This certainly will be one of the most unique Thanksgiving celebrations of our lifetime. While the group assembled around the table will likely be smaller, there is still the opportunity to enjoy a meal with your loved ones and it wouldn’t be complete without wine.
With over 50 wineries in New Jersey to choose from and the ability to order wine via phone or the internet and have it shipped direct to your home, there are plenty of great wines to select from that will complement anything you’re preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday.
New Jersey wines are the perfect complement to all facets of the Thanksgiving table. From the appetizers to side dishes to the turkey itself, you can find plenty of great wines to pair with each course.
The best way to start the celebration off is with a sparkling wine. There are a multitude of sparklers to choose from. You can choose from the 2016 Vintage Brut or 2019 Syrah Piquette from William Heritage Winery in Mullica Hill. Hawk Haven Vineyard in Cape May offers a 2017 Brut Methode Champenoise, while Tomasello Winery in Hammonton offers a Sparkling Rkatsiteli, an ancient vinifera variety reputed to originate from the Caucasus Mountains bordering Armenia, the smallest of the former Soviet Republics. Rkatsiteli produces wines that are spicy with underlying hints of pear.
Rosé wines pair well with some of the side dishes including cranberries, stuffing and vegetables like Brussel Sprouts. You can try the NJ Wine Competition winner Working Dog Winery’s 2019 Equinox Estate Bottled Rosé, East Windsor, Mercer County. Other wineries providing great Rosé wines include Auburn Road Vineyards in Pilesgrove, Salem County and Fox Hollow Vineyards in Holmdel, Monmouth County, and Unionville Vineyards and Old York Cellars in Ringoes, Hunterdon County among others.
Possibly the ideal wine to pair with turkey is a lighter red like Pinot Noir. Beneduce Vineyards in Pittstown’s 2017 Centerfold is a great choice. You also cannot go wrong with a Merlot and Sharrott Winery of Hammonton’s 2018 Merlot won Best in Show in the NJ Wine Competition. A cranberry wine also complements turkey nicely and there are many wineries producing these wines.
And for dessert try a sweet Riesling and/or one of the many fruit and port-style wines available in the state.
Get out this weekend to a NJ Winery and stock up for your holiday table today. You can also have wines shipped directly to you. Check out www.newjerseywines.com to find a winery near you.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
