I’m back on the New Jersey wine trail. Our friends, Kathy and Colin, visited us from Michigan and after a day of introducing them to New York City we took them to the next best places, New Jersey’s wineries! We brought Kathy and Colin to one of our favorite wine trails that’s about 40 minutes from where we live in Matawan. We headed west on route 33 to Silver Decoy, Cream Ridge, and Laurita wineries. These wineries are about 15 minutes away from each other, so they make for a quick, easy, and fun adventure. We started at Silver Decoy and then made our way to Cream Ridge Winery. This part of NJ features a nice quiet, relaxing country atmosphere that’s not far from the hustle and bustle of the cities that sandwich this area.

The Atmosphere

Every time I visit Cream Ridge, I’m delighted by the warm welcome from the staff. The people here are incredibly kind and passionate about their wines. Cream Ridge has a nice cozy environment. The building itself makes you feel like you’re in a country escape (for those who live in the more crowded areas like me). As you leave your car in the gravel parking lot, you are greeted by a wooden archway and antique street laps that guide you along the pathway. In front of the building there are tables and chairs surrounded by picturesque wine barrels. Before entering the building, you are greeted by white wooden rocking chairs inviting you to stay a while. Once inside this country cottage winery, cute culinary and wine items greet you on the shelves along the left and front walls. Further ahead on the right is their wine tasting bar. Just behind the bar are some unique wall mounted wine racks including a wagon wheel with wine bottles between each spoke.

We walked up to the wine bar and made our selections of what we wanted to try. Their tasting options include, white, blush, red, and fruit wines. After tasting the first two wines, we were invited on a special tour with Tom Amabile, the founder. It was a nice intimate tour with the four of us and another couple. Tom explained what happens to corks in wine bottles, how they’re made, and about the corking process. Tom also introduced us to the word “ullage”, which refers to the space between the wine and the bottle. This educational and interesting tour was a really nice presentation and I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to meet Tom and learn about his history and winemaking story. After the tour, we went back to the wine bar and continued our tasting.

The Wines

Muscato Amabile – This wine is characteristic of a muscato just a little bit fruitier without being too sweet.

Sangria – Their Sangria is yummy and unlike other sangrias I’ve had before. Most often the sangrias I try are mixed with chianti. Cream Ridge makes their Sangria with blush wine instead, which gives it a slightly different quality. The blush blends well with the fruit tones in this Sangria. I really enjoyed this fruity wine.

Mango - Tom, my husband, said the Mango wine was really good. Apparently, he’s really descriptive. He said this one was his favorite of the fruit wines. In my opinion, it was a good balanced fruit wine. Sometimes dessert wines can be too sweet, but Cream Ridge has excellent fruit wines that emphasize the fruit flavors without overpowering the wine.

Cherry - It seems that many New Jersey wineries offer cranberry and blueberry wines. I don’t often come across cherry wines, so sampling this Cream Ridge specialty was a nice treat. This wine includes cherries grown right here in NJ. Their Cherry wine is a delicious fruity wine that appropriately highlights the cherry flavor. Make sure you try this NJ Governor’s Cup winner.

Chocolateberry – I didn’t try Chocolateberry during this particular occasion, but I have tried it before and thought it deserves a special mention. The first time I tried Chocolateberry wine was at a wine festival in Allaire State Park. It seemed that visitors were going nuts over this wine. If you are a chocolate fan, you’ll love it. Somehow, they’ve captured the essence of chocolate in a bottle and infused it with berry flavor. It’s a nice unique option that’s definitely different and worth a try.

Almondberry – I’ve only had two almond wines ever. This one is excellent. It’s a delicious combination of raspberry and almonds. It’s sweet, tasty, unique and a delight. I was so excited about this one I had to buy it. Right now the bottle is sitting in my wine rack and I’m trying to see how long I can last before I tear into it and finish it off.

Javaberry – Javaberry is a coffee drinker’s wine. I’ve always loved the smell and taste of coffee, so it’s not surprising that I enjoyed the way Javaberry wine tastes. I was so impressed with how they captured blackberry, chocolate and espresso notes in this wine that I couldn’t leave without it. Javaberry is another unique, special wine.

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, Cream Ridge crafted a special green McChardonnay. $1 from every bottle sold will be donated to Restore the Shore. You can check it out here on their facebook page. Between Tom, Me, Kathy and Colin, we left Cream Ridge with bottles of McChardonnay, Blueberry, Almondberry, Javaberry and cork holder birdhouses. Cream Ridge doesn’t just provide delicious fruit wines, you might also leave with something nice for your home.

