Thanksgiving leftovers have their own following. There’s the turkey sandwich built around a generous layer of cranberry sauce, the pot pie worth saving the last of the gravy for, and the plate that gives your favorite side dishes another afternoon in the spotlight. Choosing what wine goes with turkey starts with what you’re making next.
This guide pairs familiar Thanksgiving leftovers with Bonterra wines, from a crisp Sauvignon Blanc for your sandwich to a Chardonnay that holds its own beside a buttery pastry. You’ll find a quick pairing cheat sheet, simple serving tips, and one versatile bottle to keep chilled while you decide what’s for lunch.
Key Takeaways
• Turkey is mild, so the sauce, sides, and seasonings do much of the work when choosing a wine.
• Pair a turkey cranberry sandwich with Sauvignon Blanc, pot pie with Chardonnay, hearty soup or chili with Merlot, and the everything plate with Pinot Noir.
• If you’re choosing one bottle for several leftover possibilities, make it Bonterra Rosé.
What Wine Goes With Turkey? The Quick Answer
There’s more than one answer to what wine goes with turkey. The best wine with turkey depends on what else makes it onto the fork. Start with crisp white wine for lighter dishes and smooth, fruit-forward reds for heartier ones, then consider the details: tart cranberry, buttery pastry, savory gravy or a spoonful of chili spice.
A turkey sandwich with cranberry and mayo calls for freshness. Fold the same turkey into a creamy pot pie, and a white with more texture makes sense. Add tomatoes, beans and warming spices, and there’s room for a bolder red.
Finding a wine match with turkey is easier when you think about the finished dish. You already know which leftovers you’re reaching for. The bottle follows.Your Leftover Turkey Wine Pairing Cheat Sheet
Here’s what wine goes with turkey in its most promising next-day forms. Save this for the day after Thanksgiving dinner, when you open the fridge and start making plans.
| Your leftovers | Your Bonterra bottle | Why it works |
| Turkey cranberry sandwich | Sauvignon Blanc | Bright citrus and refreshing acidity balance tart cranberry and creamy mayo. |
| Turkey pot pie | Chardonnay | Apple, pear and a creamy texture complement the filling and buttery crust. |
| Hearty turkey soup or chili | Merlot | Velvety texture, ripe red fruit and dried-herb notes suit savory broth and warming spices. |
| The “everything” leftover plate | Pinot Noir | Berry flavors and a lighter touch accommodate a forkful of several favorites. |
| A few different leftovers | Rosé | Crisp fruit and enough texture give it flexibility across the table. |
Turkey Cranberry Sandwich + Sauvignon Blanc
A good turkey sandwich deserves some attention: bread with a proper crust, a generous swipe of mayo and cranberry sauce all the way to the edges. If a spoonful of stuffing finds its way in, you’ve clearly made this before.
Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc brings grapefruit and citrus character that feels at home beside the cranberry’s tartness. Its refreshing acidity balances the richness of the mayo, keeping a generously filled sandwich lively.
This is also a useful wine match with turkey when your plate leans fresh and crunchy. Add a handful of dressed greens or sliced apple, and Sauvignon Blanc still makes sense. Keep the cranberry layer tart rather than piled high with sweetness so it leaves room for the wine.
Turkey Pot Pie + Chardonnay
Pot pie gives yesterday’s turkey an excellent second address: beneath golden pastry, with vegetables and a creamy sauce. Store-bought puff pastry is welcome here. You’ve already done the holiday cooking.
Bonterra Chardonnay has pear and green apple aromas, a creamy character and subtle toast on the finish. That combination complements the filling and buttery crust, while its bright acidity keeps the pairing from feeling too rich.
The best wine with turkey pot pie should have enough texture to sit comfortably alongside the sauce. Chardonnay does that beautifully, whether you’re baking one family-size pie or giving everyone their own ramekin. The corner with the most pastry is yours to negotiate.
Turkey Soup or Turkey Chili + Merlot
For a tomato-based turkey chili or a hearty soup with beans and roasted vegetables, reach for Bonterra Merlot. Its ripe red fruit, subtle dried-herb notes and velvety finish bring depth to savory ingredients and warming seasonings while keeping the bowl beautifully balanced.
Keep the chili’s heat moderate so it adds warmth without overpowering the wine’s fruit. Cumin, smoked paprika, and a restrained pinch of chili powder offer plenty of interest; extra hot sauce can stay on the table for individual tastes.
If your soup is light and lemony, with herbs and a clear broth, choose Sauvignon Blanc instead. When deciding what wine goes with turkey soup, the broth gives you a better clue than the name of the dish.
The “Everything” Leftover Plate + Pinot Noir
Some plates are carefully composed. This one has the stuffing you loved, the sweet potatoes you wanted more of and exactly the right amount of gravy. There’s a reason you saved it all.
Bonterra Pinot Noir brings berry flavors with accents of oak spice and vanilla. Its relatively light touch makes it a versatile companion for turkey, savory stuffing and gravy, with fruit character that also welcomes a modest spoonful of cranberry.
For wine with Thanksgiving leftovers in their full, mix-and-match glory, Pinot Noir is a thoughtful choice. Keep the sweetest sides in smaller portions to give the savory elements and the wine room to shine.
Quick Tips for Serving Wine With Leftovers
A few small serving choices help the bottle show its best:
• Give whites and rosé a proper chill. If the bottle is starting at room temperature, plan ahead with refrigerator time or use an ice bucket filled with both ice and water. Twenty minutes in the fridge alone may leave it warmer than the ideal wine temperature.
• Choose your chill. Give red wines 10–20 minutes in the fridge for a gentle cool, or try Bonterra Pinot Noir extra chilled alongside your turkey cranberry sandwich. Pour a small glass of wine and let it warm as you eat to see where you like it best. Your leftovers, your preferences.
• Save the rest thoughtfully. Reseal an open bottle promptly and refrigerate it, reds included, to slow oxidation. Plan to revisit it over the next few days, checking how it smells and tastes before serving.
As America’s #1 organic winery, Bonterra makes wines with 100% organic grapes, less than 1g of sugar per serving and no unwanted additives. Delicious, done better belongs at this meal, too.
One Bottle, Every Leftover: Our Go-To Pick
If you’re choosing one wine with Thanksgiving leftovers in mind, make it Bonterra Rosé. Its dry, crisp profile and watermelon and citrus notes bring brightness to a cranberry sandwich, while enough texture carries it comfortably alongside buttery pot pie and a plate of assorted favorites. That versatility is especially welcome when everyone has a different idea of what’s for lunch. Hosting for more than leftovers? Try our holiday cocktails made with wine.
First choice of wine: settled. Last spoonful of stuffing: still competitive.
Find a bottle nearby through our Wine Finder, and let tomorrow’s menu take shape.
CITATIONS
Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Four rules to masterful food and wine pairing. 2023. https://www.wsetglobal.com/knowledge-centre/blog/2023/july/13/four-rules-to-masterful-food-and-wine-pairing
Decanter. How long to reach the wine perfect temperature? 2020. https://www.decanter.com/learn/wine-perfect-temperatures-ask-decanter-434622/
Wine Folly. How Long Does an Open Bottle of Wine Last? Undated. https://plus.winefolly.com/tips/how-long-does-an-open-bottle-of-wine-last/
