Perfect Roast Turkey

Ingredients

• 3 cups coarse salt, plus more for seasoning
• 5 cups sugar
• 2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
• 2 medium leeks, white and pale-green parts only, rinsed and coarsely chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 2 celery stalks, coarsely chopped
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 3 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
• freshly ground pepper
• 1 fresh whole turkey (18 to 20 pounds), rinsed and patted dry, giblets and neck reserved for gravy
• gravy
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted, plus 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup dry white wine, such as sauvignon blanc
• chestnut stuffing
• crab apples, fresh rosemary sprigs, and fresh sage, for garnish (optional)