Holiday Wine Pairings Without the Alcohol: What to Pour With Turkey, Ham, and Dessert
By Jeff · How to Host · Last updated November 2026
The holiday table is the hardest table to pour for. Sweet, salty, rich, and tart all land on one plate, and one bottle has to stand up to all of it. That's why holiday wine pairings get so much attention, and why the Thanksgiving wine pairing question comes up every year.
It's also the table where a lot of people want to drink less. Some guests are taking a break, some are driving, and some would rather wake up clear the next morning. Our two wines were made for that table: real Paso Robles wine, alcohol removed, 4mg of hemp-derived THC per glass. Here's what to pour with each dish, how many bottles to buy, and how to host a table where not everyone is drinking the same thing.
Red or white with turkey? Both.
Turkey is lean and mild. The sides do most of the talking, which is why the red-or-white debate never ends. The answer is to put both on the table.
Chardonnay goes with the white meat, the gravy, and anything buttery. Bright lemon and white peach cut through richness, and the soft mineral finish keeps each bite tasting fresh.
Paso Red goes with the dark meat and the cranberry sauce. Blackberry and plum meet the fruit in the cranberry, and the soft, round tannins don't overpower a lean bird.
Pour a little of each and let guests go back to the one they like. That's the whole reason the Trifecta exists.
Red or white with the turkey? Put both on the table.
Your Thanksgiving wine pairing guide, dish by dish
| Dish | Pour | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Roast turkey, white meat | Chardonnay | Bright citrus lifts mild, lean meat |
| Dark meat and gravy | Paso Red | Dark berry matches the richer meat |
| Glazed ham | Chardonnay | Lemon and white peach balance a salty, sweet glaze |
| Prime rib or roast beef | Paso Red | Dark fruit and soft tannins stand up to red meat |
| Stuffing and mushroom sides | Paso Red | Plum and a whisper of cocoa suit earthy, savory flavors |
| Cranberry sauce | Paso Red | Fruit meets fruit |
| Mashed potatoes and creamy casseroles | Chardonnay | Fresh acidity cuts through butter and cream |
| Roast salmon or a seafood course | Chardonnay | The classic white-with-fish pairing |
| Cheese board | BothChardonnayPaso Red | Chardonnay with soft, creamy cheeses; Paso Red with aged cheddar and gouda |
| Apple or pear desserts | Chardonnay | Stone fruit sits well with baked fruit and spice |
| Chocolate desserts | Paso Red | The cocoa note in the wine meets the cocoa on the plate |
If you only buy one, pick by your main course: Chardonnay for turkey or ham, Paso Red for beef.
How to serve them
- Chardonnay: Pour it cold, straight from the refrigerator.
- Paso Red: Serve it slightly cool. Twenty minutes in the refrigerator before dinner brings it close to cellar temperature.
- Glasses: Use real wine glasses. The ritual is half of what makes the holiday pour feel like an occasion.
- The pour: Stick to the standard 5-ounce glass. Each one carries 4mg of THC, so a consistent pour lets every guest keep track of their evening.
How many bottles to buy
Each 750ml bottle pours five 5-ounce glasses and holds 20mg of THC in total. A holiday dinner runs long, and most guests have one or two glasses over the evening.
A good rule: plan one bottle for every two to three guests who'll be drinking it. For six guests, that's two or three bottles, ideally one of each wine and a spare of whichever matches your main course.
The 375ml bottles hold about two and a half glasses and 10mg. They're the right size for a small table, a second pairing you want to try, or a host gift.
Hosting a table where not everyone drinks the same thing
Holiday tables are mixed tables. A little planning keeps everyone comfortable.
- Tell guests what's in the bottle. Before you pour, say it plainly: real wine, non-alcoholic, 4mg of THC per glass. Pour only for guests who choose it.
- Keep it apart from regular wine. If some guests are drinking alcohol, set the bottles on different ends of the table. Don't mix the two in one glass or one evening.
- Keep bottles out of reach of kids. Family gatherings mean little hands. Store open and unopened bottles where children can't reach them, and serve only guests 21 and older.
- Point first-timers to one glass. It settles in within 15 to 30 minutes. Suggest they wait 30 minutes before a second.
- Sort out rides early. Nobody drives after drinking it, even once they feel clear.
- Serve it with the meal. Wine belongs with food, and the holiday table has plenty of it.
The guests who aren't drinking alcohol still get the clink, the pour, and a real glass of wine in hand. That's the part of the tradition worth keeping.
Order before December 11
A federal rule takes effect on December 11 that could end nearly every THC beverage like ours. If you want Bloom & Barrel on your holiday table, order before then. Through December 11, our Keep It on the Table offer takes 30% off anything on the site when you take two minutes to contact your representatives.
Quick answers
What wine goes with turkey?
Both red and white work. Chardonnay suits the white meat, gravy, and buttery sides. Paso Red suits the dark meat and cranberry sauce. Putting one of each on the table covers every plate.
Is red or white wine better with ham?
White, usually. Chardonnay's lemon and white peach balance the salt and the sweet glaze. Save Paso Red for roast beef or prime rib.
What's a good non-alcoholic wine for Thanksgiving?
Look for one made from real, fully fermented wine with the alcohol removed afterward. Most non-alcoholic wines start from juice or concentrate. Bloom & Barrel starts as Paso Robles wine, and it also carries 4mg of hemp-derived THC per glass.
How many bottles of wine do I need for a holiday dinner?
Plan one 750ml bottle for every two to three guests who'll be drinking it. Each bottle pours five 5-ounce glasses.
Can I serve THC wine at a family holiday dinner?
Yes, for guests 21 and older who choose it. Tell guests what's in the bottle, keep it away from regular wine and out of reach of kids, and make sure nobody drives after drinking it.
Does THC wine taste like cannabis?
No. The infusion is flavorless and odorless. What you taste is the wine: blackberry and plum in the Paso Red, lemon and white peach in the Chardonnay.
The bottom line
The holiday table doesn't need one perfect bottle. It needs two good ones and a little planning. Chardonnay for the turkey, ham, and anything creamy. Paso Red for the dark meat, the beef, and the chocolate. One glass, 30 minutes, and a table where everyone gets to raise a glass.
Paso Red is the cozy one. Chardonnay is the bright one. The Trifecta gives you both.