Though the weather was not very promising on Friday, I was eager to be a part of this Grand Opening. My wife and I were actually the first official patrons to enter the newly opened facilities. We arrived at 1:00 for our reservation and were able to choose our table in the shade of their long patio alongside the tasting room. There were numerous tables arranged around the grounds, each with colorful umbrellas to protect from the sun and perhaps even a spritz of rain, should that threat come to pass. The gorgeous views of the vineyards helped us forget that the current COVID-19 regs do not permit you to taste your wine or enjoy your wine in their fabulous new tasting room.
We reserved a large charcuterie plate with our reserved table. It was very good, with several different cheeses, meats, dried fruits and nuts. See the photo below.
As for the wine, my game plan was to use the flights to taste wines that I hadn’t tried yet and take home my favorites. I ordered a flight of three dry whites and a flight of three dry reds. Respectively these consisted of the following: (See photo below)
- Chardonnay-A good Chardonnay with nice acidity; not quite as lush or creamy as the oaked version.
- French Oaked Chardonnay-Subtle oak, lots of fruit and acidity and a lush creamy mouthfeel.
- Traminette-The only grape that is not estate grown. They source it from a relative who grows grapes in Hopewell. This is a terrific Traminette with the hallmark flowery nose and hint of sweetness and tea.
- Blaufrankisch-Already one of my favorites in the state; full-bodied, will make a classic pairing with a barbecued steak.
- French Oaked Chamboucin-Classic cherry notes; well-balanced with medium to full body.
- Freedom Wine-A red blend utilizing grapes known only to the owners. A dry red, with a bit less body than the previous two.
I’m not sure I have seen another winery offering so many choices of an oaked and unoaked version of wines. I love this, given how much oak changes the taste. More about that phenomenon in a future post.
My wife and I were enjoying the view and still had a little more cheese left so I opted for a bottle of the Cab Franc Rose to open and enjoy a glass before we departed. I was also offered a bit of their other Rose (Zanella Rose). While I enjoyed them both, my wife and I both enjoyed the Cab Franc Rose a little more. It did not have as strong a fragrance, but was very dry and crisp and possessed a beautiful color (a pale, almost orange hue). There are lots of great choices here.
Happy with our choices, we added a bottle of Blaufrankisch, French Oaked Chardonnay and Traminette to enjoy at home. I must say, I may have found a new favorite red here. Their Godfather’s Blend and Trinity Blend had been my previous favorites. I will definitely revisit both of them, but the Blaufrankisch really wowed me and the Traminette was one of the best I have tasted. There are not many wines with a more pleasing aroma on a summer day.
This winery is definitely a family business. Their well-deserved pride evident, coming from hard work and a job well done. I am quite sure Terra Nonno will be a big success for many years to come. How cool that my wife and I were their first official patrons! You need to check out this winery.
Cheers!
Be sure to pick up a copy of New Jersey Uncorked: A Snob-Free Taste of NJ Wine at store.bookbaby.com/book/New-Jersey-Uncorked Use the coupon Summer20 to get $6 off…or order your ebook at Apple’s iBook app and get for $9.99 using the same coupon code.
Coming Attractions
- NJ Uncorked & Unplugged
- Oak and Wine
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