Question: "This year, we're having the extended family over for Thanksgiving—siblings, cousins, in-laws, grandparents, kids, grandkids (two of them adults now), plus a few neighbors—over 30 guests total. We're good on the turkey—two 25-pounders with all the trimmings. But I need a really good white wine that won’t break the bank. Any ideas?" J.S., Frederick, MD.

Answer: I've got the perfect wine: 2024 Bonpas Grande Réserve des Challières Luberon Blanc, just $13.99 on case purchases of 12 bottles or more ($14.99 for 1-11 bottles; reg $16.99). Trust me, this isn't the "big group bargain bottle." Before I got your question, I'd been eyeing several terrific whites as high as $35 for smaller gatherings. I really love this wine. It's a joy to drink, large group or small, and not just for Thanksgiving, but year-round.

How much to buy? With kids and grandkids in the mix, let’s figure around 20 adult wine drinkers. To be safe, I’d grab a couple of cases— and you get our low $13.99 case price. Thanksgiving meals run long, glasses get topped off often, and this one is hard to resist. Odds are it’ll disappear faster than the stuffing—and whatever’s left will be as great as the next-day turkey sandwiches—my favorite part of the meal.

Tastes like: This wine strikes the impeccable balance between brisk freshness and subtle opulence that makes young French whites so enjoyable right out of the gate. Aromas of apricot, peach, and mango mingle with citrus and white flower notes. On the palate, white peach and green apple flavors are balanced by bright, tangerine-tinged acidity. A crushed-mineral note carries from start to finish, giving the wine a pristine, fruity lift. The government label says 13% alcohol, but my "inner freshness meter" tells me it's under that.

Serve with: Okay, we've covered Thanksgiving. What about the rest of the year? It's super versatile, and pairs beautifully with seafood salads, grilled fish, roast chicken, shrimp with herbs, or simple vegetable dishes. In short, it's an ideal house white.

Here are the details:

** Although Luberon is wedged geographically between Provence and the Rhône, most people think of it as more like the Rhône. While that might be true of the reds, it's certainly not true of the whites. Its soil composition and elevation push the whites to the cleaner, brighter, more elegant style associated with Provence. You still get the generous stone-fruit profile of Rhône whites, but you also get the crisp white-peach fruit, lively acidity, and easy, refreshing finish of Provence whites.

** 2024 Bonpas Grande Réserve des Challières Luberon Blanc is a blend of Ugni Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Vermentino. (If those varieties sound more Provence than Rhône, you're right.) Grapes are harvested in the cool early hours of the morning. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Each variety is fermented separately to preserve its individual character. The wine remains in tank for roughly five months before bottling.

2024 Bonpas Grande Réserve des Challières Luberon Blanc

Inviting aromas of apricot, peach, and mango with citrus fruit and white flower waft from the glass. Unoaked and translucent on the palate, the fresh, crisp yellow peach and green apple flavors are edged by a hint of tangerine/citrus. Graceful crushed mineral notes rise on the finish. This wine is a terrific value and makes a great house white. Enjoy now and over the next 12 months.

— Ben Giliberti, CW Director of Wine Education