NJ Wine Odds & Ends

Here are a few things that my often rambling, quasi-ADHD mind has been mulling over, in no particular order:

I was introduced to Norton while visiting our son, who was pursuing his PhD at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville about 15 years ago. It is no coincidence that I came upon Norton in Virginia. That is where it had its beginnings-from the vineyard and lab of Dr. Norton in Richmond, Virginia. The grape is named after Dr. Norton. I had the opportunity to enjoy Norton at many of the Wineries in the Charlottesville area. What beautiful countryside! It is easy to understand why Thomas Jefferson fell in love with the area. He also spoke of the Norton grape quite favorably (for one whose preference for expensive European wines is well-known). Norton is also the official grape of the state of Missouri. Obviously its appeal has spread over the years.

In New Jersey I recently tasted and purchased a bottle of Norton at Laurita Winery (pictured above). This is a delicious wine (somewhat lighter in color and body than some I have had). One of my favorite New Jersey Norton wines is Cedar Rose’s Norton, which is a dark, full-bodied version. Valenzano Winery also makes a pretty good estate version that they call Cynthiana.

Why is Norton popping into my head? I recently began reading The Wild Vine: A Forgotten Grape and the Untold Story of American Wine by Todd Kliman. The book is about the Norton grape (also known as Cynthiana). The grape and the wine have a fascinating history. It is available via Amazon as an e-book or paperback. Even if you’re not into wine, (Are there people like that?) you may find the reading interesting.

Speaking of wine books…I also recently discovered a book called What Variety Is That? by Darby Higgs. It’s a great compact compendium of the most important grape varietals in the world. But no mention of Norton! Higby gives you the lowdown on each, complete with a pronunciation guide, tasting notes, countries which grow the varietals, etc. It is great for wine newbies and for those who want a quick snapshot about a varietal that might not be on your radar. The paperback and e-book are available at Amazon. Check it out!

Another wine book that I thoroughly enjoyed was Jason Wilson’s Godforsaken Grapes. Willson is on a mission to highlight the value, importance and wonder of lesser-known grapes used in winemaking (though some are in danger of becoming extinct). His writing style is guided by an obvious passion and shaped by a good sense of humor. You can purchase the hardback, paperback or e-book at Amazon.

Speaking of wine writing, I want to recognize a couple of bloggers and writers. First, Robin Shreeves, who writes for the Courier-Post, recently wrote an interesting and important post about New Jersey wines at Vine Pair. Here is a link to that article: vinepair.com (“With Critically Lauded Bottles, New Jersey Wine is Coming Into Its Own”).

I also want to thank Walter Holman at Winester Review, a blog centered in Barcelona Spain, but dealing with wines from around the world and highlighting wine blogs each week. A few weeks ago, Walter was kind enough to highlight my blog and say some nice things about it. The Winester Review is definitely worth checking out. You can find it here: winester.org.

Still need a copy of New Jersey Uncorked? You’re in luck. Bookbaby (paperbacks) and Apple (e-books) are starting a March Madness sale starting today and ending on March 31, with the biggest saving yet. Use the coupon code: MarchMadness to get $5 off the paperback here: store.bookbaby.com/book/New-Jersey-Uncorked

or $2 off the e-book (using the Apple iBook app).

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