Your refrigerator has so much leftover Thanksgiving food.  And I bet, you are not looking forward to eating leftovers for a few days straight.  But you’re in luck! We have some great pairings that can make each leftover meal special.

Modelo Especial from Corona is a very hot beer right now.  It has been showing strong growth for the last three years.  A bold Mexican beer than Corona, Modelo is a classic, thirst quenching beer.  Crisp and sweet are what characterize this pilsner from Modelo.  ABV is 4.4% with 12 IBUs.  Modelo is at a great value in our ad this week.  This beer is very versatile with leftover Thanksgiving food. Available in all Family Fare stores. 

A really cool crossover that is occurring is rosé and cider.  Virtue Cidery, from Fennville, MI, has come out with a rosé cider.   This a very delicious combination of cider, spices, and herbs that gives the juice a light pink hue and a dryness reminiscent of rosé wine.  The apple flavor is all there in this drink and the rosé comes out in the floral notes and slightly dry finish.  The apple cider is from a blend of Jonathon, Golden Russets, McIntosh, Ida Red, and Northern Spy apples. Available in Michigan stores.

Because it is autumn, we need a cider.  Vandy from Vander Mill Cider is a sessionable hard cider with an ABV of 4.3%.  Vander Mill uses only local, Michigan apples and culls the entire 40 bushel bin to make sure no bad apples make it into the process.  They then use an accordion press to press the apples dry of any juice.  Typing this makes my mouth water, it sounds so delicious.  This cidery was started in 2006 with the vision of building a business where people can feel at home.  What a great mantra and culture to develop.  We all need a friendly and fun place to relax and sip cider.  Their business has expanded because their product is good with a great value.  Try a Vandy and celebrate the Autumn. Available in Michigan stores.

Outside of Michigan, there are some amazing national brand ciders to introduce you to the crisp, cool and refreshing flavors of apples and some amazing combinations that have been crafted. Depending on your taste, there is something for everybody. Do you have a sweet tooth? Check out Angry Orchard. Like something drier? Strongbow may be for you. Don’t like sweet or dry? Crispin is a nice in between and very refreshing. All of these brands also have released their own rosé cider. Available in all Family Fare stores.

Prophecy has a Rosé offering.  This brand has the best labels according to our wine team.  This wine can be easily found because of its label.  This is a French Rosé at a very affordable price.  Like European wines this Rosé is delicate, crisp, and bright.  Red fruits and melon at the mid palate with a crisp and tight finish.  This wine is perfect with any leftovers.  Also, this is an amazing sipping wine. Available in all Family Fare stores. 

How about the traditional Apothic Red.  A monster red blend with great jammymess derived from the Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon.  There are hints of cherry, vanilla and mocha in this wine that sets the bar for all red blends. Available in all Family Fare stores. 

I hope these pairings help to make each Thanksgiving leftover meal special and a little more exciting. And if you are lacking inspiration, try out our Turkey Reuben recipe for a great spin on a leftover turkey sandwich! 

• Started in the Grocery business bagging at D&W in 1975.  Worked at D&W for 30 years in various departments.
• Worked at SpartanNash for 11 years.  Currently the Category Manager for Wine/Beer/Spirits for SpartanNash East.
• Have been a category manager since 1990 and a category manager of beer  since 1997.  CM of wine and spirits since 2007.
• Have travelled extensively which provided the opportunity to taste many foods and beverages from Hong Kong to Caribbean, from California to Maine.
• Love to cook, grill, and bake, snow ski, sail, and read books.    Best baked item – a bourbon pecan pie with rum crust.  Best grilled item – salmon with blueberry onion wine sauce and goat cheese.  Best cooked item – Squash Apple soup with bourbon.  Best ski slope – Go Devil at Keystone.  Best book – Wonder.
• 1 wife, 3 children, 7.3 grandchildren.