I really appreciate Cream Ridge’s wines. They’re options cater to my taste that leans towards fruity and sweet flavors. If you also enjoy sweet, fruity, and fun wines, I would strongly encourage you to visit Cream Ridge Winery. You will leave with delicious wines that also make nice conversation pieces with company. Cream Ridge is celebrating 25 years this year. Be sure to stop by and celebrate with them and say hi to Tom Amabile.

www.creamridgewinery.com

Rating

4 Wine Glasses (Out of 5)

Each fall, or once we’re bit by the fall bug in September, we plan a day of Apple activities. It’s usually when Delicious Orchards has their Apple Fest. We experienced our apple day this past Saturday.

We started at Battleview Orchards. Here, we parked in the lot outside the store. There’s a line where you can wait outside for fresh amazing donuts. I highly recommend this. Since Tom got me a pumpkin donut from Dunkin Donuts for breakfast, instead I went inside and purchased and devoured a fresh apple turnover, right out of the oven. We explored the store for some fun fall treats to get ourselves in the spirit of fall festivities. They also have a cider bar inside. It wasn’t my kind of bar so I skipped it.

We bought a card outside, $1 for a group to pick fruit all season. That’s fine by me. I bought the card, they gave us a map and we drove about ½ a mile or so up the road to pick some apples. We turned up the dirt driveway and into the dirt parking lot. There’s a lot of staff on hand to accommodate the seasonal traffic. We grabbed a bucket for picking and ventured to the apples. If you plan on going apple picking don’t wait long. Because of the hurricane last August (I think) and dry weather conditions, they don’t have much crop and suggested people call ahead before picking. I guess I don’t need to tell you more because you pretty much climb trees and eat and pick apples.

Our next stop was up the street at Wemrock Orchards. I love this place. It’s on Rt 33, right off route 9. It’s really close to Battleview Orchards, which makes an apple day even better. (I recommend stopping at both places.) Wemrock Orchards offers samples of pies, donuts, salsas, and other delicious goodies. This is how I once bought an incredible strawberry and peach pie. There are lots of fun items in this store and an even better feature…. Wait for it… there’s a wine store! Yep! Farmers’ market and wine store. Love it. Usually, we stop here on the way back from Silver Decoy. After walking into the store, the wine shop is on the left. Although, this is a wine store and not an actual winery, I still thought it needed its own article because it’s a fun experience. The wine shop sells Tomasello wines only. I will get to Tomasello one day, but in the meantime, it’s nice to enjoy their wines at a closer location. Here, you can sample 5 wines for $5. We lucked out and Ann, our very kind and knowledgeable sommelier gave us more than 5 wines. She gave us wines based on what she thought our tastes were. And here’s what we had…. Oh, and to add to our fun fall day, they had a lot of fall-like wines to try.

Ann said to start with less sweet wines and end with the fall-like wines because they were sweeter.

Sangiovese – Knowing this is Kristen’s, my sister, favorite wines, we had to try it. This was certainly the driest out of their selection.  It tasted fruity, smooth and strong. I really tasted the alcohol. It burned a little on the way down, but in the way that it would make you warm and cozy in the winter and leave you feeling just right. I took another sip and shivered with the alcohol. Maybe I’m a wuss and can’t handle it, but if you like tasting the alcohol, you’ll like this.

Winter Chill – I wanted to try this just for the name, but also because I know I like sweet whites. This wine is sweet, juicy, citrusy, and pleasant.

Dafodil White – This wine was lighter than Winter Chill. It was less sweet, dryer than the other white wines.

Moscato – Is my guilty pleasure. I love sweet wines, as long as it’s not too sweet. This wine was borderline too sweet for me. It went down easy although I could smell the alcohol. The weird thing is this wine reminded me of iced tea. Probably because of the light feel and sweetness.

Rainier Red – This is a red for me. It might be for you too as this is classified as their red table wine. I’ve seen this in other stores near us, so I think I’ll be buying more of it. Interesting to note, they’ve been making this wine for 78 years! It’s nice and sweet, but not too sweet. It is made with the Concord grape which I love to drink! This always seems to be my favorite grape. Since Ann got to know my tastes, she knew I would like this one.

Mulled Spice – Now onto the fall wines… This was my favorite out of the fall-like wines. It’s a basic red with mulling spice added. It’s sweet without going overboard and it’s bursting with fall flavor. I can just sit there and inhale the beautiful aromas. It’s fall goodness in a glass. You can also drink this warm on a cold night. I don’t care which way, I’ll just drink it. This is a nice fall treat.

