Clean out the fridge and your wine rack in a post-Thanksgiving food + wine mashup

Thanksgiving leftovers provide an opportunity for mix and matching your wines
Illustration: L bortolot
If National Clean Out Your Fridge Day (yes, that’s a thing) is Nov. 15, what do you call the day after Thanksgiving? How about National Eat Your Leftovers Day?
No matter what you call it, it’s a day of no standing on ceremony now that your household pod has wafted into a tryptophan reverie or has claimed various screens for binge watching “The Queen’s Gambit” or “The Crown.” But it is a good time to clean out the fridge (in case you missed your change on Nov. 15) and get creative with both your food combinations and wine. Here are a few wines that stand up to all your leftover mashups (cranberry-turkey sandwich, I’m talkin’ to you!).
WHITES: the ultimate comfort-food partners
Chardonnay

Five Chards that love leftovers
Courtesy of producers
MORE FOR YOU
Alma Rosa Chardonnay 2017, Sta. Rita Hills. A fresh approach to what you think of California Chard with judicious aging on second-use French oak. As expected, “apple and pear, always there” (how wine students remember chard) but also some tropical notes—pineapple, guava and a bit of lychee. $38
Catena “Historic Rows” Chardonnay 2016, Mendoza. Apple, oak and honey on the nose followed through on the palate with a little bit of buttery and quince; round ,fleshy and malic with yellow-apple flavors. Reminiscent of a white Burgundy. $33
Chamisal Vineyards Chardonnay 2019, Central Coast. Fermented in stainless steel, this is free of the heavy oak flavors that plague so many California Chards. Apple all the way with a lemon twist. $18
Ron Rubin Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2018 (Sonoma). Driven by orchard fruit—apples and pears—and featuring some spicy vanilla/baking spice notes. At 13.7%, a little weighty: this is one for the turkey and stuffing sandwich. $20. The Pam’s California Unoaked Chardonnay is a leaner version with crisp apple flavors and true to its name, not a trace of oak $15.

Tall bottles fill a tall order the day after T-day
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Gruner Vetliner + Riesling
Forstreiter Gruner Vetliner 2018, Kremstal Kremser Kogl (Austria). This is a great “clean out the fridge” wine because it goes with everything. Slight fizz, green apple and slightly honeyed, also a great wine on the second day. $16.50
Hutter Federspiel Gruner Veltliner 2018, Wachau. A bit of a musky, stony/earthy aroma leading to ripe orchard fruits, a slightly herbal tinge. Fresh and bright. $24
Chateau Ste. Michelle “Vinifera Rootstock” Riesling 2019, Columbia Valley. A reliable performer. Classic, dry, easy going. Even people who don’t think they like Riesling will like this one: tropical and stone fruit.
Trimbach Riesling 2018, Alsace. The undisputable king of Thanksgiving, peerless partner to everything. A bit of petrol, classic citrus, clean, straight and pristine. $21+/-
Blends

White blends that are comfort-food friendly
Courtesy of producers
Abbott’s Paradise “Sightline “AP” 2018, Central Valley (California). Clean and light, anise-inflected blend of 80% Chenin Blanc and 20% Verdejo. Yellow fruited, with pear and quince playing along. Nice alternative to Chardonnay. $35
Jean-Luc Colombo La Belle de Mai 2018 Saint Peray AOC. A blend of 60% Roussanne, 40% Marsanne, this shows yellow apple, quince, butter, almond skin. Medium bodied with a round, mouth-filling palate, this is a great, satisfying comfort-food wine. $45
Pine Ridge Chenin/Viognier Blend 2019, California. Driven by Chenin Blanc (78%), this juicy peach and lime- inflected wine doesn’t have so much Viognier that it competes with food flavors. Good with roasted Brussel sprouts. $16
Mix + Match

Cleaning out the fridge is a perfect opportunity to mix up textures and flavors.
Courtesy of producers
Condado de Haza Airen 2015, Ribera del Duero. Full bodied with ripe, baked yellow apple and plum, hazelnut tones and warm, savory spice. Saline and exotic; a lightly oxidized style that is intriguing. $30
Tenuta Secolo IX 2019 Pecorino, Abruzzo. Slightly botanic, fresh and clean, goes down easy, lime and green apple. Tingly. $14+/-
La Marca “Luminore” NV Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG. Clean and simple Prosecco with direct flavors of apple, white flowers, a hint of peach. $30
REDS: Diverse styles, textures and flavors for every morsel
Beaujolais

Beaujolais is a favorite on Thanksgiving day or the day after.
Courtesy of producers
Domaine Richard Rottiers 2017 Moulin a Vent, Beaujolais. Pretty purple-flower aromatics, followed on the palate with black plum, tart fruit skin, black cherries. Another cru-style Beaujolais that will pair well with darker turkey meat. $30
Stéphane Aviron Chenas Vieilles Vignes 2016, Beaujolais. Made from pre-phylloxera vines (!), this Beaujolais is made without carbonic maceration, making it a deeper cru-style wine with juicy black raspberries, stewed strawberries, spicy notes and an energetic mineral streak. Good with the classic turkey/cranberry sandwich. $20
Pinot Noir

A range of California Pinot Noirs for your T-day leftovers
Courtesy of producers
Alma Rosa 2017 Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills. A bright style that doesn’t try to be all earthy-Burgundian, but is a nod to its own territory. Earthy and cedar aromas give way to tart cherries and plum on the palate with some meaty and cola notes, and baking spice. $45
Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2018. Soft and pretty, like leftovers, better on the second day when it settled down into soft, pretty wine with tart red fruit and a chocolate-covered cherry finish. Ripe sweet fruit, at 14%, a tad high in alcohol. $55
J Vineyards Pinot Noir 2017, Russian River Valley. Spicy and deep-fruited with raspberry and cherry, seductive smoke, leather and earthy-mushroom notes. Definitely a drumstick and dark-meat wine (or a roast if you did that for Thanksgiving). $42
Landmark Vineyards “Hop Kiln Estate Pinot Noir 2017, Russian River Valley. Fresh red and black fruits, some cola notes, a little saline $40
Mixed + Match

Next year, invite Italy, Spain and France to your table, along with your other American red friends
Courtesy of producers
Alois Lageder Schiava (Vernatsch) 2018, Sudtirol, Alto Adige. Just about everything is excellent from this winey in the Dolomite mountains. This light red from the “Classical” line has a racy mineral streak with sour cherry, bright, sharp and lively with wild raspberry. $16
Condado de Haza Tempranillo 2015, Ribera del Duero. Not a usual pick for Thanksgiving, but this savory wine with rhubarb and stewed strawberries is a another great match for the classic turkey/cranberry sandwich. $24
Little James Basket Press “Jeaune Solera” NV Saint Cosme (Rhone Valley). Straight-forward juicy red table wine, made in solera style with 100% Grenache. Dark red fruits, spicy anise and licorice and some garrigue notes. Low-key wine for your tryptophan hangover. $13
Tenuta Sant’Antonio Nanfre 2018, Valpolicella DOC. Cherry and tart red fruits. Herbal nose with mint, anise and black pepper. Green tannins. Slightly redolent of Loire Cabernet France. Good with a chill. $14+/-
Two Shepherds Carignan 2018, Mendocino. A little pop like a fruity cru Beaujolais, thanks to its whole-cluster fermentation. Pretty black tea/bergamot notes, fresh cranberries and pomegranate. On the lighter side with only 12.1% abv. $26