What a treat it is to have great pizza and sushi a phone call away (especially during these times when dining options are more limited). Over the past week or so I got to sample both, while also enjoying a few wines from my recent trip to Hunterdon County and another closer to home, in my cellar. I also love that I can support local businesses during these tough times, while enjoying their products. It’s a win-win proposition.
Pizza
Our pizza was from Tony’s Soprano’s Pizza & Ristorante in Turnersville. We have ordered pizza and platters there several times in recent months and have always been pleased with their food. This time we chose to order two pizzas (knowing we would have lots of slices we could freeze for future lunches, dinners, or snacks). Our choices:
A white pizza with grilled shrimp and broccoli and a red margherita pizza with mushrooms and sausage. They were both fantastic and deserving of their own wine pairing. With the white pizza I chose a Pinot Gris from Old York Cellars. I chose a red blend from Unionville Vineyards, called Revolutionary Red, to accompany the margherita pizza. More on these two wines below.
The Wine
- Old York Cellars 2019 Pinot Gris-This was an amazing Pinot Gris. While still possessing the fruit and acidity you would expect (with a mouth-watering pineapple and melon aroma and flavor), it was a more full-bodied version than many I have had. It was delicious and fun, but seriously good. Good enough to score 95 points from the New York International Wine Competition, where it took a Gold Medal. This is my new favorite Pinot Gris.
- Unionville Vineyards Revolutionary Red-A Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend with soft tannins and enough acidity to pair well with many foods (like margherita pizza). This is a great under $20 red wine. While it pairs well, you can also enjoy it all by itself.
Another recent super takeout experience came from Ocean Asian Cuisine. They offer a Japanese Sushi Bar, Thai, and Chinese cuisine and are located in Sewell. We ordered some vegetable dumplings, sushi, and sashimi. We paired these with an excellent bottle of Gruner Veltliner from Bellview. Austrian wine with Japanese food? Absolutely! Riesling, a wine with German heritage is considered a “go-to”-perhaps “The Go-To” if you are not indulging in saki. But more about the wine below.
Sushi
- Vegetable Dumplings-Delicious with the dipping sauce
- Sashimi – Maguro (Tuna)
- Yellow Tail Roll
- Spicy Tuna Roll
- Tuna & Avocado Roll
The Wine
The Bellview Winery Gruner Veltliner is a refreshing wine with apple and lime zest notes and lively acidity. This Gruner has won a Gold Medal and Best in Class at the 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. If you haven’t tried this varietal, try this one. It is only $17!
Cheers!
Gift Idea
You can now download your ebook version of New Jersey Uncorked: A Snob-Free Taste of NJ Wine for $9.99. Go to Apple’s iBook app and use the code Fall2020.
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