Spiced Apple – This is similar to Mulled Spice. I thought the main difference was that it has less spice.

Broomstick Brew – This was also similar to Mulled spice, but less sweet. This would also make a warm and cozy experience. I enjoy the spice notes. The bottle is awesome. Probably needless to say, it has a witch on a broomstick on it. Compromising with Tom and in the fall spirit I bought this one.

Autumn Leaf – After trying the others, this semi-dry wine didn’t have the spice like they did, but would be an appropriate fall treat if you not into mulling spices.

After buying Broomstick Brew and apple butter, we went over to Delicious Orchards. We aim to get there towards the later part of the day so we arrive after the crowd has dissipated. We were still there in time to see cows in a petting zoo, clowns, a car show and buy some of the best produce around. Although, you may have missed it this year, I strongly recommend it for next year.

We’ve had a busy schedule, but I hope to get to the actual Tomasello Winery soon. I just checked their website and they have about 44 wines for sale! Who wants to be my designated driver?

www.tomasellowinery.com

During our most recent Cape May wine trail trip we had to stop at one of our favorite wineries again, Cape May Winery & Vineyard. If you’re not getting tired of me writing about Cape May Winery, I will keep doing so because I love going here. I highly recommend this New Jersey winery! They have a great selection and it’s one of the most relaxing places to enjoy a glass of wine and some snacks. Cape May Winery has a beautiful tasting room, a nice backyard (vineyard) patio, a lovely deck that overlooks the vines, and a good variety of cheese and crackers to enjoy while you sip your Cape May wine.

I wrote about Cape May Winery earlier this year. I just looked at the wines I tasted then. The wines I sampled during our recent trip were mostly different. I tried to mix up my choices for you!

The Wines

Lighthouse White – Is a nice crisp fruity wine. The freshness and hint of honeysuckle provide a nice summery feel.

Lighthouse Riesling – This Riesling smells good and tastes just as good. It’s sweet and crisp and releases lemon and honey flavors.

Lighthouse Red – This one had to come home with me. Although, it was like picking a puppy – I really wanted all of them to come home with me. This red was a little more like a blush in the way in which it was sweet and crisp and light in color. However, unlike a blush, it wasn’t overly sweet or tart. This blend of Merlot, Syrah, and Chambourcin was a nice surprise. Red fans may not like this, but I think sweet drinkers and white fans will. The Lighthouse Red is really good with chocolate.

Isaac Smith Apple – Delicious. Apple fans, you’ll love this wine! Kristen bought it. When I was at her apartment she offered me some and I had to decline, only because I didn’t want to drink the whole bottle on her. A little isn’t enough. Just take a sniff of this wine and you get a blast of Fuji and Granny Smith apples. Inhale as you sip for a delightful experience. Don’t let the apple fool you, it’s only slightly sweet. I was able to taste the alcohol on the way down.

Isaac Smith Fini Blanc – Also delicious, this wine also had to come home with me! It was so good, I saved it for my birthday. I also enjoyed a glass of this on Cape May Winery’s deck. I think I’m partial to white wines that present apricot flavors like this one did. As my palate leans to the sweeter side, I must warn you that this is a Dessert Wine. Sweet fans, you will enjoy it.

Cape May Red – This award winning wine has a smooth and bitter finish. You really taste the red berry flavors. The vanilla oak flavor adds to the smoothness and presents a pleasant mouth feel.

These are all quality wines! Be sure to stop here during your Cape May trips or as one of your New Jersey wine trail stops!

www.capemaywinery.com

Wine responsibly.

Rating

5 Wine Glasses (Out of 5)

Tom and I had been here before and I wasn’t looking forward to returning. This winery, like most of the others in this area, is also off of Route 47. If you’re heading North, it’s past Jessie Creek Winery.

The Atmosphere

After driving up a dirt and gravel driveway, the small tasting room is on the right and the rows of vines are across from this room on the left. I think my favorite part was the pirate statue that greets you at the entrance to the tasting room. Upon walking into the tasting room, the bar is directly in front of you. There’s not much space in here. There were 2 women sitting at the bar when we entered and that didn’t provide enough space for Tom, my sister and me. We had to wait for one of the women to get back from checking on the supply of Banana wine that wasn’t ready yet before we could be helped. When she arrived, we had to lean over the cash register for tasting. Wine lists weren’t available on paper. I like the paper list because then I can take notes and the wine descriptions home with me to tell you about it. Instead, the wines were written on a large chalkboard to the left of the tasting bar.

The Wines

Chardonnay – The Chardonnay tasted light and a little fruity. It had a funny finish that I didn’t like.

