We just hosted our first Friendsgiving, and I think it’s quietly become one of my favorite “holidays.”

There’s something uniquely sweet about gathering with friends who feel like family, lingering around the table, and eating way too much stuffing without anyone judging you. It’s chaotic, cozy, and low-pressure.

Since this was our first time hosting Friendsgiving, I wanted to do something a little extra special. I planned out a full pairing experience with wines from Matanzas Creek and Siduri. Think thoughtful dishes paired with bottles that actually make the food taste even better—not just “grab a red that will go with anything and call it a day” energy.

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving (or looking to bring wine to Thanksgiving—no one likes a guest who shows up empty-handed), and want a little inspiration on what to serve, how to pair it, or how to make your table look gorgeous without splurging on designer dinnerware, you’re in the right place. Let’s get into it.

The Tablescape: HomeGoods + Amazon to the Rescue

I love a beautiful tablescape, but I’m not out here dropping a mortgage payment to set a table. The magic words: HomeGoods and Amazon. I layered neutral linens with soft fall tones, mixed textures (ceramics, glass, and woven pieces), and sprinkled in candles for warmth.

This year’s vibe was cozy elegance—something elevated but still welcoming, where people feel comfortable kicking off their shoes under the table (or you know, at the front door, because we are a shoes-off household). I sourced everything from HomeGoods and Amazon. Chargers, napkins, the prettiest little gold flatware moment, the whole thing.

Shop the tablescape:

You don’t need a subscription to an interior design magazine to pull off a beautiful holiday table. You just need a cart, a vision, and maybe one too many candle options.

The Menu: Starters, Mains, and Dessert

As I started putting together our Friendsgiving menu, I realized we definitely needed a printed menu. There were just so many delicious pairings and tasting notes! Here’s a link to the menu I created in Canva, so you can use it for your own Thanksgiving menu.

STARTERS

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Cranberry Apple Turnovers

These little turnovers were a huge hit and very easy to make. Basically just roll out some pastry dough and put brie, cranberry sauce (I bought the TJ’s cran sauce), and apple slices in there and bake. Here’s the recipe!

Pairing: Matanzas Creek Sparkling Brut Rosé — The bright acidity and refined tannins balanced the sweet-tart filling beautifully. Tasting notes include blood orange, apricot, and honey.

I love starting with a sparkling wine because it’s refreshing and just feels so festive. This Sparkling Brut Rosé is honestly perfection and was one of my favorite wines of the night. It pairs so well with a creamy/rich appetizer and I plan on keeping it stocked all holiday season long!

Fall Salad

We did a yummy fall salad with dried cranberries, pecans, and goat cheese. You can find the recipe here.

Pairing: Matanzas Creek 2024 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc — Crisp and zippy with lime, lemon, nectarine, and kumquat notes. It keeps any salad feeling bright and fresh.

Thanksgiving Stuffing–Seasoned Popcorn

I’ve seen tasting rooms in Napa do popcorn and wine pairings, and I wanted to try it with the Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving Stuffing popcorn. This ended up being one of my favorite pairings of the night! And talk about an easy win, just pour the popcorn in a bowl!

Pairing: Matanzas Creek 2022 Knights Valley Malbec — This Malbec’s cherry, fig, and cinnamon notes with deeper plum and earthy tones make this playful starter surprisingly elegant.

Risotto

We love an easy and delicious recipe, and this risotto checks all the boxes.

Pairing: Siduri 2021 Seascape Vineyard Pinot Noir — Brings strawberry, underbrush, mulberry, graphite, and allspice—perfect for pairing with creamy risotto.

MAIN + SIDE DISHES

Prime Rib

We decided to do a prime rib instead of turkey for Friendsgiving, since everyone was going to be having turkey for Thanksgiving just a few days later. But I’ll note that any of Siduri’s Pinots would be absolutely fabulous with your Thanksgiving turkey!

Pairing: Matanzas Creek 2018 Armoniza Red Blend — Deep, lush, and layered with blackberry, black licorice, raspberry, marionberry, and dark chocolate.

Stuffing

This stuffing recipe from The Silver Palate is a favorite of mine, and we make it every Thanksgiving. It’s a very straightforward/easy recipe, but the flavors are soo delicious.

Pairing: Siduri 2021 Gary’s Vineyard Pinot Noir — With black plum, anise, baking spices, raspberry, caramelized cherry, and roasted herbs, this Pinot sings with classic stuffing flavors.

Oyster Dressing

Oyster dressing isn’t as common of a Thanksgiving dish, but it’s an Armitage family tradition and one of my favorites! We’ve been telling our friends about this dish for years and we were excited to finally share it with them.

Pairing: Matanzas Creek 2024 Chenin Blanc — A crisp, floral complement to rich, briny oyster dressing—featuring citrus blossom, green apple, honeysuckle, lime, and honeydew.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

I was originally thinking I’d do a savory mashed sweet potato dish with herbs like thyme and rosemary, but as I got into cooking it I felt like leaning into the sweetness and going with things like cinnamon sounded better. I used this recipe and it was fab.

Pairing: Matanzas Creek 2022 Knights Valley Malbec — The cherry, fig, cinnamon, pomegranate, and earthy tones pair so well with the sweetness of mashed sweet potatoes.

DESSERTS

Pear Pie

There’s always room for dessert, and we did a couple pies to end on a sweet note! We started with a pear pie, which was a fun twist on the usual apple pie.

Pairing: Matanzas Creek 2024 Chenin Blanc — The bright acidity and fruit-forward notes make this pairing a refreshing way to end the meal.

Pumpkin Pie

It’s not Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie. I was originally wondering if I needed to find a dessert wine to pair with the pumpkin pie, but I actually thought this pairing with Siduri’s Pinot ended up being totally killer.

Pairing: Siduri 2023 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir — Raspberry, allspice, black plum, and almond notes make this an incredibly cozy pairing with pumpkin pie.

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This Friendsgiving was so special and fun. There’s something about a beautifully set table and a thoughtfully curated menu that makes everyone slow down, savor, and settle into the moment. We laughed, we ate (a lot), and we clinked glasses to friendships that feel like home.

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, feel free to borrow bits and pieces, or this whole menu and run with it. The pairings are spot-on, the dishes are crowd-pleasers, and the entire setup is entirely doable, even if you’re juggling a million things.

Here’s to gathering around a table that feels warm and inviting, with the people you love most.