(Decanter) - Full Thanksgiving survival guide

In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, it’s normal to start stressing over the details. To brine or not to brine? How do I minimize my trips to the grocery store?

Where can I secure enough folding chairs for all of the extra relatives flying in? Selecting wines to accompany the meal should be one of the most uncomplicated, least labor-intensive items on your to-do list.

This is where I invoke the same advice that my wine writing colleagues around the country relate year after year: forget about perfect pairings.

Unless you’re an obsessive host who has planned a multi-course meal that would allow wines to be served in a progression, there’s simply no way to match bottles with all of the diverse flavors associated with the holiday.

More likely, the variety of side dishes will be out of your control, since guests always arrive with their own traditional specialties in tow. My family, for instance, has come to count on me for two particular contributions: my (hopefully fluffy) cracked pepper biscuits, and my bourbon pecan pie.