Happy New Year! 2022 had its challenges (medically and plumbing fiascos). However, I have some wonderful memories from 2022. As usual, wine played an important role in those memories. In addition to revisiting my favorite wineries, I also got to visit a couple of new wineries (as well as breweries, distilleries, and even a meadery). Two of my favorite memories involved visiting two of New Jersey’s newest wineries: Stokelan Estate Winery and Angelico Winery.
Stokelan Estate Winery (Pictured Above)
Stokelan Estate Winery is located in Medford. My wife and I visited back in July. If you have not visited this beautiful winery, you need to do so. But it is more than just the beautiful building and lovely interior. The wine is very good. While most of their wines are presently sourced from grapes from outside of New Jersey, their vineyard is still very young and they will be making more of their estate grown wine in the near future. You can read more about Stokelan Estate Winery from my post in July here: https://wp.me/p74VSa-dpJ
Angelico Winery
Angelico Winery is located in Lambertville. My wife and I visited this new winery in September. I look forward to visiting again in the spring. My favorites here were their Gruner Veltliner (estate grown), Dry Rose; and 2019 Syrah.
You can read more about our visit here: https://wp.me/p74VSa-dsR
On the Road (Parts 1 and 2)
On the first leg of our trip north we visited Spuntino’s Wine Bar and Melovino Meadery. Spuntino’s Wine Bar does not serve New Jersey wine, but it is a NJ wine bar and they serve some of the best wines in the world in themed flights that they continually change, along with delicious food, with an Italian tapas flair. If you’re in the Clifton area, you really need to check it out.
Melovino Meadery was hard to find, but worth the search. Located in Vauxhall, it is a small space, but they make some of the best award-winning meads around.
We made reservations in advance to do a full tasting and enjoy a delicious charcuterie board at Beneduce Vineyards (in Pittstown). It had been awhile, so we wanted to spend some time there. The wine and charcuterie were fantastic. Our stops at Unionville Vineyards and Old York Cellars (both in Ringoes) were, by necessity, short and focused on purchasing my favorites from these two wonderful wineries.
We managed to squeeze in a great dinner at Dockside Market and Grill (a great BYOB) in Flemington. Another great road trip!
You can read more about these two days of adventure here:
Our Cape May Anniversary
I always consider our anniversaries as very special days. Our 48th anniversary was no exception. We stayed for two days in Cape May, at the Wilbraham Mansion. We enjoyed great food at Tisha’s, The Rooftop at Harry’s, and Viggiano’s at Sunset. Of course there was wine. We celebrated with wines like Beneduce Vineyards Mangione. Hawk Haven Vineyards 2019 Q, and Unionville Vineyards Hunterdon 2019 Mistral Blanc.
You can read more about our anniversary celebration at the link here: https://wp.me/p74VSa-dr7
Want Something That Santa Forgot?
You can still download the ebook version of my book: New Jersey Uncorked: A Snob-Free Taste of NJ Wine at the Apple iBook app. Use the coupon code Winter2022, and get it for only $7.99 ($5 off)!
Coming Attractions
- NJ Wine Bargains
- More Featured NJ Wines of the Week
Tried a New Jersey wine lately? Visited a NJ winery recently? Please share your experience here in the Comment Section below. Like what you read and see here? It couldn’t be easier to scroll down, hit the “Subscribe” button below, and get your weekly pour of NJ wine right in your inbox. No spills. No mess.
Lori says
Dracaena Wines used to be in Sputinos!
David K Mullen says
Lori, That is very cool. Spuntino’s is a great wine bar.