WTF to Pair with Thanksgiving: Part II, the Wildcards (and All ~$30)
Breaking Bread, Dot Wine, Bannister, Ruth Lewandowski, Two Shepherds
Ok, Part Two! Let’s get funky and pull out the wines no one can pronounce and would never pick up in a wine shop without a little peer pressure. We’re talking unconventional grapes and unconventional methods. And get this, while not at all on purpose, all the bottles below are ~$30. 🤯 You’re welcome.
Here’s what hasn’t changed since Part 1: Thanksgiving is still a loud, buttery, herby, sweet-savory circus. You will not “perfectly” pair the whole plate (please stop trying). The move is to echo something on the table — fruit or herbs — keep the acidity high enough to slice through the gravy, and add bubbles whenever possible to reset your palate.
Also unchanged: the anti-rules. Nothing too big or too oaky — tannin + oak + high alcohol = food fight. And for the love of turkey, don’t open your heartbreakingly beautiful $150 Pinot tonight. It will drown in butter and family drama.
Each of these wineries has much more to offer than what I mention below, but here are the bottles that are practically made for this kind of chaos.
Zin, but Make it Modern.
I’m finding myself falling head over heels for Sonoma’s new wave of Zinfandels. Every time I see one done in a non-traditional style, I give it a try — and honestly, I’ve yet to be disappointed. The Zins below are fresh, peppery and steer clear of the old-school jam bombs. Think early-picked or carbonic: bright red fruit, peppery snap, moderate alcohol. They echo cranberry and herbs instead of steamrolling them, and if you serve them slightly cool, they absolutely sing. (Save the high-alcohol, heavy-weight Zins for another day — Thanksgiving doesn’t need that kind of drama.)
Breaking Bread
Pét-Nat Zinfandel - Bright pink and super fresh, with raspberry-lime, strawberry, and orange-marmalade energy. The red-berry fizz mirrors cranberry sauce and lifts white meat. Kick off the meal with this and watch the table wake up.
Still Zinfandel (Redwood Valley) - Crunchy red fruit, light minerality, and a juicy, nouveau-style lift. Serve slightly chilled and let it do its thing — it’s the rare red that plays nice with both turkey breast and sides.
Dot Wine
Zinfandel Nouveau - Juicy red and black berries, pepper, and unfined/unfiltered energy — very chillable. The fruit and snap pair beautifully with cranberry, while the peppery herbal edge syncs right up with stuffing.
Side note: Dot’s Pinots are outstanding, but save those for a quieter night. This Zin is the fun, affordable Thanksgiving ringer.
Whites with a Thick Skin (a.k.a. Orange Wines)
Aromatic whites with a handshake of tannin from time on the skins — that little phenolic grip is exactly what butter, gravy, and sweet-savory sides need. Enough texture to stand up, enough freshness to keep things lively. Think citrus pith, tea, stone fruit, spice. Serve cool (around 52–58°F), not fridge-cold.
Bannister
Ribolla Gialla - Fully skin-fermented with notes of pineapple, quince, and candied citrus. The structure handles yams-with-marshmallow-level sweetness and cranberry tang without getting cloying.
Riesling (Skin Fermented) - quite unusual for a riesling. Quince, pomelo, spices and some dried stone fruit — with just enough tannin to slice through mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and if your family likes an occasional dried apricot in the stuffing, this will be a real winner. (Bonus points - Bannister also makes a traditional Riesling, fun to compare and contrast same grapes but different methods).
Ruth Lewandowski
“Naomi” Grenache Gris - Fennel, chamomile, and white peach wrapped in a subtle phenolic frame. It’s basically turkey breast and herb-butter pan sauce’s soulmate. (Bonus, Ruth Lewandowski is now co-located with Ryme in Forestville! Ryme was one of our picks last week, so go get yourself a two-fer!)
Two Shepherds
“Centime” (Vermentino / Picpoul / Albariño) - Tangerine peel, ginger, and a light tannic touch. Dreamy with roasted squash, gravy, or anything kissed by brown butter.
Reds with High EQ
File under: high acid, low tannin, minimal oak, and maybe a touch of carbonic charm. These reds behave like food — refreshing, flexible, and crowd-friendly. Serve them cool (54–58°F) and they’ll carry you from appetizers to leftover sandwiches without missing a beat.
