Just because the family has gone home and you’re stuck with a weeks worth of Thanksgiving leftovers doesn’t mean you should be lazy with your wine pairings. Here are a few suggestions to pair with the leftovers that you will be eating throughout the week.
Turkey Soup/Turkey Pot Pie – Chardonnay both Oaked and Unoaked, Riesling
There are a million ways you can enjoy Turkey Soup. I’m a fan of just plain old vegetables, noodles and salt. If you’re going to make this from Scratch no reason you can’t class your meal up with a great bottle of wine. Turkey Soup has a lot going on because Turkey in itself is a very strong flavoured meat, on top of that you’re adding a salty broth, noodles and vegetables. It’s the same thing with Turkey Pot Pie, you basically have Turkey and Salt with pastry. There are two ways you can pair with this meal. The easy slam dunk is to pair a nice buttery Chardonnay with Turkey soup. To mix it up all you need is something that will cut through the salt. Chardonnay when it’s unoaked has flavours that lean towards Citrus and Tropical or you could pair it with a great Ontario Riesling. The Riesling tends to have higher acidity which I love to pair with Salty dishes.
Turkey Enchiladas – Gewurztraminer
I realize that Enchiladas aren’t exactly front of mind on what to do with turkey leftovers, but let’s face it, if you’ve got enough leftovers to last you a whole week (as tends to happen) you’re going to get sick of sandwiches and soup. This is one of my favorite Turkey dishes. You get your turkey fix, with a Mexican flavour. You also have a lot of Cheese to keep it from being too heavy. Gewurztraminer is a wine with a very floral flavour and aroma. It also has nice acidity and usually a bit of sweetness that cuts through some of the spices in Mexican food that can overwhelm your palate. If you’re looking for something a little different to do with your leftovers this is definitely a great meal to consider. There are a lot of recipes floating around on the internet, here are a couple to check out.
http://www.marthastewart.com/353229/turkey-enchiladas (substitute cooked Turkey for Ground)
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/turkey-enchiladas-114642.aspx
Turkey Leftovers – Chardonnay, Sparkling, and Gamay
If you’re like me, one thanksgiving meal just isn’t enough. Nothing like setting aside just enough leftovers for one or two more plates of that delicious turkey spread. There’s a good chance you were thankful for that bottle or two open on your table for Thanksgiving. At my table I usually have Rosé or Chardonnay ready for Thanksgiving, but if you want change your wines here’s a few options you may not have had at your disposal. These pairings work equally well with a Hot Turkey Sandwich. Chardonnay both Oaked and Unoaked are ideal for Turkey, but those almost go without saying. I’m a fan of Gamay if you prefer Red wine with the spread. The flavours are lighter than your Bordeaux blend Reds and there is a slight spice on the finish. Gamay will go very well with Gravy, Stuffing and some of the heavier parts of the thanksgiving spread. It’s also a perfect match if you like Dark meat. Sparkling Wine is an easier match because frankly, it pairs with just about everything.
