So...with apologies to the winemakers of New Jersey, I am late as always, to New Jersey Wine Week, which by all counts was a very successful campaign. Devon Perry, the new director of the Garden State Winegrowers Association has had a great first year.
Lots of media buzz last week for the wines of the Garden State complete with photos from Drumthwacket, the Governor's Home of New Jersey. All great stuff. “I am proud to recognize and celebrate the winners of the Governor’s Cup and New Jersey’s thriving wine industry,” said Governor Murphy. “Our wineries help to keep the Garden State’s agricultural heritage alive, allowing it to flourish into the future. New Jersey wineries have not only displayed their talent, but have proved their resiliency throughout the pandemic and I look forward to their continued success.”
“I would like to wish this year’s winners of the New Jersey Governor’s Cup a huge congratulations on this outstanding achievement,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “Phil and I are big supporters of New Jersey grown products and are proud to boast about and serve Garden State wines at events held at Drumthwacket. We look forward to sharing these prized additions very soon!”
GSWGA Marketing Chair Lou Caracciolo noted the event celebrates a growing industry in the state. “In the 10 year anniversary of the Judgment of Princeton, once again New Jersey wine makers have shown beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are moving to the front of world class wines.”
I am a very lucky man. I've been able to make wine professionally in the Hudson Valley, in New Jersey, and even in Pennsylvania. And I have to say, I was most impressed with my experience in New Jersey. It's an incredible place to make wine. And there are some very special wines coming out of the Garden State.
There are solid writers and solid winemakers making and promoting these wines. And there are wines for every part of your meal. Crisp whites. Delicious Reds. Juicy Rose's. Sparkling bubblies. Lip-smacking dessert wines. These are quality wines, that would have a home in any wine region.
I want to be clear. Some of these wines won medals, The Heritage BDX, the Auburn Road Chardonnay, the Whiye Horse Vidal Blanc, the Tomasello Ice Wine... But many of them are my own choices as well. And in all honesty, I chose several wines from Unionville Vineyards, where I was interim winemaker. I made many of those wines, but Unionville has been a leader in quality wine in New Jersey since before I owned my own winery.
That said, I have a lot of friends in New Jersey winemaking...a lot for good men and women are working so hard to bring out quality wines. Here's just a few of them perfect for the holidays! Enjoy!.
Whites
White Horse Vidal Blanc 2021
Cape May Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2021
Bellview Vineyards Pinot Grigio 2020
Alba Vineyards GTR Field White
Working Dog Traminette 2021
Auburn Road Barrel Reserve Chardonnay 2020
Rose’
Alba Chelsea Dry Rose 2021
Hawk Haven Signature Series Dry Rose 2021
White Horse Estate Reserve Rose’ 2020
Unionville Hunterdon Mistral Rose’ 2021
Reds
Alba Estate Pinot Noir 2021
Beneduce Blaufrankisch 2019
Unionville Silver Lining Cabernet Franc 2021
William Heritage BDX 2019
Working Dog Cabernet Franc 2020
Working Dog Syrah 2019
Tomasello Palmaris Petit Verdot 2015
Turdo Vineyards Turis Nero D’Avola
Turdo Vineyards Turis Barbera
Sharott Winery Chambourcin
Bellview Blaufrankisch 2017
Coda Rossa Cour D’est
Hopewell Valley Barbera
Cedar Rose Blaufrankisch
Cedar Rose Chambourcin Reserve 2020
Sparkling
Beneduce Chambeusco 2021
Unionville Pet Nat Rose 2021
William Heritage Blanc de Blanc
Hawk Haven Albariño Pet Nat 2021
Tomasello Sparkling Rkatsetelli
Bellview Winery Pet Nat
Dessert Wines
Cape May Isaac Smith Vintage Red Port 2012
Hopewell Valley Dolce Vita
Tomasello Epilogue Riesling Ice Wine
Unionville Vintage Port Vat 27
(special thanks to Lenn Thompson of the Cork Report for photo of White Horse photo;
also to Garden State Winegrowers and @jessicahendrixphoto)
"[T]his is indeed The Ultimate Guide to Breweries, Distilleries, and Wineries in the Northeast. I
traveled through Connecticut, Rhode Island, Long Island, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, sipping from micro artisanal producers who forage for their ingredients, and established regional icons who helped put farm-to-glass on the map on the East Coast....The book is a great jumping off point if you want to know where to go get the best hand- crafted booze in the Northeast, but also if you’re a history geek (guilty as charged over here) who wants to know how distilling, brewing and winemaking has evolved in every state for the past, oh, 300 years or so."
- Kathleen Wilcox, review of Drink the Northeast
And of course, you can find all these and more in DRINK THE NORTHEAST which makes a perfect holiday present for those who who like local libations....or actually anyone who like quality, locally made wines, beers, spirits, or ciders. Available through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and independent book stores across the northeast and elsewhere. Cider Mill Press Book Publishers, Kennebunkport, ME.
BIO
Carlo DeVito is a long time wine lover, and author of books and magazine articles. He is the author of Wineries of the East Coast. He has traveled to wine regions in California, Canada, up and down the east coast, France, Spain and Chile. He was also a publisher at Running Press Book Publishers, where he published books from Wine Spectator, as well as books with Greg Moore (of Moore Bros.), Matt Kramer, Howard Goldberg, and many other wine writers. He is currently VP, Editorial Director of Sterling Epicure where his authors also include Kevin Zraly, Oz Clarke, Tom Stevenson, Terry Walters, The Fabulous Beekman Boys, and the Edible Communities cookbook program.
Mr. DeVito has also been the editor of many successful traditional trade books, including Strange Fruit by David Margolick, On the Shoulders of Giants by Stephen Hawking, and three titles by Malachy McCourt. Other authors include John and Mary Gribbin, Thomas Hoving, Philip Caputo, E. O. Wilson, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., John Edgar Wideman, Stanley Crouch, Dan Rather, Dee Brown, Susie Bright, and Eleanor Clift.