Thanksgiving is right around the corner, so we are sharing our elegant wine country Thanksgiving table setting that we created for one of our favorite Napa wineries, Round Pond Estate. We love a long, rustic table for big gatherings of family and friends, but you could do something similar with a round table.
We started with a large centerpiece to anchor the table. You’ll want this to have some height and be the largest thing on the table, but we always prefer centerpieces to be below eye level so guests can see each other. We’ve pictured two options for a centerpiece. You could use something like this festive orb or a large bowl like this, this, or this filled with seasonal fruits of your choosing, like gourds, pears, or pomegranates.
Starting from the centerpiece, we arranged branches down the center of the table. Since there are so many olive trees on Round Pond’s property and it’s the time for olive harvest, we used olive prunings. Obviously this is easier if you live in wine country, but if you don’t, you can order fresh olive branches online or check your local flower market. If you can’t find olive branches, just choose a different type of branch. Bay or magnolia branches would look gorgeous, and bare birch branches would make the table look more wintery (ideal of Christmas).
We then arranged candles through the branches. For this long table, we used two high candle holders like these with tea light candles in them and lower glass tea light holders like these or these. The tea lights give a warm glow.
When it comes to table settings, we love to stick with very simple pieces; white plates, simple silverware, and red and white stemmed wine glasses like these and these. Here we used white napkins and placed bouquets of rosemary on each table setting. We took three pieces of rosemary and tied them together with twine.
We usually keep things casual at our house, but if you want some tips on setting a formal table, check out this book. The forward was written by Alastair Bruce, the historical advisor for Downton Abbey. It has all kinds of helpful tips and tricks for entertaining and managing your home.
Looking for Thanksgiving recipes? Try our favorite New England Style Sausage Stuffing, Spicy Italian Brussels Sprouts with Prosciutto, and Roasted Squash Soup.