The turkey is thawing; the pecan pie is cooling; the cheese tray is pre-sliced. That leaves just one more task for the holiday host before go-time: the wine list. When serving a crowd, selecting wines that will match your meal and everyone's tastes presents a mighty challenge. Some folks like white; some prefer red; some swear by Boone's Farm. Can a host please both wine snob and guests with more inexperienced palates in one fell swoop?

The answer is yes, according to a recent sampling of holiday wine suggestions from local wine merchants and makers. So before you buy a case of Beaujolais Nouveau and call it done, consider the following wines for your holiday spreads this season, selected for price and suitability to the many parts of a holiday meal.

TRY A GLASS OF GREEN

During Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Portugal in 1985 the same wine was served at every meal: Casa de Vilacetinho. Now, for about $12 a bottle, you can serve it to the royal family that you've invited to your holiday feast.

Fred Argilagos, at Thames River Wine & Spirits in New London, says the white wine has "beautiful acidity" that can stand up to the turkey, gravy and other heavy foods on the menu. You will notice some effervescence on the tongue, although it's not bubbly, Argilagos says.

This wine is from Vinho Verde in northwestern Portugal, which is known for its straw-yellow, light-bodied wines. Vinho Verde means "green wine," and the Casa de Vilacetinho should be consumed "while it is young," Argilagos said. And at about 12 percent alcohol, you can enjoy more than one glass.

HOLIDAY 'DISCOVERIES'

Talk to Gordon's Yellow Front Wines & Liquors owner Ed Cramer at this time of year and he waxes even more Dionysian than normal. "It's our job to help people with the joy of discovery, particularly over the holidays," he says. Following the sensible red/white dictum, Cramer says, "This year, I'd recommend the 2012 Joel Gott Pinot Noir ($19.99) and the 2012 Anni Riesling ($10.99). I think these are choices people might actually like more than old favorites."

Cramer, longtime host of the "Wine Talk" television show (MetroCast, 6 p.m. Wednesdays), also is a proponent of the "day-long Thanksgiving experience" and, as such, adds the following suggestions.

For a host/hostess gift that can be enjoyed pre- or post-meal, he touts a sparkling wine like the Bocelli Prosecco or seasonal beers like the bourbon barrel-aged Shipyard Prelude or a Belgian strong dark ale like Delerium Noel. And to accompany dessert? How about a Croft 10-year-old tawny port or a sweet fortified wine such as the Muscat de Beaumes de Venise.

JONATHAN EDWARDS' PICKS

When you work at a vineyard, picking one wine for the holidays is a difficult task. The folks at Jonathan Edwards narrowed it down to two for us.

"We are torn," Erica Cyr, director of marketing and events, said in an email. "To just select one bottle of Jonathan Edwards wine for your holiday table? There are really two that come to mind - one that serves as a lively backdrop and complement to your feast. Lightly oaked with notes of citrus and pear, the 2013 Estate Connecticut Chardonnay is a sure win. For the more earthy, robust and full bodied mouth-feel, the 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has notes of black currant and pepper and makes a good hostess gift - great to tuck away and age until next holiday!"

The chardonnay ($23) and the cabernet sauvignon ($40) are available at the winery.

TRIPLE-THREAT ROSE

"Who says only white wine has to go with turkey?" asks Ebbie Elmer, the tasting room manager and event coordinator at Stonington Vineyards.

"Our Stonington Vineyards Triad Rosé is the perfect accompaniment to your holiday celebrations. Our unique blend of three grape varieties - Cabernet Franc, Vidal Blanc and Chardonnay - provide a backbone of rich fruit and spice flavors, which harmonize perfectly with your holiday fare," Elmer said in an email. "It's the ideal pairing for the holidays, as it is a welcomed contrast to the warm and rich traditional dishes. Our Triad Rosé is a refreshing and versatile wine that will please all your discerning family and friends."

The wine is available at the vineyard for $17.

DIVINE SELECTIONS

The Divine Wine Emporium in Niantic is showcasing a whole selection of wines perfect for Thanksgiving, all gathered together at the front of the store.

"I like to find some things that are beyond what's normally put out on a table in a good wine shop and beyond your normal pinot noirs and your normal beaujolaises," says Ken Turcotte, who owns Divine Wine and who is a certified specialist of wine in the American Society of Educators and an advanced level three in the British Wine and Spirit Educational Trust.

A good Thanksgiving wine, of course, has to work with a lot of different dishes, he notes. If it's red, it has to be low in tannin, and the acid should be fairly high.

Some of Turcotte's recommendations: a pinot bianco from Peter Zemmer; a Lugana from Ottella; and an Italian red called Dolbà from the Viberti Giovanni winery that combines two grapes - the dolcetto and the barbera.

AMERICAN SPIRITS

Seaside Wine & Spirits general manager Art LiPuma recommends a small spectrum of unique wines for holiday feasting, but there is one similarity among his picks: they are as American as the Thanksgiving holiday.

Among the many U.S.-crafted wines in the Old Saybrook wine shop, LiPuma suggests Phelps Creek of Oregon's Pinot Noir ($25.99), a low-tannin red created from grapes grown in the Columbia Gorge Wine Region, for a dinnertime red. A softer, more fruit-forward pinot noir like Phelps Creek's makes for good quaffing with the stars of the T-Day plate: turkey, stuffing, gravy. Alternative: Select a Red Zinfadel, which is not at all as sweet as its white counterpart.

For those who prefer a white wine at table, LiPuma quickly recommends Folie à Deux ($15.99), a richer, fuller Chardonnay crafted in Sonoma County's Russian River Valley. This multi-layered palate pleaser - with notes of "honey, green apple, tropical fruits, vanilla and baking bread" per its website - also will complement and hold up to the savory dishes common to a holiday spread.

Alternative: Milbrandt Vineyards' Riesling ($12.99). This Washington-made wine is a drier Riesling with strong minerality alongside zesty fruit notes like key lime, Granny Smith apple and peach - perfect accents for turkey and 'taters.

Day staff writers Kristina Dorsey, Rick Koster, Marisa Nadolny and Tim Cotter contributed to this article.