Wines For Thanksgiving Leftovers

Congratulations—you made it through the biggest eating holiday on the American calendar. Now, you can enjoy an empty house and a fridge full of leftovers. Here are the wines to enjoy on both accounts.

ROSE

Château La Coste Rosé 2021, Vin de France. A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault with a bit of CabSauv and Vermentino thrown in, this is perfect for washing down those heavy and sticky (but delicious) sides with its fresh acidity and light orchard-fruited, slightly tropical profile. Certified organic estate.

Conde Valdemar Rose 2021, Rioja. Grapefruit and cherries, Fresh and crisp with lush late-summer strawberry flavor, but its medium body makes this a good food partner with roast turkey leftovers and sausage stuffing.

Le Sarrins Rose 2020, Cotes de Provence. Good for summer but also for the sticky heavy dishes from the holiday table. Tart pink grapefruit plays well with the tropical fruits; fresh and easy.

Wolffer Estate Rose 2021, North Fork, Long Island. Light and tangy with a late-summer strawberry compote note, and an herbal/anise nose. A quintessential summer sipper, but it also works well to start things off before a heavy meal.

REDS

Adega Vinho Merlot 2019, Texas High Plains. Deep plum and chocolate drive this lush, modern and slick Merlot. Sharp red and black fruit definition, rich and showing depth.

Early Mountain “Foothills” 2021, Virginia. A Bordeaux blend with the largest components belonging to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Both earthy and velvety, but those red and black fruits giving this a clear Bordeaux definition.

Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir 2019, Waipara Valley, North Canterbury. This bottle is way too heavy for shipping, but if you can get over that, what’s inside is a fresh Pinot Noir showing tart raspberry, ripe red and black plum and a good streak of acid. It took a bit to reveal itself, so save some for your third-day leftovers.

The Hilt, Estate Pinot Noir 2020, Sta. Rita Hills. Sourced from vineyards in the maritime-influenced southwest corner of the appellation, this lightly perfumed Pinot shows a wild scrub/herbs on the nose and some earthy mushroom notes; on the palate expresses Bing cherry, dense baby strawberry. Drink with turkey sandwich or crispy stuffing on its own.

Venturini Baldini Montelocco Lambrusco Emilia IGP. A pleasurable wine that’s always a welcome guest. Dry, uplifting fizz and bright red fruits of red plum and dark cherry. Serve chilled, great with anything you warm up from yesterday’s feast or to start things off.

WHITES

Aperture Chenin Blanc 2021 Clarksburg (Napa). Aptly named for this “soil-specific” offering from noted winery photographer Andy Katz and his son. This is a good Loire imposter with its wooly waxiness and yellow apple profile. Rich and earthy with an intriguing seared lemon note.

Conde Valdemar Blanco 2021, Rioja. A white flower nose leads to a super lime jolt and zesty green-fruited palate. Not expected from Rioja—this blend is 85% Viura, 10% Malvasía, 3% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Tempranillo Blanco—but it will please New World Sauvignon Blanc lovers and will cut through those denser dishes.

Herdade do Rocim, “Mariana” 2020, Vino Regionale Alentejo. Driven by Antao Vaz (60%) with 30% Arinto and the rest Alvarinho, this is a heroic ambassador for Portuguese grapes. It is also a freakin’ delicious and satisfying wine. Almost full bodied with a plush yellow-apply and lemon mouthfeel, this goes with everything you ate yesterday.

Keswick Vineyards “LVA” Chardonnay 2021, Virginia. LVA stands for Les Vents d’Anges, translates as “the wind of angels, and this Chard is, indeed, light on its feet—or wings. Clean and lean unencumbered by oak treatment, this is pure pear and green apple backed by a lemon twist.

Landmark “Overlook” Chardonnay 2020, Sonoma. Fermented in small French oak barrels, this is a full-bodied, orchard-fruited and Meyer lemon number that pushes the envelope at 14.2% abv, but doesn’t go over the edge. Peaches, apples and pears lead to an uplifting anise finish.

Lang & Reed Chenin Blanc 2020, Mendocino. This father/son collaboration resulted in a sophisticated, waxy and yellow-fruited (peaches, nectarines) white made from 40-year-old vines on Talmage Bench. Add this one to your Chenin-drinking repertoire.

Scheid Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Monterey. This cool-climate version from estate-grown grapes expresses melon, guava and sweet citrus—a nice option if you’re not a fan of the green gooseberry Sauvignon.

The Hilt Estate Chardonnay, 2020, Sta. Rita Hills. A light and lithe Chard whose white fruit (pear and apple) really shines, accompanied by a tinge of lemon curd. Though it spends time in barrel—40% new French and about 50% in used—this wine is unencumbered by distracting oaky notes. Fine and finessed.