Thanksgiving wines: use your leftovers

November 29, 12:27 AMBoston Wine ExaminerJulia Timakhovich

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Hopefully, you enjoyed the one thing you probably didn't skimp on yesterday--a Thanksgiving feast. Now that the cooking and drinking and cleaning (and hopefully, wine showcase as well) are behind us, there is bound to be leftover food and wine you are either looking forward to or dread consuming.

Here’s what to do with leftover wines:

Whites can be safely stored in the fridge for several days without losing their flavor, as long as you push the cork at least a quarter way back. If you are not a white drinker, these can be tough to finish on their own because they aren’t sipping wines. They turn a little flat and a little more acidic by virtue of being opened for a while. But you can always match to the occasion. Leftover whites make great lunch wines—or appetizer wines if you are hungry enough to have a post-Thanksgiving dinner involving more than one course. Another way to use them is pour a little as the acid part of your salad dressing (you are eating light post-feast, right?), or as cooking liquid for fish or pasta dishes.

If you have leftover sparkling, they make perfect candidates for mimosas or bellinis. That is, if drinking with breakfast post-Thanksgiving still sounds like a good idea.

The reds are more versatile. They are easy to store in the fridge, or if you plan on finishing them up with leftover turkey (or whatever your protein of choice was), to just keep them out with the cork in. They will last for a few days, although the flavors will not be as intense.

The point is, don’t waste your wines. There is always use for leftover beverages, especially for cooking purposes. Cooking with wine makes for tasty sauces and salad dressings. When thrown in the frying pan, the alcohol evaporates, leaving you with the essence of the grapes that coats with flavor whatever protein you decide to consume. A fruit-forward, big Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon will make excellent coating for steak. A zesty Sauvignon Blanc will provide enough acid to substitute vinegar in a salad dressing. A chilled sweet Riesling will accentuate the flavors of your apple pie….

And if you have nothing left after a Thanksgiving meal, this weekend may just be the time to go out and get some vino! Those Black Friday deals carry over to wine, too, so check your local liquor store for promotions and free tastings.