Thanksgiving 2026: 4 Bruce Jack Wines for Every Course, From Turkey to Prime Rib

Thanksgiving 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26, and most of the wine for that table will be bought long before the turkey thaws. A CivicScience survey found that 50% of adult drinkers planned to buy wine specifically for holiday celebrations, and holiday-spending research shows roughly two in three shoppers start before Thanksgiving, with nearly 40% aiming to begin by the end of October. If you run a wine list or a retail floor, your holiday program gets decided this month.

Here is a pick that most Thanksgiving guides skip: the wines of Bruce Jack. They cover every course, from the cheese board to the dark meat, and they give your guests something to talk about besides the weather and the football.

Key Takeaways

• Reserve Sauvignon Blanc handles the green, herby and citrusy side of the table: salads, green beans, stuffing with sage.
• Reserve Pinotage (Decanter, 92 points) is the red for smoked or spiced turkey and dark meat.
• The Epic Journey Napa (Wine Enthusiast, 93 points) is the showpiece red for prime rib, lamb or the host's bottle.
• Buy and plan in October: shoppers start early, and holiday floor sets get locked in fast.
• Every Bruce Jack wine we bring in is in stock in the U.S. and ready to ship to all 50 states.

Why Thanksgiving Needs More Than One Wine

Thanksgiving is the hardest meal of the year to pair because it is not one meal. Sweet (cranberry, candied yams), savory (stuffing, gravy), bitter (Brussels sprouts), fatty (dark meat, mac and cheese) and lean (white meat) all land on the same plate at the same time.

That is why sommeliers rarely pick "the" Thanksgiving wine. They pick a white with acidity, a red with juicy fruit and soft tannin, and a bigger red for whoever skips the turkey. The Bruce Jack range happens to line up with exactly that structure.

There is also a market reason to try something new. The 2026 BMO Wine Market Report puts U.S. wine sales at a record $115 billion in 2025, even as overall consumption has fallen close to 20% since 2021. Americans are drinking less but buying better, and a holiday bottle with a story is exactly what that shopper looks for.

Which Wine Goes Best with Turkey?

The honest answer: it depends on how you cook it. Roasted white meat with a light pan gravy likes a crisp, aromatic white. Smoked, deep-fried, brined or spice-rubbed turkey wants a red with ripe fruit and enough body to stand up to the char.

For most American tables, which serve both, open one of each.

The white: Bruce Jack Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

From South Africa's cool southern coastal vineyards in the Western Cape, this Sauvignon Blanc shows lively green apple, fig and nectarine, with the cape gooseberry character typical of the region. It scored 90 points and took a Gold Medal at Michelangelo 2023, and at 13% alcohol it stays fresh through a long afternoon.

• Pair it with: green bean casserole, a sage and onion stuffing, roasted Brussels sprouts with lemon, the salad course, a goat cheese starter.
• Serve at: 45 to 50°F. Pull it from the fridge about 15 minutes before pouring.
• Why it works: the acidity cuts through butter and gravy, and the herbal edge echoes sage, thyme and parsley.

The red: Bruce Jack Reserve Pinotage

Pinotage is South Africa's own grape, created in 1925 by crossing Pinot Noir with Cinsaut. Bruce Jack's Reserve Pinotage comes from Breedekloof and earned 92 points from Decanter plus a Michelangelo 2023 Gold Medal. Expect black cherry, plum, dark chocolate and spice, with black forest fruit on the palate and toasty oak around the edges.

• Pair it with: smoked or barbecued turkey, turkey legs and thighs, cornbread and sausage stuffing, a peri-peri or chili-rubbed bird.
• Serve at: 60 to 64°F. A slight chill keeps the fruit lifted next to rich food.
• Why it works: the ripe dark fruit plays with cranberry sauce instead of fighting it, and the spice matches anything smoky.

At 14.5% alcohol it is a generous wine, so pour it with the main course rather than as an aperitif.

What Red Wine Goes with Ham, Prime Rib or Lamb?

A growing number of American hosts serve a second main: a glazed ham, a prime rib, or a leg of lamb for the guests who are tired of turkey by November. That is where the bigger reds come in.

The showpiece: The Epic Journey Napa

The Epic Journey is Bruce Jack's Napa Valley wine, from the Coombsville AVA and the outstanding 2019 vintage: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Malbec and 20% Cabernet Franc. It scored 93 points from Wine Enthusiast, won Double Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and earned 92 points in Tim Atkin's South Africa Report.

