It’s Thanksgiving time for sure. Here in Oregon harvest is over, the leaves have turned and it’s time to enjoy the rich flavors of the holidays. Thanksgiving is tough — from the rich, savory flavors of turkey and gravy to the acid and sweetness of cranberry and sweet potatoes. You want to drink some great wine, but stuff too far off the beaten path may not work for everyone.

There’s lots of advice out there on the perfect Thanksgiving wine – and here’s my take: I prefer lighter, livelier wines that open up the palate rather than overwhelm it. The wines need to be versatile, able to work with all those Thanksgiving flavors.

This month, we’re featuring some wines that you might expect and some you might not. We had to go traditional with our first red and give you a Pinot Noir from Youngberg Hill—this wine is why we all love Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley! But our second wine is a little nontraditional—a rosé of Syrah from William Marie Wines. This is not your regular, summer rosé, but a complex and beautiful light red wine.

Our first white is a Pinot Blanc from Ayres Vineyard. This characterful white wine will make everyone happy at your dinner table. Our second white is a delightful field blend of Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois and Pinot Gris from Carlton Cellars.

So many wines to choose from, but we think these four are pretty spectacular and hope that you’ll enjoy them with your family and friends this holiday!