Thanksgiving: a time for enjoying the company of friends and family and celebrating the amazing parts of our lives for which we are so thankful.
I am sure you have meticulously prepared the perfect menu to please everyone’s palate for this gluttonous day. Let us at The Winery help you select the perfect local wines to pair with your meal and share with your guests.
I am a firm believer in drinking the wine you love with whatever food you love. But it is true that certain foods and wine can be paired in such a way that they bring out the best in each other. We have some amazing pairings and recipe suggestions using our local produce we have available in the farm store right now.
Seven Springs Farm Sausage Balls
Seven Springs Farm Sausage Balls make a great appetizer and can be made with either hot or mild sausage. Pair this spicy, cheesy bite with Vineyard White. This semi-sweet white wine with honeysuckle flavors will balance out the spiciness and pair very well with the cheddar cheese.
Ingredients:
1 (1-pound) package Seven Springs Farm mild or hot sausage
3 cups baking mix (recommended: Bisquick)
4 cups grated sharp Cheddar
1/8 tablespoon pepper
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray. Combine all ingredients in a large glass bowl. Mix well with your fingers. The mixture will be very crumbly. Form into 1 inch balls, squeezing the mixture so it holds together, then rolling it between the palms of your hands to form balls. Place the balls on the baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. To prevent sticking, move the balls with a spatula halfway through cooking.
Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen
Turkey
Of course you have to have a turkey with your Thanksgiving dinner. Pair your bird with our Farmhouse White wine. This Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio blend has hints of apples and a mild tartness that will perfectly complement your main dish. It’s a match made in Maynardville!
Cranberry Relish with James’s Peach Wine
Need a cranberry recipe to go your turkey? This one is delicious and made with our James’s Peach wine.
Ingredients:
1(12-oz.) package fresh or frozen cranberries, thaw
2 oranges, peeled, seeded, and cut into 6 wedges
1/2 cup James’s Peach wine
1/2 – 1 cup of honey or sugar
Pulse cranberries & oranges in a blender or food processor 4 or 5 times or until coarsely chopped; transfer to a large pot or pan. Add wine & sugar and heat just until it starts to bubble. Cool & refrigerate—best if refrigerated overnight!
Ham
A baked honey ham is another Thanksgiving staple. We have chosen our sweet red Southern Belle wine made with concord grapes. The sweetness of the honey and brown sugar is going to make the wine taste slightly less sweet and bring out a mild tartness while enhancing the fruity grape flavors of the wine.
Purple Sweet Potato Pie
The most amazing pairing I have ever had has been purple sweet potato pie with our Muscadine wine. Muscadines are a southern gem. The foxiness of this grapes is married with the earthiness of the sweet potatoes and the tropical fruit flavors of the wine are magnified. Right by Nature Farms grows amazing purple sweet potatoes that are full of antioxidants. It is definitely something that you need to try!
Ingredients
2 cups of mashed, cooked purple sweet potatoes
2 eggs, beaten1/4 cup of honey
1//4 cup of brown sugar
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt
In a large bowl mix all of the above ingredients and beat on medium speed until well mixed. Pour into prepared pie crust and bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes or until when a knife is inserted and inch from the edge comes out clean.