Reisling – Tasted like an average Reisling, nothing special.

Blueberry – In the words of his Grandma, Tom said this one “Tasted like the barn.” That’s Grandma’s sweet southern way of saying it tastes like crap. Tom usually likes Blueberry wines too, so this was a disappointment.

Moscato – This one was good. Probably the best one they had, but not great. It had a light orangey quality to it. It’s nice, but borderline too sweet. A glass could be good, yet a bottle would be overwhelming.

Nonna’s Cellar – With a sweet taste and bitter finish this wine had red characteristics. Of course, I liked the sweet, but not the bitter. It tasted a little zingy on the tongue which was weird for me.

Captain Port – I didn’t try this one, but Tom and Kristen did. They told me it was good, but not that flavorful.

There was nothing here that I really liked or was crazy about. If you are going with a crowd, expect to wait.

www.natalivineyards.com

Wine responsibly.

Rating

2 Wine Glasses (Out of 5)

The Atmosphere

There’s a main street that runs through the Cape May area, Route 47. Most of the wineries are around this road. By traveling north on Route 47, you will see Jessie Creek Winery. I’m glad the location was clearly marked with a large cardboard cutout of a wine bottle on the side of the road, so we didn’t miss it. Driving up the gravel roadway, trees descend over you providing a nice calming greeting. Vines are lined up on your right and around the tasting building. A patio with tables and chairs wraps around the back of the winery.

There are wine items on both the left and right walls of the tasting room. Across from the door there’s a wooden bar with enough space for a few groups of people. The room also contains enough space for additional people to stand around. Extending from this area on the right, there’s a room that can be used for banquets or special events. We didn’t talk about it, but it looked enticing to have a party there.

As we walked in the gentleman behind the bar acknowledged us and let us know he would assist us shortly as some people were just finishing up their tasting experience. I always appreciate being noticed because then I don’t feel like I’m anxiously waiting. When it was our turn, the gentleman behind the bar, Bruce, introduced himself to each of us by reaching over and shaking our hands. I very much appreciated this. Bruce shared information with us about the winery, why it wasn’t open to the public sooner (political and legal reasons involved), and the challenges (natural elements) with growing grapes each year. I wish I recorded our conversation to capture all the excellent information that Bruce provided us. He even told us how the hurricane in August 2011 affected grapes for some wineries in NJ by ruining some crops. I know certain seasons can yield different grapes and vintage wines, but I hadn’t really thought about all the dangers that can affect the fruit that produces so many bottles of wine. He also talked about bugs that can affect grape growing, frost effects, benefits of the length of the leaves surrounding the top of the grapes, and the unique terroir in the Cape May area that produces delicious grapes. Bruce also told us that Jessie Creek’s wines were included in the New Jersey Wine Competition. Speaking with Bruce was an incredible and pleasant experience. He also seemed as interested in us as we were with him and the winery. Not only was I impressed with his knowledge and information, but I was incredibly impressed with their wines. Most wineries take a long time to fall into place. Years of growing grapes, producing, and tasting wines occur before the doors are ever opened. Most people think that wineries have to be around for years perfecting their products before their wines can be considered good. Knowing this I was even more impressed with Jessie Creek’s wines.

The Wines

Jessie Creek Wines tasted exactly as they were described on the tasting menu.

Chardonnay – I tasted the alcohol (which is sometimes the reason we drink wine, right), but I also tasted fruit flavors of apple and lemon and a subtle hint of oakyness. This wine seemed like a Chardonnay Tom would like, since he prefers wines that lean more to the alcohol side. Can’t blame him. I can tell this was a quality wine giving different, beautiful characteristics and blending them in a clean crisp way. Tom bought a bottle of this Chardonnay.

Pinot Grigio – Less alcohol tasting than the Chardonnay, but still crisp. I got a hint of pear. The fruit flavors in these wines are appropriate. It’s not overbearing, not sweet, just a nice accent to the characteristics of a Pinot Grigio.

Chambourcin – Some of the best reds I’ve had. I couldn’t decide which wine I wanted to buy, the Merlot or Chambourcin and I don’t usually enjoy reds. Typically, when I drink reds the bitterness makes them hard to swallow. This isn’t the case with Jessie Creek’s reds. Their Chambourcin is so smooth and rich in fruity flavor, yet not overbearing. It’s just right. This wine would be great with chocolate as it just melts in your mouth and the smoothness of the wine caresses the flavors over your tongue. By the way, I bought the Chambourcin.

Merlot – This wine was just as smooth and delicious as the Chambourcin. Described as having black cherry and caramel spice aromas, I felt like I tasted these flavors. The wine was dynamic and pleasant.

