This holiday season, follow the ABC rule to pairing red wines with your Turkey dinner: Anything but Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a tough thing for me to do, as it is one of my favorite types of wine. I love the notes of black cherry, blackberry and plum flavors that typically describe our local Cabs from Washington, but most have huge tannins; a no-no with Turkey. These tannins overpower the meal (there isn't enough fat in turkey to cut the tannins, like a juicy strip steak) and make most of the food taste off, or worse, hot. Here are my top five red wine categories to pair with your Thanksgiving meal (with WineSquire.com endorsed wines):

5. Zinfandel- Usually super smooth reds, All-American wines; Washington's versions aren't overly extracted (not too tannic). Portteus Zinfandel 2008 (Washington) $17 This is one of my favorite Zinfandel's from Washington and it the first producer of Zin in the state! It has rich blackberry and dark raspberry flavors and a long, silky finish. Maryhill Proprietor's Reserve Zinfandel 2006 (Washington) $33 A splurge, but well worth it! It has deep notes of smoke, blueberry and dark cherry that are ultra smooth, and finishes with an awesome bacon note that lingers, it seems, forever.

4. Cabernet Franc- Cab's cousin that is much softer, fruitier, and much less tannic. Washington's Cab Francs are world-class, though admittedly, I haven't found one from Washington I haven't liked! Arbor Crest Cabernet Franc "Connor Lee" 2008 (Washington) $19 This will wow you! Connor Lee vineyard for under $20 bucks! Most wines, red and white, from Connor Lee are usually upwards from $35. I don't know how Arbor Crest does it, but keep it up! This has super flavors of bright cherry, black raspberry and spicy oak. Page Cellars Cabernet Franc "Red Z" Red Mountain 2008 (Washington) $27 From one of the first wineries from Woodinville, Jim Page crafts this Cab Franc from Red Mountain fruit. Being a pilot, he names his Cab Franc "Red Z" after the Graf Zeppelin from the 1930's. This has a great nose of red fruits, smoke and an interesting green tea note. This amazing red finishes with luxurious, well integrated tannins that are long and smooth.

3. Beaujolais- Pinot Noir's red-headed stepchild from the Burgundy region in France, Beaujolais are more fruity and have a different fruit profile than Pinot Noir. It is most often associated with Nouveau, a festive first of the season wine that people drink only one time a year. The following are more serious, with complex fruit and integrated tannins. Something to note, 2009 was a special year for Burgundy, especially Beaujolais. Most Beaujolais from the 2009 vintage are complex, deep, and really, really good. George Duboeuf Beajolais-Villages 2009 (France) $10 From 38 villages, this popular French wine is fantastic, with strawberry and currant flavors, with a smooth, fun finish. This is widely available, and at times, deeply discounted. Henry Fessy "Fleurie" 2009 (France) $21 Henry Fessy is owned by Louis Latour, who has put a ton of money in renovation of this property. The "Fleurie" is a village within the region that all of the grapes specifically come from. It is an intense wine, with strawberry and raspberry jam flavors, dark plum and a sultry, soft finish. If this were from Oregon or California, it would be three times the price!

2. Grenache- A southern Rhone varietal, grown throughout the world and the main grape in Chateauneuf du Pape. In CDP, Grenache is blended with Syrah, with it being the fruity, forward aspect, the syrah being the structured, tannic addition. Great Grenache can be found from Spain, Australia, and France and domestically there are some great Grenaches from California and Washington. Las Rocas Garnarcha 2007 (Spain) $13 Garnacha, Spanish for Grenache, has a great bright raspberry flavor with smoke and bacon notes. Las Rocas comes from very old vines in Spain, up to 100 years old, resulting in focussed, intense fruit. This is a special wine with turkey! Chapoutier Chateauneuf du Pape "La Bernadine" 2007 (France) $65 A special wine, this is comprised of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah. The 10% Syrah adds structure, but not enough tannins to not go with your Thanksgiving dinner! This has plum and black currant flavors, with interesting cinnamon and clove notes. This could be a great wine to go with this Thanksgiving, or many more to come if you're willing to cellar. I have no patience, so I will decant for a couple of hours before the feast!

1. Pinot Noir- The main grape of Burgundy, France, but Oregon is making great Pinot Noir as well. It is to hot a climate for Washington, as Pinot Noir needs cool weather and some moisture to really prosper. Pinot Noir goes perfectly with Thanksgiving, because it is light bodied, but certainly not light on flavor! It will not overpower your meal, but enhance it. Pinot Noir's range from a pale red, almost rose color, to a dark ruby and can be big, bold, elegant and/or all of the above. I call Pinot Noir the "Thinking man's red" because it doesn't hit you over the head with tannins, but its elegance force you to seek out what you are tasting. Or you can just call it "good" or better yet, "great". Firesteed Pinot Noir 2007 (Oregon) $12 This elegant wine is almost rose' like, and is very light bodied. In a blind tasting with various Oregon Pinot Noirs, this placed high for it's spicy red cherry and white pepper notes, with a finish that lingers. Bravo to Howard Rossbach, owner and local Madrona man, who has made quite an effort to keep his prices low, to bring quality Pinot Noir to the masses! Lange Pinot Noir "Willamette Valley" 2008 (Oregon) $22 This wine will, for sure, be at my Thanksgiving table! It has complex flavors of strawberry, cherry, earthy rhubarb, and root beer notes. The finish lasts for minutes, which for me is a sign of a fabulous wine! Smooth and sassy, this can also age for up to 15 years! MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir "Willamette Valley" 2008 (Oregon) $44 MacMurray Ranch is California property owned by EJ Gallo. Before you think it's a "Hearty Burgundy Reserve", the Gallos saw how popular Oregon Pinot Noir has become, and decided to play a hand in the Oregon Pinot Noir poker game. In California, this was the 1600 acre property that Fred MacMurray, of "Flubber" fame owned in the Russian River valley, and his daughter, Kate, is still the figurehead working for Gallo. It might be the prettiest, most pristine winery I have ever visited. Anyway, the Willamette Valley version from MacMurray is their finest, with dark plum, spice, cherry and cola flavors that last on the satiny finish.

There are many options for wine pairing for Thanksgiving, just make sure the reds have a common theme: low tannins, great fruit, and most importantly, something you will enjoy. If that happens to be Cabernet Sauvignon, then so be it. But I like to follow the ABC rule: Anything but Cabernet Sauvignon!