Blue Cork Winery Opening

I was one of the lucky patrons to be there for Blue Cork Winery & Vineyard’s “Soft Opening” on Wednesday, May 1. I am happy to share that we have another beautiful winery in Williamstown, NJ. My wife and I had met the owners, Angelo and Michelle Tantaros about two years ago. At that time, Angelo told us of his plans for the vineyard and three structures, including a fermentation and barrel storage room, a tasting room and a banquet room. We had the great timing to witness the beginning of the construction of the first building as we were concluding our visit. Even then we could envision what the Tantaros family had in store for their future patrons.

Attending the Blue Cork Winery Opening on Wednesday we could see that the Tantaros family had indeed accomplished what they set out to do: Start with a beautiful site for their vineyard which would produce fine grapes to make great wine. As you will see in the pictures, they have a beautiful winery. Though we only got to taste five of their wines (see below), their red wines and a few others will be on the tasting menu over the summer.

Blue Cork Winery Opening tasting menu:

• Sauvignon Blanc 2018-A dry, crisp wine with the subtle taste of pineapple; very good and priced at $21.99 per bottle.
• Chardonnay 2018 (Unoaked)-Notes of apple in this food-friendly wine with good acidity. Priced at $18.99 per bottle.
• Chardonnay (Oaked) 2017-A fine balance of fruit, acidity and vanilla; priced at $21.99 per bottle.
• Cabernet Franc Rose 2018-This must be the best year for NJ Rose. This was another winner; dry, but delicious taste of strawberry. A little darker color than some, but still quite pleasing to the eye and taste buds. Pictured and enjoyed above in their barrel room. * $18.99 per bottle
• Blue Cork White Blend 2018-An off-dry wine tasting surprisingly more dry than off-dry, given the grapes utilized-Traminette and Cayuga. It is $14.00 per bottle.

*The glasses pictured above are for those who choose not to keep the glass with your tasting-$8 for tasting five wines. If you choose to keep the glass, they have an attractive blue printing on the Blue Cork name. I also like the use of blue corks for their wines.

My favorite wines in the tasting (and my wife’s favorites, as well) were the Sauvignon Blanc and the Cabernet Franc Rose. We purchased both, enjoying a glass of the Rose at the winery, with pleasant thoughts of the good use we’d make of what we took home with us.

The following wines are listed as “Coming Soon”: Blue Cork Blush, Apple Wine, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Williamstown Reserve, Blue Cork Red, Blue Cork Ruby Choice and Blue Cork Branco Choice. I look forward to these releases, especially the Reds!

I must say, if the wines we sampled are a harbinger of the reds and others to follow, we have another winner in South Jersey. I have to pinch myself that a couple of miles from my home I can now visit two wonderful wineries and two breweries in Williamstown, NJ.

Speaking of wonderful Williamstown wineries, I will be selling and signing my book, New Jersey Uncorked: A Snob-Free Taste of NJ Wine at Autumn Lake Winery’s Bloom Festival on Saturday, May 18 from 12-2. 

Can’t make it to Autumn Lake on 5/18? You can visit on the second day of their festival, May 19, and you can purchase my book at store.bookbaby.com/book/New-Jersey-Uncorked. Use the coupon code MAY2019 and save $5 off the paperback (not valid at Amazon). Use the same code (MAY2019) to receive $2 off the e-book only on the Apple iBook App. 

Cheers!

Coming Attractions

• Highlights from the Down and Derby Wine Festival
• Autumn Lake Bloom Festival
• Winemakers Co-Op Portfolio Tasting at Hawk Haven

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