Winter White Wines From New York State With Delectable Food Pairings

A cold winter night with a crackling fireplace and warm comfort food doesn’t always call for a Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot.  Consider choosing winter white wines that are textured and intense.  White wine is drunk year-round in many countries around the globe, think Germany, Alsace, Austria, and Switzerland, where white grape varieties dominate.

We are in the midst of the winter and it is seriously cold.  These seven wines are the perfect winter white wines from New York State.  Winter whites are warm and comforting, like Chardonnay, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, and more.  Their high acidity, depth, and intensity make them a perfect match for food. You may discover that these white wines pair better than reds when it comes to warm winter comfort foods.

SUHRU Wines Brut NV North Fork Long Island ($29.99)

SUHRU sparkling wine is made using the traditional méthode champenoise with a blend of 85% Chardonnay and 15%  Pinot Noir.  This bubbly is the perfect apres-ski kinda wine.  The Chardonnay adds brightness, crispness, and zippiness while the Pinot Noir adds richness, fruit, and texture.  It has fine bubbles with great acidity, length, and persistence. There are warm notes of biscuit and brioche along with fresh fruit.

This is a great sparkling wine at this price point, Champagne can’t always be an everyday wine, but SUHRU is definitely an everyday sparkler. This is a great wine to have with seafood, oyster, and shellfish.  If you are looking for warm winter comfort food, pair it with fried chicken or a warm creamy mushroom soup.

Palmer Pinot Blanc North Fork Long Island 2019 ($28.00)

This Palmer is 100% Pinot Blanc from one of the older vineyards on Long Island. The wine is medium-bodied with classic Pinot Blanc notes of almonds, marzipan, citrus, apples, and pear.  There is nice weight and texture, with a slight slippery finish.  A fantastic wine that is well balanced, delicious, and very food-friendly.

The fruits of the sea that surround Palmer Vineyards make the perfect pairing for this wine.  This Pinot blanc paired with a simple breaded flounder with a squeeze of lemon or a hearty French onion soup will cure the winter blues.  Also, consider pairing this Pinot Blanc with cheeses like Camembert or Brie.  Fondue and the Palmer Pinot Blanc is also a soothing winter pairing.

Hosmer Winery Single Wheel Riesling Finger Lakes 2017 ($20.00)

You cannot talk about New York state wine without talking about Riesling. Riesling is the ideal winter white. Hosmer Single Wheel is a single vineyard Riesling that is well balanced, bright, and very expressive.  The 12 grams of residual sugar allows for the wine to age gracefully. There are notes of pear and white peach that whisper seductively on the palate.  The crisp finish has a distinct minerality.

The Single Wheel Riesling is elegant enough to be paired with lobster, scallops, or fish.  This is a more rounder Riesling with a touch of sugar making it a great match for Penang beef curry or a hot bowl of spicy ramen.

Paumanuk Chenin Blanc North Fork Long Island 2019 ($29.00)

Chenin Blanc is extremely versatile and very food-friendly. The Paumanuk drinks like new world Chenin Blan in its youth and with age, the wine begins to evolve into an old-world style Vouvray.  It is crisp, fresh, and zippy with a vivacious style. Paumanuk Chenin has citrus, grapefruit, and tropical notes. It is thirst-quenching and refreshing with its bright acidity.

This winter white is a delectable pairing with oysters and clams.  With its brightness, the wine is also a great Sunday brunch wine.  It pairs well with quiches, frittatas, and omelets.  Consider pairing this wine with asparagus in a cream sauce or an onion tart.

Chateau LaFayette Reneau Seyval-Chardonnay NV Finger Lakes (12.99)

The Chateau LaFayette Reneau winery was founded in 1985 on the southeast side of Seneca Lake. The wine is a unique blend of 51% Seyval Blanc and 49% Chardonnay.  The Chardonnay adds notes of apple and pear while the Seyval Blanc contributes the citrus notes and minerality.  On the palate, there is a bit of residual sugar, which makes it a great starter to any meal.  It is smooth, crisp, and approachable with nice acidity.

The lush texture on the palate makes it very food-friendly. The wine will be a great match with meaty fish (halibut, cod) and shellfish. With its silky texture, the wine can go nicely with risotto and creamy soups.

Sheldrake Point Chardonnay Finger Lakes 2017 ($18.00)

The Sheldrake Point is a classic Chardonnay.  What makes this unique is that the subtle oak accents are provided by oak that is harvested on Sheldrake Point’s own vineyard. White oak is harvested from the property, then lightly toasted, and put into these wines.  There are notes of pine, thyme, and dried herbs. Sheldrake Point is clean and fresh with nice textural qualities.

This Chardonnay is very versatile and can be paired with comfort foods like macaroni and cheese and quiche.  It also pairs with a light fish prepared in a mild cream sauce and is also versatile enough to pair with pizza.

Anthony Road Wine Company Skin Ferment Pinot Gris Finger Lakes 2019 ($26.00)

Skin Ferment wines are orange wines that give you the flavors of a white grape variety with the texture and tannins that you find in red wines.  This Anthony Road wine is a skin-fermented Pinot Gris. On the nose, there is citrus and spice, and on the palate, there are orange blossom and tangerine notes. This Pinot Gris has earthy components of dried leaves and smokes.  A very impressive wine that is fresh, bright, and elegant.

The earthy qualities of the wine lend themselves to savory food pairings.  The wine is delicate enough to have with oysters and shellfish.  Another great pairing is charcuterie and cheeses.  The texture of this Pinot Gris also makes it a good match with oven-roasted chicken and turkey.