Breaking Bread
Field Blend - Zin, Mourvèdre, Carignan, and a splash of Muscat — 100% carbonic, 100% fun. It’s a floral, glou-glou red that plays beautifully with sweet potatoes and cornbread, where a little perfume actually helps.
Two Shepherds
Ancient Vines Red - Red berry and spice, featherweight tannin — a wine that keeps everyone happy, even the “I usually drink white” crowd.
Ruth Lewandowski
“Feints” - A carbonic co-ferment of Italian reds and Arneis. Cranberry, herbs, and florals — basically Thanksgiving in a glass. Chill it, pour it with turkey and stuffing, then pour it again because it will vanish.
And Finally, in Case You’re Confused (a Cheat Sheet)
Cranberry & herbs → modern Zins or chillable naturals.
Gravy, butter, cream → skin-contact whites.
Sweet-savory sides → orange wines or bright, early-picked Zin.
Charred brussels & mushrooms → herbal, light naturals (Cinsault, Carignan blends).
(Although honestly, you really can’t go wrong with any of it, go give them a try! )
And now, all the winery details:
Dot Winery
Founded by viticulturist Lise Asimont — who was just named Winemaker of the Year at the 2025 North Coast Wine Challenge — Dot Wines is one of those rare finds that manages to be both deeply technical and effortlessly cool. Asimont’s background in vineyard management (and her Filipino-American roots) bring a fresh, thoughtful lens to Sonoma winemaking. Her focus is on small-lot, vineyard-driven wines. Expect elegant, Burgundian-inspired Pinot Noirs — delicate but with Côte de Nuits muscle — alongside bright, expressive Grenache and the occasional carbonic Zinfandel that’s pure, juicy joy in a glass.
Tasting Experience
Dot Wines pours out of Bacchus Landing, Healdsburg’s lively wine-collective-meets-lifestyle-hub, where olive trees shade the courtyard and bocce balls clack in the background. The tasting room itself feels sleek yet relaxed — part modern bar, part neighborhood hangout — and tastings are often hosted by Lise herself or her husband, making it all feel refreshingly personal. You can opt to elevate the experience with chef-curated, seasonal pairings (highly recommended). And since nearly every winery at Bacchus Landing is worth a detour, you might as well clear your afternoon — and bring the dog and the kid, too.
Notable Varietals
🥂 White: Chardonnay
🍷 Red: Pinot Noir, Grenache, Zinfandel
Other Essentials
🔗 Dot Winery ↗
📍 Healdsburg ↗
🍷📅✅ Book a Tasting ↗
🍾💲 Median Bottle: $$$ ($40-$70) | 📅💲 Tastings: $+
Bannister
Bannister sits right at the intersection of tradition and experimentation — the sweet spot where classic Sonoma craft meets delightful curiosity. The small, family-run winery produces limited quantities of both the familiar (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel) and the gloriously offbeat — like skin-fermented Ribolla Gialla and orange Riesling. Known for championing uncommon grapes such as Scheurebe and Sagrantino, Bannister manages to make “experimental” feel elegant rather than eccentric. You’ll find everything from structured, age-worthy Pinots to wild, skin-contact whites under one roof — proof that Sonoma’s creative side doesn’t have to come at the expense of craftsmanship.
Tasting Experience
Bannister’s tasting room, located in a beautifully restored 1919 bank in downtown Geyserville, doubles as an art gallery — and it feels every bit as charming as it sounds. Guests are welcomed into a cozy, art-filled lounge (or the laid-back patio) for an unhurried flight, often led by a member of the Bannister family themselves. The vibe is casual and neighborly, more like hanging out at your favorite small-town wine bar than ticking boxes on a tasting list. The art’s great, the tunes are usually spinning, and if you buy a bottle (which, let’s be honest, you will), your tasting is free.
Notable Varietals
🥂 White: Chardonnay, Riesling, Scheurebe, Vermentino, Arneis
🍷 Red: Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Sagrantino, Barbera, Nebbiolo
Other Essentials
🔗 Bannister ↗
📍 Geyserville ↗
🍷📅✅ Book a Tasting ↗
🍾💲 Median Bottle: $$$ ($40-$70) | 📅💲 Tastings: $0+
Breaking Bread
You might be surprised by how many Sonoma wineries dabble in natural winemaking—but Breaking Bread does it in the most traditional (and dare we say, joyful) sense. If your mental image of natural wine is something light, fresh, and a little funky, you’re in the right place. These wines are bottled young to capture that juicy, drink-now energy—the kind lovingly referred to as “glou glou” for a reason.