Cabernet Sauvignon – Red fans might prefer this Jessie Creek red. Richer in tannins, this quality wine presented deep dark flavors like black currant with a smooth oaky quality.

2010 Merlot and 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon won silver medals in the New Jersey Wine Competition that featured 250 wines.

I was really impressed with Jessie Creek’s wines, presentation, and Bruce’s knowledge. For a winery that has recently opened to the public they’ve got it down. I’m excited about this place and we will make this a regular stop when visiting Cape May.

Jessie Creek Winery also provides accommodations at their own inn. Details are available on their website along with fun and interesting nearby attractions.

www.jessiecreekwinery.com/index.html

Wine responsibly.

Rating

4.5 Wine Glasses (Out of 5)

The Atmosphere

I’m not sure what to say about this place, um… unique. Cava Winery is about 16 minutes away from Ventimiglia Vineyard, one of the 3 wineries in the North Jersey area. We had looked at Cava’s website before heading there and were really excited about checking it out because everything looked really nice. I was really interested in their fruity wines.

The website was misleading. Some wineries will say they serve food on certain days or events, which usually includes snacks or a spread on a table. I didn’t realize that this place was a café or restaurant AND wine bar, which sounds nice, but it was confusing. Upon walking in, you could choose to do just a tasting at the bar straight ahead of you or sit at one of their many tables in the dining area on the right where you can order flights of wine and food. We happened to be hungry and were then feeling uncomfortable, so we decided to sit and order. If it wasn’t for a desire to experience it so I can tell you about it, I might have turned around to leave out of frustration. No one was tasting at the bar. Everyone was sitting at tables. It was a little awkward. This place should come with instructions.

Tom and I looked at the menu, which actually had a few interesting options. I ordered a Wine Country Panini with chicken, bacon, cheddar, apple, onion, arugula, apple butter and aioli. I actually really liked it. Tom ordered the Italian Panini, which was my suggestion. It came with the usual Italian stuff, prosciutto, sopresseta, provolone, sundried tomato aioli, arugula and balsamic glaze. Tom and I swapped halves for the full on sampling items effect. I wanted my half back. I thought mine was tastier. Oh yeah, and there were wines…

The Wines

So you order flights… There’s multiple flights to pick from that include 4 to 5 samplings. There’s a varying charge for each separate flight. Tom and I both selected flights and shared. When the flights came out, just before the food, they arrived on a tray that had a piece of paper laid across it. Under each glass, there was a circle on the paper that indicates which wine is placed on top of it.

Flight 5

Strawberry Riesling – I smelled strawberry as the glass approached my mouth. The taste of strawberry is light and the wine isn’t too sweet.

Kiwi Melon Pinot Grigio – Of course, this sounded really interesting to me, but it didn’t meet my expectations. I would have preferred a characteristic Pinot Grigio with a hint of kiwi. Instead, this one had a slight kick, was real sweet and gave off an aroma of kiwi.

Blackberry Merlot – You can smell and taste blackberry, but you don’t taste Merlot. It tasted like a good berry wine. I recommend having it chilled.

Raspberry White Zinfandel – Another disappointment, I tasted more fruit than wine, but I can say that about all the wines that I tried here.

Flight 7

Watermelon Blush – Yet another disappointment, this wine was candy sweet. It wasn’t overbearing in fruit taste like the others, but it wasn’t characteristic of a blush either.

Peach Chardonnay – Not what I was hoping for. I smelled peach as I sipped it. It tasted just like fruit.

Acai Raspberry Cabernet Sauvignon – This uncharacteristic wine was light and had a strong berry taste.

Red Sangria – Tom made a yuck face. I then made the same face. This wine again was uncharacteristic. It also had a surprising carbonation zing to it, while the fruit was overpowering.

If you like fruit, you’ll love these wines. If you don’t, maybe try some of their other wines. Actually, just order whichever wine is your favorite fruit and you might like it. This winery might be worth trying for an experiment, but don’t blame me if you don’t like it.

http://www.cavawinery.com/winesCava.htm

Wine responsibly.

Rating

1.5 Wine Glasses (Out of 5)

Ventimiglia Vineyard was part 2 of our 3 vineyard wine trail in Sussex County. It was about 25 minutes away from the other 2 wineries in the area. As we arrived, we drove up a gravel driveway and parked next to the building that housed the tasting room. On the outside the tasting room looked like a small house with light brown siding. The entrance to the tasting room is in the back of the building. In this area there are rows of vines and some picnic tables. We would have spent more time sitting at the picnic tables if they sold wine by the glass, but they are only able to sell wine by the bottle.

