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Football, Food & Jersey Wine: Old York Cellars’ Game-Day Pairing & Recipe Guide

Jersey Wine Meets Game Day: 
Old York Cellars’ Football Pairing and Recipe Playbook

Football season is back. And whether you’re watching the Eagles, Giants, Jets or just keeping an eye on your fantasy team, game day usually comes with its own menu.

Wings. Chili. Pizza. Cheesesteaks. Sausage and peppers. Sliders. Soft pretzels.

Beer may get most of the attention on football Sundays, but these game-day favorites also happen to pair extremely well with wine.

So before kickoff, put some food on the table, open a bottle of New Jersey wine and try one of our favorite Old York Cellars game-day pairings.

Old York Cellars Game-Day Wine Pairing Guide chart matching football tailgating food recipes like buffalo wings, chili, burgers, cheesesteaks, and tacos with Jersey wine varieties like Riesling, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wings + Riesling

Hot, spicy wings need a wine that refreshes your palate instead of adding more heat.

Old York Cellars Riesling is a great match. Its fruit and bright acidity provide a refreshing contrast to Buffalo-style wings and help balance the spice.

Prefer your wings smoky and sweet? Open a bottle of Old York Cellars Syrah and try our Syrah BBQ Sauce with your favorite wings, ribs or other game-day barbecue.

Try it: Syrah BBQ Sauce Recipe

Crispy fried buffalo chicken wings served with celery, blue cheese dip, and a bottle of Old York Cellars Riesling white wine on a wooden table for game day tailgating.
Bowl of hearty beef chili topped with cheddar cheese, sour cream, and jalapeños paired with cornbread and a bottle of Old York Cellars Syrah red wine.

Chili + Syrah

Few foods say football season quite like a big pot of chili.

Whether yours is loaded with beef, beans, peppers or all three, Old York Cellars Syrah has the body to stand alongside it. Its dark fruit and spice work particularly well with the smoky, savory flavors of a hearty chili.

Sliders & Burgers + Cabernet Sauvignon

Beef, melted cheese, caramelized onions and Cabernet Sauvignon are a pretty reliable combination.

The structure and dark fruit of Old York Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon make it a natural partner for burgers and sliders, especially when the toppings get bigger and bolder.

Try it: Cabernet Sauvignon Cheeseburger Recipe

Philadelphia cheesesteak with shaved beef and melted cheese served on a metal tray next to a bottle and glass of Old York Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon red wine for Eagles game day tailgating.
Philadelphia cheesesteak with shaved beef and melted cheese served on a metal tray next to a bottle and glass of Old York Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon red wine for Eagles game day tailgating.

Eagles Game Day: Philly Cheesesteak + Cabernet Sauvignon

We couldn’t make a football pairing guide without giving Eagles fans their cheesesteak.

The combination of shaved beef, onions and melted cheese calls for a red with enough body for the beef and enough acidity to balance the richness.

Open a bottle of Old York Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. With or without is your call.

Giants Game Day: Sausage & Peppers + Syrah

For Giants fans, put Italian sausage and peppers on the game-day table and open a bottle of Old York Cellars Syrah.

The wine’s dark fruit and spice complement browned sausage, grilled peppers and onions while standing up nicely to tomato sauce if that’s part of your version.

Sizzling skillet of Italian sausage, grilled bell peppers, and onions in tomato sauce paired with a glass and bottle of Old York Cellars Syrah red wine for Giants game day food.
Fresh pepperoni pizza served on a wooden peel alongside a bottle and glass of Old York Cellars Merlot red wine for Jets football game day food pairings.

Jets Game Day: Pizza + Merlot

Jets game. Pizza. Bottle of Jersey wine.

For a classic cheese, pepperoni or sausage pizza, reach for Old York Cellars Merlot. Its fruit and softer tannins make it an easy match for tomato sauce, cheese and a wide range of toppings.

Making the pizza yourself? Put some Old York Cellars wine into the sauce, too.

Try it: Merlot Marinara – Pizza Sauce Recipe

Pulled Pork + Malbec

Slow-cooked pulled pork needs a wine with plenty of flavor of its own.

Old York Cellars Malbec brings dark fruit and body to the pairing, making it particularly good with smoky, savory or slightly spicy pulled pork.

Try it: Slow Cooker Malbec Shredded Pork Recipe

Plate of slow-cooked barbecue pulled pork topped with pickled red onions and jalapeños served with cornbread, a glass, and a bottle of Old York Cellars Malbec red wine.
Warm salted soft pretzel with warm cheese dip and mustard served alongside a glass and bottle of Old York Cellars Chardonnay white wine for game day appetizers.

Soft Pretzels + Chardonnay

Here’s a pairing you might not immediately think about.

A warm, salty soft pretzel pairs beautifully with Old York Cellars Chardonnay, particularly when there’s a rich cheese dip involved. The Chardonnay has enough body for the dip while its acidity helps balance the richness.

Try it: Chardonnay Cheese Dip Recipe

Chips & Dips + Sauvignon Blanc

Not every football spread requires hours in the kitchen.

Potato chips, tortilla chips, hummus, salsa and other salty snacks are terrific with Old York Cellars Sauvignon Blanc. Its bright acidity keeps things fresh through an afternoon of grazing.

It’s also an easy bottle to put out when you’ve got a table filled with several different snacks.

Colorful tortilla chips served with fresh guacamole and red salsa alongside a bottle and glass of Old York Cellars Sauvignon Blanc white wine for party snack pairings.
Platter of seasoned ground beef tacos topped with cheddar cheese, tomatoes, and sour cream paired with a bottle and glass of Old York Cellars Syrah red wine.

Beef Tacos + Syrah

Tacos deserve a spot on the game-day menu, too.

Seasoned beef, peppers, onions and bold toppings work well with Old York Cellars Syrah, which brings enough fruit, spice and body to keep up with all those flavors.

Try it: Braised Beef Syrah Tacos Recipe

Don’t Feel Like Cooking After the Game?

Let Chef José handle it.

Make Old York Cellars part of your fall weekend with Chef José’s Friday Night & Weekend BBQ, your favorite Old York Cellars wines and an afternoon or evening at the vineyard.

Stay for live music on Saturday & Sunday, relax with a bottle of wine and enjoy the vineyard and Sourland Mountain views.

Football may keep you home for the game. Afterward, we’ll take care of the wine and food.