477: 2025 Ultimate Cider Pairing Guide for Thanksgiving

Learn how to pick the right Cider and Perry for every dish on the Thanksgiving table.

This week we are not chasing brand names. We are building flavor intuition.
Consider Thanksgiving not as one single taste on a plate; it is a stack of distinct taste worlds. Each one asks for its own kind of cider or perry.

In this holiday feature, Ria and the Talking Pommes a.k.a. Perry Pear, Mr. Quince, and The Medlars talk through the art of pairing cider and perry for the entire Thanksgiving feast, from the welcome sip to dessert.

You will learn how to shop with confidence, how to read a label for style rather than brand, and how to bring bottles that make every part of the meal sing.
There is also a downloadable Thanksgiving Cider Shopping Checklist PDF below to make your trip to the store simple and stress free.

In this Episode

• Thanksgiving 101 for non-U.S. listeners — what this long weekend really looks like
• The welcome sip (aperitif) — how to set the tone with bright cider or perry
• The main course — four flavor lanes and what to pour with each
• Desserts — how to match sweetness to sweetness without losing balance
• The Talking Pommes weigh in — Perry’s pride, Quince’s restraint, and the Medlars’ joy
• Bonus: hear Ria’s own Thanksgiving table lineup, from Bent Ladder’s Kingston Black to Wilding’s November Perry

Chapters for Episode 477

00:00 Introduction and Talking Pommes

00:47 Welcome to Cider Chat

02:02 Thanksgiving Traditions and Preparations

06:05 Upcoming Cider Tours

07:40 New York Cider Events

10:26 Ultimate Cider Pairing Guide for Thanksgiving

14:00 Choosing the Right Cider for Starters

18:33 Main Course Cider Pairings

20:37 Turkey Preparation and Cider Pairing

21:12 Smoked Turkey and Barrel-Aged Cider

21:49 Creamy Sides and Semi-Dry Cider

22:31 Fruit Ciders for Roasted Vegetables

22:57 Choosing the Right Cider

23:58 Introducing Cider to Friends and Family

25:01 Low Alcohol Ciders for Gatherings

26:30 Dessert Pairings with Cider

31:31 Serving Cheese and Fruit Plates

33:01 Thanksgiving Table Preparations

36:19 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Featured Download

A simple printable guide to help you (or whoever’s bringing the cider) pick bottles that fit the meal.

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• Totally Cider Tours
• Cider Share November 14, 2025 | Red Hook Cidery Brooklyn NY
• New York Cider Fest November 15, 2025 | City Winery Manhattan