The Atmosphere

The tasting room seemed nice, neat, clean and new. There’s a small tasting bar on the left of the entrance. Just ahead of the entrance on the right there were snacks spread out on a table. We happened to arrive on their 4^th Anniversary and Ventimiglia was serving snacks to celebrate. The sommelier that helped us was a nice and cheerful family volunteer. I appreciated her enthusiasm in telling us about the wines and what they paired well with. I didn’t particularly like any of them, but Tom did. I tried making a note of the differences in the flavors, but nothing really stood out to me. Their whites tasted light, dry and a little more on the alcohol side, which could mean that they add less sugar to their wines. The sommelier said all the wines were made there and everything is aged except Buon Giorno

The Wines

Buon Giorno 2010 – This wine contains Cayuga grapes grown in New Jersey. I thought it tasted flat and light.

Chardonnay 2010 – This wine won the Silver Medal in the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and was 9 in the Princeton competition where 160 French and New Jersey wines were blind tasted.

Vidal 2010 – Oak aged and light, Tom liked this one most and he purchased a bottle of it. Tom’s taste usually leans towards crisp dry whites.

Wantage White – Just released, this white blend is also light like the other whites. The sommelier suggested it with crab legs.

Fratelli Ventimiglia 2009 – This wine is made of Sangiovese, Syrah, and Zinfandel, Grenache, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

Cabernet Franc 2009 – Made with all New Jersey grapes, this wine is a quality red. This dark Cabernet Franc won a Silver Medal in the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. The sommelier recommended it with shrimp

These wines didn’t fit my taste, but that doesn’t mean they won’t fit yours. Although the winery is young, the family has been making wine for many years. Their wines are sold at Gary’s Wine & Marketplace in Wayne, NJ.

www.ventivines.com

Wine responsibly.

Rating

One of my new favorite New Jersey wineries!

If you decide to go here, which I highly recommend you should, give yourself time. I think it took us almost 2 hours to get to Westfall Winery. We headed from Matawan straight up Route 206 to the northernmost part of NJ. It was a lovely drive. We had nowhere to be so we had the luxury of taking our time. The scenery was pretty. Mom and pop restaurants, farmers’ markets, antique stores, lakes and state parks are sprinkled along the road side. We even drove past a wild turkey crossing the road.

The Atmosphere

Westfall Winery is an actual farm. A walkway leads from the parking area to the tasting room on the right. This room is small, but the wines are big in flavor. Branched off the back left of the tasting room is another room and stables for horses. Off the barn, there’s a fenced in area for cows. In the back yard behind the barn and tasting room, there’s a pond off to the left with Weeping Willows along the back. To the right there’s a covered area with rows of picnic tables.

When we walked into the tasting room, it seemed full of people. The room had a historic appeal to it, seeming as though you stepped back in time. As we waited we looked at the bottles of wine and items along the walls. We didn’t wait long, because the sommelier kindly greeted us and explained how the tasting worked.

The Wines

2010 Pinot Grigio – Dry, refreshing, and light

Muscat – I really liked a lot of their wines, this being one of them.  Less sweet than the Riesling, this wine tasted like the beach to me. I don’t know how, it just did. It was fresh, light, smooth and delicious.

2011 Riesling – Another favorite, this wine smelled great! This was really good and had a surprising honeysuckle finish.

Peach Chardonnay – Another good wine, this one seemed more like a dessert wine to me. This was sweet, tasty and unique. Someone suggested having pretzels while sipping this one because it brings out the flavors.

2010 Old Vines Zinfandel – This red zinfandel had berry flavors and a spicy taste, a good combination.

2009 Rhone – This award winning wine is a blend of Shiraz, Mouvedre and Grenhache and presents a smooth dark taste with hints of berry flavors.

Skylands Blush – Another one of my favorites at Westfall Winery, this semi-sweet white wine is made with Concord and Cayuga grapes. If you like sweet wines like me, you would enjoy this one. It is certainly unique.

Spanish Passion – Another one of my favorites here, this is excellent sangria, it’s sweet, fruity and unique. As you sip this wine it presents an orange aroma that floats up into your mouth and up your nose. It’s refreshing and delicious. We brought a bottle of this home.

Blueberry Wine – Made with NJ blueberries, this wine provided a sweet blueberry taste.

Tom and I really enjoyed Westfall Winery. The sommelier was incredibly helpful and even got to know our individual tastes and made suggestions based on our likes. I’m really excited that they sell their wines on their website! If you buy more than 3 it’s free shipping. That won’t be a problem! My problem is I’m going to be spending a lot of money here.