In the glass: black cherry pie, mulberry and black pepper on the nose, then wild strawberries and dark chocolate with silky, fine-grained tannins and a long finish.

• Pair it with: prime rib with horseradish cream, rosemary leg of lamb, mushroom and chestnut stuffing, an aged cheddar on the cheese board.
• Serve at: 62 to 65°F. Decant for 30 to 45 minutes if you can.
• Best role: the host gift, or the bottle you open once the plates are cleared and the conversation slows down.

The wild card: Moveable Feast Red Blend

From the Overberg Highlands, Moveable Feast blends Syrah, Malbec, Touriga Nacional, Barbera, Tannat and Tinta Barocca, aged 26 months in barrel. Mulberry, blackberry and plum meet garden herbs and fynbos, the wild shrubland of the Cape. It is the red that makes a stuffing heavy with herbs taste even more herbal, and a natural fit for a Friendsgiving potluck where nobody knows what is coming out of the oven.

Can You Serve Red Wine with Turkey?

Yes, and many sommeliers prefer it. The old "white with poultry" rule assumed a plain roast bird. Thanksgiving turkey arrives with gravy, cranberry, sausage stuffing and often a smoky crust, which is red-wine territory. The key is to avoid heavy, tannic reds with lean white meat, and to choose juicy, fruit-forward reds like Pinotage instead.

A Simple Thanksgiving Plan with Bruce Jack Wines

• Arrival and appetizers: Reserve Sauvignon Blanc with the cheese board, crudités and stuffed mushrooms.
• The main plate: Reserve Pinotage on the table next to the Sauvignon Blanc. Let guests choose.
• Second main or late evening: The Epic Journey Napa, decanted.
• How much to buy: plan roughly half a bottle per wine-drinking adult across the meal, split between white and red.

For Retailers and Restaurants: Why This Works on a Holiday List

For the trade, a South African-led holiday feature does three things. It gives a point of difference next to the usual Napa Cab and Oregon Pinot. It brings scored wines (90, 92 and 93 points) that are easy to shelf-talk. And it tells a story staff can repeat in one sentence: "Pinotage is South Africa's own grape, and it loves smoked turkey."

Bruce Jack sits in a portfolio built by a family that has been making wine in Rioja and Navarra for five generations, since 1890. Across Manzanos Wines USA, our brands have earned more than 600 ratings of 90 points or higher, including a Decanter Platinum 97 points for Manzanos 125 Aniversario. Our wines are on shelves at retailers such as Costco, Total Wine & More, Spec's and Binny's, and everything we import is in stock in the U.S., ready to ship to all 50 states, which matters when the holiday reorder window is two weeks, not two months.

Want Bruce Jack on your holiday program? Talk to our trade team about distribution and holiday allocations. You can also browse the full range on our Bruce Jack page, or pair it with a Spanish bottle from our Spanish Thanksgiving pairing guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best wine for Thanksgiving dinner?

There is no single best wine because the meal mixes sweet, savory and rich flavors. A smart plan is one crisp white, such as a Sauvignon Blanc, plus one juicy, soft red, such as Pinotage, so every guest and every dish has a match.

Does Pinotage go with turkey?

Yes, especially smoked, barbecued or spice-rubbed turkey and dark meat. Its ripe black cherry and plum fruit works with cranberry sauce, and its spice picks up the char of a smoked bird. Serve it slightly cool, around 60 to 64°F.

Is Sauvignon Blanc good for Thanksgiving?

It is one of the most versatile Thanksgiving whites. Its acidity cuts through butter and gravy, and its herbal notes match sage stuffing, green beans and salads. Bruce Jack's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc adds fig and green apple from the cool Cape coast.

When should I buy wine for Thanksgiving?

Earlier than you think. Surveys show most shoppers start holiday buying before Thanksgiving and many begin in October. Retailers and restaurants should lock in holiday features and allocations during October.

Find Your Thanksgiving Bottles

Ready to set your table? Use our Find Our Wines locator to see where our wines are available near you, or explore our full portfolio from Spain, Italy, Chile, South Africa and France.

Manzanos Wines USA is the premier importer of premium wines from Spain, Italy, Chile, South Africa, and France, serving all 50 US states through our nationwide distributor network. Learn more at manzanoswinesusa.com.

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