Best Hudson Valley Wines to Bring to Thanksgiving Dinner

The Hudson Valley is one of America’s oldest and best known wine-making regions, with award-winning wineries woven throughout the area — aren’t we lucky?

Tasting rooms are often filled year-round with locals and tourists alike, but if you haven’t had the chance to visit a homegrown winery yet, there are still plenty of ways to find your new favorite Valley-based grape grower, and with Thanksgiving just around the corner, you’ll have plenty of reasons to sample, whether you’re carving a turkey for two or attending a large gathering.

To guide you, we interviewed the staff at JK’s Wine & Liquor in Kingston for their top picks for your Thanksgiving table. (Prices reflect current cost at JK’s Wine & Liquor.)

From fruity whites to spicy reds; cold wines to mulled wines, plan to pair your poultry with these local favorites.

 
Tousey Winery
 

Tousey Winery in Clermont, now in its tenth year, has been featured in top wine publications, thanks to its flavorful wines and Cassis with nods to local ingredients. The Riot is known as a good “all-purpose” wine; a red blend with red berries on the nose that will please a variety of palates. $16.99

 
Millbrook Vineyards & Winery
 

Dutchess County’s Millbrook Winery is known for its vast selection of unique wines, and this time of year their Oaked Chardonnay stands out. This smooth wine is a heavier white with a buttery texture, citrus aromas, and a fruity vanilla flavor that hints at pear. $14.99

 
Brotherhood Winery
 

Brotherhood Winery’s Holiday is a spiced wine that harkens back to colonial traditions of piping hot mulled wine. Serve this wine heated up (but do not boil) with clove and lemon or orange slices. It’s a great pre-dinner beverage while you’re snacking on cheese and crackers. Switch to the Reisling when dinner is served; it’s dry with a little spice and great to pair with turkey.

 
Hetta
 

Kingston’s newest winemaker, Hetta (yes, there’s an on-site winery located in the historic Rondout neighborhood), offers Nordic-inspired spiced wine, a red infused with fruits and spices that should be enjoyed warm (in a mug, of course). Bonus: Most bottles are sold in a decorative linen bag, making it an ideal hostess gift. $20.99

 
Whitecliff Winery
 

Nestled at the base of the Shawangunk Ridge (or, Gunks, if you’re local), Whitecliff Winery in Gardiner has been producing wines for about 30 years, and has become one of the region’s largest vineyards. Their slightly sweet Reisling features fruit from three NY regions — Hudson Valley, Long Island, and Finger Lakes — offering plenty of flavor and aroma, with a balanced acidity. $16.99