Expect Euro-inspired vibes (think Beaujolais or a rustic Italian red) layered over California fruit: bright, un-oaked, un-fussy, and very modern Sonoma. The project is helmed by Erik Miller of Kokomo Winery, and it’s all about low-intervention winemaking: carbonic maceration, chillable reds, and skin-contact whites that practically hum with personality.
The star of the show? The Breaking Bread pet-nat. Made from 100% Zinfandel, it’s a fizzy, slightly wild delight.
Tasting Experience
Breaking Bread shares a home base with Kokomo Winery near Healdsburg. Set within Timber Crest Farms—a cluster of boutique producers surrounded by 120 acres of Dry Creek benchland vineyards.
The experience leans rustic and real– dogs lounging on the patio, a picnic you packed yourself, and a host who’s genuinely excited to talk about these offbeat bottles. It’s unpretentious, refreshingly chill, and (shhh!) at $20-$30/bottle an absolute steal.
Notable Varietals
🥂 White: Muscat, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
🍷 Red: Zinfandel, Mourvedre, Dolcetto, Petite Sirah, Gamay
Other Essentials
🔗 Breaking Bread ↗
📍 Healdsburg ↗
🍷📅✅ Book a Tasting ↗
🍾💲 Median Bottle: $$ (<$40) | 📅💲 Tastings: $30+
Ruth Lewandowski Wines
Raw, unmanipulated, and proudly rustic—Evan Lewandowski’s wines are the textbook definition of natural. He ferments with wild yeasts, skips the additives, and bottles without fining or filtration. Minimal intervention all the way. Expect field blends, quirky varietals, and a healthy dose of personality. If these wines had a persona, they’d be wearing vintage overalls and quoting Wendell Berry at a kombucha bar.
Tasting Experience
Ruth Lewandowski has JUST moved to Forestville, co-locating with Ryme Wines. Ryme was featured last week as another great option for Thanksgiving wines. So go get yourself a two-fer!
Notable Varietals
🥂 White: Arneis, Gruner Veltliner, Riesling, Muscat
🍷 Red: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carignan, Grenache
Other Essentials
📍 Forestville ↗
🍷📅✅ Book a Tasting ↗
🍾💲 Median Bottle: $$ (<$40) | 📅💲 Tastings: $40+
⭐ Vivino: 4.2 ↗
Two Shepherds Wine
What began in 2007 as William Allen’s “hobby gone amok” has evolved into one of Sonoma’s most beloved small-production natural wineries. Alongside partner Karen Daenen, Allen focuses on cool-climate Rhône and heritage varieties — think Grenache Blanc, Mourvèdre, Roussanne, and rarities like Clairette Blanche, Trousseau Gris, and Counoise. The wines are bright, textural, and feather-light on alcohol, often unfiltered, unfined, and proudly hazy. Expect cider-like skin-contact whites, chillable reds like the carbonic “Lil’ Trouble” Mourvèdre (~12% ABV), and the occasional Natty Pets pét-nat can featuring their goats and donkeys — because of course they have goats and donkeys. It’s old-world rustic meets Sonoma whimsy, and the results are irresistibly drinkable.
Tasting Experience
Two Shepherds’ main tasting space is their working winery in Windsor — part production floor, part hangout spot. Tastings unfold among barrels and stainless tanks, often led by the winemakers themselves, with an easy, unpretentious energy that feels more like chatting with passionate friends than sitting through a scripted flight. For a deeper dive, you can book a private visit to their small farm and vineyard near Healdsburg, where the donkeys and goats roam between vines. It’s a charming, agrarian extension of what the wines already promise: something natural, soulful, and just a little wild.
Notable Varietals
🥂 White: Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier, Clairette Blanche, Picpoul, Vermentino, Trousseau Gris, Pinot Gris
🍷 Red: Carignan, Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Cabernet Franc
Other Essentials
📍 Windsor ↗
🍷📅✅ Book a Tasting ↗
🍾💲 Median Bottle: $$$ ($40-$70) | 📅💲 Tastings: $20+