Even if you don’t have dazzling views of grapevines full of plump, ripe grapes, waiting to be harvested, pizza and wine with friends is one of life’s simple pleasures. This is true even during a Pandemic (as long as you are outside and socially distanced). We met a couple of great friends and were able to chat from a safe distance, while we enjoyed our pizza and wine. Who doesn’t like pizza and wine? Auburn Road offers both, with lots of options. My wife and I were very happy with our choices.
Before ordering our pizza, I ordered a bottle of Chardonnay (their White Bottle), as well as two flights of wine (a red and a white).
I chose the following reds:
- Classico-Sangiovese-powered blend with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Still a bargain at $17.
- Gaia 2016-Blend of Cab Franc, Merlot and Petite Verdot. Cab Franc leads the way in this excellent dry red.
- Peaceful Warrior-Fruit forward red blend. Very smooth, table red and only $16!
- Eidolon 2015-Bordeaux-style blend, aged for 30 months in oak. Rich, full-bodied and smooth. Probably my favorite among the reds tasted.
My wife chose the following whites (in addition to the White Bottle pictured below):
- Pinot Grigio-If I have had this wine before, I forgot how good it is-crisp and refreshing; fermented and aged in stainless steel.
- BlancNU-Happy this was available on this visit. An unoaked Chardonnay. A nice end of summer wine with reminders of crisp cool mornings and evenings to come.
- Dry Rose-Pale, Provence-style with notes of strawberry.
- Sole-Made with Vidal Blanc grapes; it is a semi-dry white (but I believe drier than the previous version and more to my liking).
The White Bottle is a delicious Chardonnay, fermented in stainless steel tanks, then sur lie (kept in contact with the spent yeast) aged in French Oak for six months. The result is a creamy Chardonnay, which emphasizes the fruit and acidity.
As for the pizza, we decided on the Tartufo (no egg). Do people really put egg on pizzas? We also decided to try the Niccolo. The Tartufo had truffles, truffle oil, and Fontina cheese, while the Niccolo had tomatoes, sweet sausage, and mozzarella. I enjoyed the White Bottle with the Tartuffo and sipping my red flight with bites of the Niccolo. Both pizzas were delicious, with thin crusts and done just right in their brick oven. As expected this was far too much food for one meal. Instead we got to enjoy it again the following day, too.
My wife and I truly enjoyed our time at Auburn Road- gorging ourselves with pizza and trying some new wines and revisiting old favorites. We got to enjoy all this, while taking in the beauty around us and socially engaging with friends safely. I look forward to returning when we can enjoy their Friday night pasta dinners and Open Mike nights (where I might even play a couple of tunes, if I consume enough wine to fortify my courage).
Cheers!
Coming Attractions
- I’ll be pairing great local take-out (or outdoor dining) with some great New Jersey wines
- Another edition of Uncorked and Unplugged
Tried a New Jersey wine lately? Visited a NJ winery recently? Please share your experience here. Like what you read and see here? Simply enter your email address below and hit subscribe. Then you will get your weekly pour of NJ wine right in your inbox. No spills. No mess.