I did a little more research and discovered that this property was purchased for Westfall Farm in 1774 and it survived the Revolution. Westfall Farm was also a stop on the Underground Railroad. This property was home to a successful dairy business and horse farm. Ingrid Bergman even visited Westfall Farm. The farm became a wine business in 2000. The current owners met at school in the Finger Lake region at Ithaca College. The owners share their love of wine and their love of each other. Westfall Winery is rich in history and wine flavors.

There’s something really special about this place. I can’t wait to buy some more wine from Westfall Winery!

http://www.westfallwinery.com/

Rating

5 Wine Glasses! (Out of 5)

Have I told you that we love Silver Decoy Winery? Tom and I discussed what to do on his birthday and he wanted to go to Silver Decoy. We’ve been here on my birthday too and the day before Christmas Eve. It’s become our special occasion place. Actually, the first time we went here was on Valentine’s Day a few years ago. I like going here on our own special occasions rather than holidays and events, because we like things a little quieter. They do handle big events really well and I’m glad that they have special events because that way more people become familiar with this wonderful place.

The Atmosphere

In my second post I described the atmosphere of Silver Decoy in more detail. You can read more details here. On this particular day, Russ was serving tasters at the bar. We love Russ, which we’ve said before. He has a great sense of humor, he’s friendly, and has unique character (in a good way). We’re glad he was there to help us. As we walked in I saw the table of glasses on the right. Knowing the deal, I grabbed two and we walked up to the bar. I endeavored to try wines I didn’t write about last time. There were a few different groups of people tasting at the bar, but still plenty of room for us all. As we approached the bar, Russ said, “Here, everyone has to start with some Traminette.” And he poured us a sample. “We bottled it today”, he said.  It was delicious. Oh, I’m jumping ahead. What I wanted to tell you about was what it was like this day.  Overall, it was quiet, but a steady flow of people kept coming in to the winery to taste and sit outside soaking up the sun, sitting with a glass of wine, and enjoying the natural views of rows of vines. The doors were open in the front and back of the tasting room, allowing for a comfortable natural breeze to blow through. Silver Decoy Winery was a perfect relaxing way to celebrate Tom’s birthday.

The Wines

Last time we visited, I wrote about the French Oaked Aged Chardonnay, Ugly Duckling White, Ugly Duckling Red, Sangiovese, and Sunrise Blush.  This time we started with…

Traminette 2011 – With some wines I have a good overall idea what the wine would taste like based on its usual characteristics. I wasn’t sure what to expect with Traminette. I’m glad that Russ offered us a taste before I even decided what I wanted to try. This wine was delicious and just bottled! I’m glad to have been one of the first to try it. I should have bought some bottles of this, but financially, we’re limited on how many bottles we could buy. Everyone that was visiting bought bottles of Traminette. I think this will be one of their more popular wines this year. It was light, sweet, but not too sweet. I really got the hint of apricot. I had a glass when we finished tasting. This was delicious and I want more!!!

Riesling – Their Riesling is good too. I debated about also getting a glass of this. It was light and I could taste the hint of pear and apple.

Merlot 2009 – It has a deep, rich smell, and tastes smooth, a perfect Merlot. Tom said it’s just as good as any big name you would find in the store.

Ugly Duckling Red – One of our favorites!  I know I wrote about it before, but it’s so good I have to write about it again. Ugly Duckling Red has sweetness to it, but not in the way of sugar added, just natural fruit sweetness. It also offers spiciness. Overall, it’s the perfectly balanced wine in every regard. We bought 2 bottles of this to take home. Drinking this while I’m writing, I’m trying to break its perfection down a little more. You taste the mild sweetness on the tongue and experience the peppery quality on the finish as it goes down your throat. Perfection served chilled.

Note: We didn’t try the Blueberry, but it was being bottling this weekend. If you will be going here soon, be sure to try this one.

Tom and I are always comparing Chardonnays. Many places provide a steel barrel fermented chardonnay and an oak aged chardonnay. Traditionally, the steel brings out the fruit flavors more and the barrel provides a buttery quality. We usually try both to determine which we prefer.

Stainless Chardonnay 2011 – Provided a clean, fresh fruity taste.

Barrel Chardonnay 2010 – This Chardonnay was part of their premium selection. 4 wines have been grouped into their Premium taste selection. It’s only $3 to taste 4. Tom preferred this Chardonnay. He liked the buttery quality and he said he tasted the alcohol more.  I’m not sure which I preferred. I think I’d need a glass of both to be certain. I will try them again next time. Tom ended up having a glass of this one.

