Cedar Rose Vineyards is the newest winery to open in New Jersey. They join the growing preponderance of South Jersey wineries. Their address is 431 Kenyon Avenue, Millville, NJ 08332 (for those of you depending on your GPS).
When I last visited Cedar Rose Vineyards they were a promising vineyard, hoping to be opening soon. In the interim they have been attending many of the state’s festivals, including the Cape May Wine and Music Festival at Hawk Haven Vineyard (written about here) and The Great Adventures Festival last weekend. While the second floor is not yet completed, as the pictures in this post show, the tasting room is beautiful already and open for business. They are planning at least one live music event every weekend, with fire pits ready to be positioned nearby. Their covered patio (which extends along the front of their facility and wraps around part of the side of the building) adds attractive space for these live events or other popular events like wine trail weekends.
We were greeted by Dustin Tarpine (co-owner and manager). Dustin’s wife, Katie, is now assisting Dustin by serving at the tasting room, along side of him, where Dustin is when he is not otherwise engaged (with winemaking, caring for the vines, etc.). My wife and I visited on the first night that Cedar Rose was open to the public with regular hours (no longer limited to visits and tastings by appointment). There were about a dozen or so patrons enjoying the “Happ(ier) Hour”. This clever adaptation of the traditional Happy Hour, offers $1 off a glass of wine and $2 off a bottle of wine (the offer depends on the cost of the glass or bottle). The tasting is $10 for a taste of eight wines (13 are currently on the menu) and you can keep your glass (an attractively etched glass with three roses, as in their logo).
My tastings (including generous sips from my wife’s tasting) included Quartz Edition #1; 2017 Chardonnay (a very good unoaked version); 2016 Traminette; Silica (white blend, named for the soil); 2017 Chambourcin Rose; Cabernet Franc Rose; Kindling Edition 1 (red blend); 2015 Chambourcin Reserve; 2015 Samara (red blend); Cabernet Franc; Blaufrankisch; Thundergust; and Norton. I did not get to taste their two sweet wines (Sandpiper and Driftwood), as I wanted to focus on the dry wines and enjoy a glass of wine after the tasting.
Highlights from this tasting included the following wines:
- Quartz Edition #1 – a dry white blend made from several grapes, with Cayuga representing about 50% of the blend). My wife and I enjoyed this refreshing, crisp wine enough to bring home a bottle ($16 before the discount)
- 2017 Chardonnay – A very nice unoaked version; more full-bodied than many of the “Naked Chards” I’ve had recently; definitely a food-friendly Chardonnay
- 2016 Traminette – A classic, but unique “off-dry” white wine that you should try, especially if you haven’t tasted one before.
- Silica (not on the menu, but I was able to try – This white blend, was an interesting addition
- 2017 Chambourcin Rose – A darker and fuller bodied version
- Cabernet Franc Rose – A pale (almost white Rose), looking and tasting like a French Provence Rose, with delectable acidity
- Cabernet Franc – A very smooth, delicious version, somewhat lighter in body and color than some, but definitely not lacking in fruit, taste or structure
- Blaufrankisch – a tasty red with a little spice (says barbecue to me)
- Norton – AKA Cynthiana, a full-bodied red, bursting with fruit, but with a great dry finish
- Thundergust – Perhaps the most interesting and definitely my favorite in the tasting; a wonderful full-bodied blend of Cab Sauvignon (1/3); Cabernet Franc (1/3); and Chambourcin (1/3).
Cedar Rose is making some very interesting blends (both white and red). It is amazing that they have such a deep bench of really good wines so early in their development. Dustin shared that they could easily offer several more “stand alone” varieties, but instead of complicating the menu, the blending allows for some creativity, while utilizing some of their varieties that are limited in quantity.
After trying one of their smaller production wines (Norton) I decided to enjoy a glass of it while my wife enjoyed a glass of their Blaufrankisch. If we had more space in the cellar (and more money in my pocket, I would have taken a bottle of both of these home, in addition to the Quartz Edition #1 and the Thundergust. Truthfully, there were no “duds” in this diverse menu of wines.
Cheers to the Newest NJ Winery! We’ll be back soon!
Coming Attractions
- Old York Cellars Members Only Event
Christmas is right around the corner! Looking for a gift for a wine-loving relative or friend (or yourself)? Look no further. You can get your copy of my book, New Jersey Uncorked in a number of ways: Via the original source (BookBaby)for $25.99 here:
store.bookbaby.com/book/New-Jersey-Uncorked
Be sure to use the coupon code Holidays18 and save $3.00! Only good at BookBaby. Or…
Amazon.com or…
Get it instantly for only $12.99!! Purchase the ebook via the Apple Books App. Good on any iOS system (Mac, iPad, iPhone)!
Finally, you can also pick up a signed copy on 11/28/18 at 7 PM at the Margaret E. Heggan Free Library in Sewell, NJ. I’ll be giving a brief talk highlighting the wines and wineries in the state and to discuss my book. The address is 606 Delsea Drive, Sewell, NJ 08080.
Stay tuned for some other book signing events in the near future. Check this blog or my twitter account @dk_mullen or my Instagram account (mullendk). I am also inquiring to see if a few local wineries would be willing to sell my book. So far a couple of them have agreed. Ask your favorite winery if they are (or will be) carrying New Jersey Uncorked.
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