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My wife and I had a chance to meet up with a couple of friends at Sharrott Winery a few days ago. Sharrott is located in Hammonton. Sharrott Winery opened their doors to the public in 2008. Since that time, they have done much to expand and improve their tasting room and added a terrific kitchen, while continuing to produce consistently good wines and offering good live entertainment. On Thursday, thunderstorms were predicted. We had reserved a table for four on the covered patio. I love that the remote control side coverings can be raised or lowered, based upon the weather conditions. This came in handy, with the windy and threatening weather. We lucked out. Other than using various objects as paperweights, we had a very enjoyable lunch with some good wines. My wife and I chose to start by doing a red flight and a white flight and added a few items from the kitchen.
The Food
We selected an order of guacamole and chips to start and enjoy with our tastings. When we finished this my wife ordered a salad and I decided to try something different on the menu-Roasted Lamb Lollipops, with whipped feta cheese, balsamic dressing, and herb salad. We usually go for their Truffled Mushroom Flatbread. I only have a photo of the Roasted Lamb Lollipops (below).
The Wine
White Flight
- Pinot Grigio-This wine has consistently been one of our favorite white wines here, and one of the better produced versions in the state.
- Vidal Blanc-Typically Vidal Blanc has not been one of my favorite wines, but this one was definitely above average. It offered a nice fragrance with citrus on the palate and a refreshing finish.
- Unoaked Chardonnay-This Chardonnay was fermented in stainless steel tanks. Not bad, though we were disappointed that they did not have the Barrel Fermented Chardonnay (a perennial favorite of ours here).
Red Flight
- Chambourcin-Medium-bodied with classic cherry notes on the palate.
- Tango-A very nice fruit forward red blend with a velvety-smooth finish. A perennial favorite here.
- Cabernet Sauvignon-Medium+ bodied with robust flavors of dark fruit.
Once the heartier fare was delivered we added two bottles to enjoy at the table (and take home afterwards)-A bottle of their Pinot Grigio and a bottle of their Tango. These wines are described above and pictured at the top of the post.
Our Takeaways
Besides the unfinished wines from our table, we decided to take home a couple of bottles of their Just Peachy Sangria (pictured below). While my wife and I are primarily dry wine lovers, this wine is great with a slice of Jersey peach and a sprig of mint in the summer.
My NJ Wine of the Week
This week I chose a 2017 Merlot from Autumn Lake Winery. I didn’t realize I had this bottle, but once I found it in my cellar, I dusted it off and was eager to open it. While my wine cellar is admittedly unconventional, it is dark and the temperature never exceeds the 60-65 degree range. I was very happy with my find. It turns out this year’s vintage came from the first year they were open to the public. The wine is medium-bodied with a robust flavors of black cherries and a hint of vanilla. It went very well with our grilled pork loin. A lucky find!
Coming Attractions
- Balic Winery June 2024
- Vino & Vibes 2024
- Virginia Wineries Revisited – Not NJ. I know, but we used to love visiting the Charlottesville area wineries when visiting our son, who got his PhD at UVA over a five year period, about two decades ago. We loved the area and the wines. It’s time for a revisit.
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