Other Premium Wines

Sangiovese 2010 – This is one of their best wines, worth writing about again. It’s a Chianti style wine with a hint of cherry. I thought it came across a little spicy and smooth. It’s good. Red drinkers will like this. Tom said this would make good sangria. Challenge accepted.

Syrah – Is a rich wine. It tasted dark and peppery. Another that I think red drinkers would enjoy.

Retriever – A red drinkers red. Retriever is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot. If you like red, this would probably be your wine. Rich taste in the mouth and rich and bitter on the finish. It’s a quality wine.

With other NJ wineries, there are usually 1 or 2 bottles that are good or really good. At Silver Decoy, just about each wine is really good. They really got it down and could rival France and California. If I had to put a winery, out of all the east coast wineries that I’ve been to, in an International contest, it would be this one.

Tom says that one of the best things about Silver Decoy is that there’s something for everyone. The quality and taste of their wines is perfect for each type of wine drinker.  If you haven’t been to Silver Decoy Winery yet, I strongly encourage you to do so.  It’s a really enjoyable experience. The staff is really nice and the establishment is lovely and relaxing. It’s comfortable and the guys there also make you feel that way. Bring friends; bring family, even the dog, or a baby in a stroller. There is something for everyone and I think everyone will like it.

www.silverdecoywinery.com

Rating

5 Wine Glasses! (Out of 5)

Turdo Vineyards is named after the owner’s family. The whole family is involved in the winery operation. The Turdo’s are actually from North Jersey and have been traveling down to the Cape May winery on the weekends for the past 10 years. How’s that for dedication! Adding to the family feel, when you arrive at Turdo, it appears as if you’re pulling up to a house. Don’t let this deceive you because the tasting room has plenty to offer. There’s a house on the right and a long wide driveway on the left. In the past, this has been used as a parking area. Just past the driveway is the tasting building. To the right of the tasting room is a lovely patio with small mosaic –like tables and chairs. To the right of the patio is a large yard. Behind the yard are rows and rows of grapes. The décor around the patio and the yard make you feel comfortable and relaxed. With the décor and Italian themed music playing it feels like you’ve escaped to Tuscany. Never having been to a vineyard in Italy, I imagine that it would be similar to Turdo Vineyards. The Turdo’s picked this location to be close to family and because the Cape May climate is ideal for growing vinifera grapes.

The tasting room has been recently renovated. It seems that this change was to accommodate more guests at the bar. The bar has been extended to wrap around the far wall in an L shape. The previous layout had a shorter bar and tables throughout the room. The new bar doesn’t include tables and it seems to allow for more people to fit more comfortably in the room. As we tasted at the far left end of the bar, we were joined by the family dog, who laid down near us.

The Wines

White Wines

2010 Sauvignon Blanc – This wine hashigh acidity, long finish, and light feel.

2011 Rosato – This Mediterranean style dry rose is made from Merlot grapes. You taste berries on the tongue and it presents a bitter finish. It’s like a strawberry zinfandel.

Red Wines

2011 Barbera – Tom liked it and said that it would pair well with chocolate. Now that I’m reading this wine’s description, I think I should have tried it. It’s described as coming from the Piemonte region of Italy. It has lots of red fruit flavors like cherry and raspberry. I will definitely have to try this next time, because it sounds so appealing.

2008 Rubino Port Wine – Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grappa and aged in French Oak, this wine delivered more sweetness rather than the taste of alcohol. With hints of black cherry this port was very good!

DiLuca Wines

These wines in my opinion were the best.

BIANCO-Albarino – Presenting vibrant pear and apple aromas, this crisp, clean wine goes down easy with a hint of alcohol.

BIANCO-Pinot Grigio – This is a nice summer wine that would be appropriate for a night out on a balcony. It’s sweet with refreshing crispness. It’s smooth, citrusy, untraditional and delightful. The residual sugar is well balanced with acidity.

After tasting the wines, we bought a bottle of Pinot Grigio and sat on the patio. We were also handed some crackers to take with us outside. Tom, Carol, and I sat around a small table and sipped our wine, taking in the beauty of Turdo Vineyards and the serenity of the surrounding nature. We sat outside with other people also enjoying their wines. As we were relaxing, Mr. Turdo was greeting guests and pouring them some Grappa. He didn’t make it over to use because he became engaged in conversation with visitors, but I still appreciated his kind and friendly gestures to his company.

www.turdovineyards.com

Wine responsibly.

Rating

4.5 Wine Glasses (Out of 5)