruit flavors in cider resonate with the fruit-based and spiced desserts, creating a smooth, complementary finish to your meal.
Pairing Tip: Try a spiced or barrel-aged cider with pumpkin pie for a pairing that emphasizes the cozy flavors of fall. A sweet or ice cider can also be a delightful match for rich desserts like pecan pie, balancing sweetness with refreshing acidity.
6. A Festive Option for All Palates
If you’re hosting friends or family who may not typically enjoy wine, cider can be a welcoming, crowd-pleasing choice. Ciders are easy to drink, and their flavors are familiar yet elevated, making them accessible for a wide range of tastes. They’re also gluten-free, which can accommodate guests with dietary restrictions.
Pairing Tip: Offer a selection of dry, semi-sweet, and sweet ciders so guests can choose their preference and experiment with different food pairings throughout the meal.
7. Ciders Are Rooted in Thanksgiving Tradition
While ciders may feel like a new trend, they are actually deeply rooted in American history. Apples have been cultivated in America for centuries, and early colonists often enjoyed cider as their drink of choice. Embracing cider at your Thanksgiving table is a nod to traditional harvest-time beverages, bringing a touch of history to the holiday.
Recommended Ciders for Thanksgiving Pairings
If you’re new to cider pairings, here are some types to consider for your Thanksgiving feast:
• Dry Apple Cider: Crisp, with high acidity—perfect for the main turkey dish and savory sides.
• Semi-Sweet Pear Cider: Slightly sweeter and more rounded, ideal for pairing with roasted vegetables, ham, and smoked turkey.
• Spiced Cider: Infused with cinnamon or cloves, a spiced cider complements holiday flavors in stuffing, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie.
• Ice Cider: A concentrated, dessert-style cider made from frozen apples, perfect with pecan pie, cheesecake, or apple crisp.
Make Cider Part of Your Thanksgiving Table
With its versatility, refreshing acidity, and wide range of flavors, cider can add an exciting new dimension to your Thanksgiving meal. It’s easy to serve alongside multiple courses, offering everyone at the table something to enjoy—whether they prefer sweet or dry. So, as you plan your holiday menu this year, consider bringing a selection of ciders to the table. It’s a deliciously festive way to celebrate the season with a nod to tradition, and your guests just might discover a new favorite pairing.
Here’s to a happy Thanksgiving with wonderful food, great company, and, of course, a glass of refreshing cider!
Need a good cider wine?
Head on over to our "Sip & Savor" Wine Club "Pourfect Picks" Portal (how's that for some alliteration?!) and order your bottle of Cyril Zangs This Side(r) Up, then just swing by and pick it up at Amélie. We'll have it bagged up and waiting for you. Wanna save up to 40% off that bottle price? Join the wine club, duh. It's the best savings deal in the city, no question. For example, that T-day cider you got your eye on? It's normally $45, but if you're an Aficionado member, that tasty apply goodness is so much sweeter at $27. 'Nuff said.
Cyril Zangs Review:
Country: France
Region: Normandy
Type: Cider (Apples)
If you’re searching for a cider that embodies true craftsmanship and tradition, Zangs’ Normandy cider is a perfect choice. This unique cider begins its journey with apples that are hand-picked and aged whole in small wooden crates, allowing their flavors to develop fully over two months before any processing even begins.
Once aged, the apples are carefully crushed, pressed, and moved to stainless steel tanks where fermentation starts naturally—no added yeast, filtering, or sulfur here. This “hands-off” approach allows the cider to develop its own character, true to the terroir and apples from which it’s made. Each bottle is then carefully placed on riddling racks (known as pupitres) where it continues to ferment for up to a year, gaining depth and complexity along the way.
This particular cider is crafted from nine different apple varieties, all sourced from a single vineyard. Each variety is juiced separately, ensuring that every unique flavor is preserved before being blended to create a harmonious, vibrant taste profile. The result is a lively, crisp cider with a distinctive mineral edge that’s both refreshing and complex—an ideal choice for those who appreciate natural, unadulterated flavors.
Tasting Notes: Expect a clean, racy cider with an earthiness that’s beautifully balanced by freshness. Perfect for pairing with artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, or simply sipping on its own to experience the pure taste of Normandy’s orchard heritage.
