There are less than four weeks until Thanksgiving, so we totally understand if you’re starting to dream about yummy side dishes + decadent desserts {we are too}. To wash it all down and put the final finishing touches on your menu, you’ll need to find the perfect bottle{s} of wine.
Sparrow Wine & Liquor is one of Hudson County’s premier wine, craft beer, and spirits merchant. Shopping at Sparrow is a no-brainer — there’s an uptown and downtown location, the staff is knowledgeable + friendly and will help you find exactly what you need, whether it’s for your Friday night Netflix binge, a nice gift, or you need the perfect pairing for hosting guests. Local customers can even order online and have delivery within an hour. Here’s more about this wine store that’s been open since 1922.
Their two locations make it convenient to show regardless of where you are in town. They have a location uptown at 1224 Shipyard Lane and downtown at 126 Washington Street. {For wine recommendations and help, ask for Javier at the uptown store and Armando at the downtown store!} Keep reading to learn more about Sparrow Wine & Liquor and why they’re the one-stop-shop for all your holiday drinking needs.
The History of Sparrow Wine & Liquor
Sparrow Wine & Liquor was founded during the era of prohibition in 1922. Known as Sparrow Cigar Company, they were located in the bustling neighborhood of downtown Hoboken. The store became one of the leading tobacco retailers in New Jersey and eventually expanded into liquor sales. The Luis family bought the store in 1977, at which time liquor was the bigger part of the business. When son Armando took over operations in 1986, he shifted the emphasis to fine wine and the store joined the Wine Source Group, the leading retailers in New Jersey during the ’70s and ’80s. Throughout the ’90s, the store was acclaimed as one of the finest wine shops in greater New York by major wine and food publications.
In 1999, their flagship store opened on the Hoboken northern waterfront at the old Bethlehem Shipyards with 6,000 square feet and a perfect view of Manhattan. Today, the store remains one of the leading + most respected wine and spirits retailers in New Jersey. Sparrow has even been recognized as one of the best wine shops in the country by Market Watch Magazine.
Wine Pairing for Thanksgiving
We had a chance for a sit down with the experts at Sparrow to ask them some of our more pressing questions about how to perfectly pair wine on the big day, and six of their wine picks, below.
HG: What wines pair well with Thanksgiving dinner?
Don’t overthink it! Thanksgiving has both sweet and savory components, so feel free to experiment. An off-dry Riesling is a very versatile white that pairs well with white meat and vegetables, while a full-bodied American Zinfandel works great with more robust dishes like stuffing and dark Turkey meat. An Oregon Pinot Noir would be elegantly perfect and flexible with many dishes and pair nicely with your favorite cranberry sauce.
HG: Do bubbles work for Thanksgiving?
Yes! Champagne has amazing acidity which will refresh the palate. For a less expensive option, consider a lovely Cremant from France.
HG: Are there any wines we should stay away from?
The cardinal rule is to always drink what you like, but it’s probably a good idea to stay away from whites that are overtly sweet during the main meal and reds that have aggressive tannins such as Bordeaux, which could overwhelm the most common Thanksgiving dishes.
HG: What about dessert?
So many options! Pies and fruit tarts are classic desserts and here you might consider a Moscati d’Asti from Italy or even a fruity sparkling red such as Lambrusco.
Still a little unsure what to get? Sparrow Wine & Liquor put together a list of wines that you can’t go wrong with. You can purchase in-store or right on their website as well.
White Wines
Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc Viognier 2017
Bethel Heights Pinot Gris 2017
Red Wines
Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel 2015
L’Umami Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2017
Contact
If you need your wine quick but can’t make it out of the house, {or just don’t want to hit the streets in dropping temps} you can order online and enjoy one hour delivery within Hoboken. Visit in person at 1224 Shipyard Lane or 126 Washington Street. You can also call the store with any questions before visiting. Reach the uptown location at 201-659-1501 and the downtown location 201-659-1500.
This post is sponsored by Sparrow Wine & Liquor.
