Villa Milagro Vineyards

It’s a great Sunday afternoon drive from southern New Jersey to the town of Finesville. Your road twists and turns and (depending on your GPS or mood) weaves an interesting path from Jersey to Bucks County, Pennsylvania and back to New Jersey again. Villa Milago is nestled neatly behind the main road and it too twists and turns at a higher altitude across a gravel road. A sign cleverly suggests that you don’t exceed five miles per hour and “Your car will thank you.” The tasting room is a fairly new barn, with a country and Hispanic flair: the interior walls are festooned with colorful sombreros. Driving is not the only way to arrive, as there is a train stop via the Wine Trail.

As the winery is located along the Delaware River, the views from their property inspired the Gambinos to name their Vineyard, Villa Milagro, which means, “House of Miracles.” The view from their backyard to the vineyards and beyond is quite lovely.

All of Villa Milagro’s wines (except the Merlot) are made from their estate-grown grapes. They make the following white wines: Luz del Sol (a dry white blend with Chardonnay as its base); Delicado (a light, off-dry white); and a Blush they call Rosita. Their red wines include Sabrosa (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and other reds); Steam Engine Red (a blend with Cabernet Sauvignon as its base); Fuego (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc and other reds); and Casi Dulce (a base blend of Cabernet with a little residual sugar). The Sabrosa and Steam Engine Red which I sampled are not currently on the menu, but may return. They also make a Mead (Mi Carino) and a Peachy Sangria.

Best bets here are their Luz Del Sol and Sabrosa. I was disappointed that their Mi Carino was not available when I visited. Villa Milagro offers many interesting special events such as cocktail parties (utilizing combinations of their wines and other ingredients) and Dine in the Vines (dinner served between rows of their vines, with a heavenly view).

Typically, Villa Milagro offers about six wines to taste for a $5 tasting fee and you get to keep the tasting glass (Steve says he hates washing them so it saves him from this chore). The winter hours for tastings and sales are from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Check their website for up-to-date information.

Tried a New Jersey wine lately? Visited a NJ winery recently? Share your experience here. Enjoy what you see here? Consider subscribing. Next week, a South Jersey winery will be highlighted. Coming soon – my review of Vertical (Rex Pickett’s sequel to his uproarious novel, Sideways).