Butler's Thanksgiving with California Wines

Celebrate the Feast with Something Luxuriant, Ripe and Sustainable

Thanksgiving may be a North American holiday, but the spirit behind it, gathering, sharing, slowing down, and savouring good food, is universal. And when it comes to wines that are generous, flavourful, and perfect for the dinner table,California continues to shine.

From cool-climate Chardonnay to elegant Pinot Noir and bold Cabernet Sauvignon, California’s winemakers have long embraced the dance between sun-drenched fruit and refined craftsmanship. Below, we’ve selected five standout wines from some of our favourite producers, each one offering something special for your Thanksgiving table.

Whether you're hosting a feast or simply enjoying good company and good food, these wines will help make the day memorable.

Varner Wines – Foxglove Chardonnay 2019 £22.99

Varner Wines has long held cult status among those who love California Chardonnay with a sense of place rather than richness for its own sake. Twin brothers Jim and Bob Varner made their name with small-production, site-specific wines, working meticulously with cool-climate vineyards where the Pacific breeze moderates the fruit. The Foxglove label is their way of sharing that philosophy at a more everyday price: no heavy oak, no manipulation, just fruit purity, clarity, and coastal freshness. It’s understated California, but with real character. Fresh and clean with notes of crisp apple, Meyer lemon, pear and white flowers. Smooth and rounded texture without heaviness.

Thanksgiving Pairing:
Roast turkey with herb butter & garlic mashed potatoes
The brightness cuts through richness, while the soft texture complements each bite.

Au Bon Climat "Wild Boy" Chardonnay 2022 £37.50 

Founded in 1982 by the legendary Jim Clendenen, Au Bon Climat has been central to establishing Santa Barbara as one of the world’s most exciting cool-climate wine regions. Clendenen was known as the “Mind Behind” a visionary who believed Chardonnay and Pinot Noir could be as elegant and terroir-driven in California as in Burgundy. He travelled widely, studied obsessively, and mentored an entire generation of winemakers.
Wild Boy is his playful alter-ego label, flamboyant, generous and proudly anti-snob. Behind the humour, though, lies serious winemaking discipline and balance. Expect ripe stone fruit, toasted almond, subtle vanilla and that signature ABC line of balancing acidity.

Thanksgiving Pairing:
Sweet potato casserole with pecans
The wine’s roundness and gentle warmth complement the sweetness without overwhelming it.

Four Vines Cowboy Poet Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 £25.95

Four Vines began as a small, rebellious project determined to challenge the idea that Californian wine had to be “polished” and serious to be respected. Their early mantra was “Wine for real life.” Today, they remain grounded in Paso Robles, where dramatic day-to-night temperature changes and rugged limestone soils create rich, powerful reds with energy and brightness. Cowboy Poet is a tribute to the region’s ranching heritage and the soulful storytelling ingrained in Western culture, bold, expressive, generous. Dark cherry, plum, cocoa and roasted coffee with a rich, velvety texture and a lingering finish.

Thanksgiving Pairing:
Prime rib, slow-cooked brisket, or mushroom & lentil roast
This is your big, rich centrepiece wine. Equally at home with meat or hearty plant-based mains.

Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir 2021 £39.95 

Santa Maria Valley is one of the coolest winegrowing regions in California, shaped by winds that sweep inland directly from the Pacific. Here, Au Bon Climat crafts Pinot Noir that is aromatic, silky and beautifully structured, wines that speak quietly but with real depth. This bottling is one of the clearest expressions of the estate’s identity: Burgundy-inspired elegance, lifted aromatics, freshness and pure red fruit. It’s the kind of wine that enhances food rather than competes with it, exactly what you want at a feast. Red cherry, raspberry, tea leaf, dried rose and gentle earthy spice. Medium-bodied, silky, and beautifully balanced.

Thanksgiving Pairing:
Cranberry glazed turkey or mushroom stuffing
Pinot Noir + cranberry flavours = instant holiday harmony.

Cline Cellars Late Harvest Mourvèdre 2019 (375ml) £20.99

Cline Cellars is family-run and deeply rooted in Contra Costa County’s old vine heritage. Their vineyards include some of the oldest Mourvèdre plantings in California, growing in sandy soils that preserve vine health and concentrate flavour. Sustainability is central to everything they do, solar power, cover cropping, composting, and wildlife-friendly farming. Their Late Harvest Mourvèdre is a rare treat: a dessert wine made from carefully selected grapes that have ripened slowly and intensely. It’s decadent, but lifted, luxurious, but never heavy. Rich blackberry, fig, dried plum and toffee, with lifted acidity that keeps it from feeling heavy.

Thanksgiving Pairing:
Pumpkin pie, pecan pie or dark chocolate tart
The sweet spice notes make it the perfect dessert companion.

A Thanksgiving Table to Remember

These wines capture the warmth, generosity, and joyful cooking spirit that defines this time of year. Whether you’re going traditional, vegetarian, experimenting or keeping it simple, California offers a bottle to match the mood.

Explore these wines online or visit us in our Kemptown shop
We’re always happy to help you find the perfect bottle for your celebration.

Happy Thanksgiving From the Butler's Team!