On Thursday, my wife and I decided to visit Cedar Rose Vineyards in Millville. We were lucky to arrive at a good time. We were able to sit in our favorite seats-upstairs, overlooking the vineyards and it was happy hour (from 3:00-5:00). There were new vintages to taste and a couple of new offerings that I did not recall from previous visits. We also were a bit hungry, as we just snacked around lunchtime. Luckily, Cedar Rose has one of the more extensive kitchen offerings, from apps to entrees and desserts. While we were debating what to eat, we ordered two flights.
The Vineyard/Winery
This winery opened its doors in 2018, with its first plantings in 2011. My wife and I were able to visit there before their official opening. We spent some time with Dustin Tarpine, who gave us a tour of the unfinished tasting room and shared his vision of what it would look like. Visiting on Thursday, our impression is that it surely has met all of his expectations, as it exceeded ours. Today, the tasting room has indoor (upstairs and downstairs) and outdoor seating-all in a beautiful setting.Their grapes are all New Jersey grown, with over 95% of them estate grown. They have a large and diverse wine menu and one of the more extensive food menus in the winery business.
The Red Zone
- Kindling #4-A very good red blend of Cab Franc, Regent, Blaufrankisch, and Norton.
- 2021 Cabernet Franc-A smooth version with notes of dark fruit and vanilla.
- 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon– Tasty notes of dried red cherries, and smooth tannins.
- 2019 Thundergust-A wonderful red blend of Cab, Cab Franc, and Chambourcin.
- 2021 Regent-A dark, full-bodied red hybrid with bold dark fruit and potent tannins. Good now, but may improve with age. The Regent grape is an early ripening grape. Dustin shared that they harvested their Regent back in August!
Welcome Wagon
- 2022 Chardonnay-A very good, lightly oaked version with notes of lemon and green apple.
- 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon-See above.
- 2019 Thundergust– See above.
- Whitetail-an off-dry white wine made of 100% Cayuga, with floral notes and hints of honey and lemon.
- Driftwood-An off-dry red blend of Fredonia and Chambourcin.
Bonus Tastes and Glasses
- 2022 Albarino-Wow! Another very good New Jersey Albarino! Medium-bodied with a touch of orange notes.
- 2023 Viognier-A delicious, full-bodied wine with a hint of peaches and a smooth, rich mouthfeel.
- 2023 Cabernet Rose-A beautiful and delicious dry Rose with the darker color you would expect from the Cab and tasty notes of strawberry.
The Food
We ordered the Crab Stuffed Mushrooms and the Chicken Pesto and Bruschetta Flatbread to share. Both were excellent. Unfortunately we ate them before I was able to snap a picture.
We had a great time and our visit was capped off by two nice surprises: Dustin Tarpine (winemaker and one of the owners) spotted us and chatted with us for a while. The second nice surprise was they still had a couple of 2016 Norton bottles left. We added them to our other four. See photo below of our take aways.
Our Take Aways
Four of the wines below were mentioned and described above (from left to right after the bottles of Norton): 2023 Viognier; 2022 Albarino; 2023 Cab Rose; and 2022 Chardonnay. Which leaves me to the Norton…
2016 Norton-For those not familiar, this wine is sometimes referred to as Cynthiana. I decided to order a couple of bottles of their Norton. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I think this grape is really underrated. Most folks have never heard of it, yet it has an interesting history (documented in a book entitled, The Wild Vine). It discusses how, at one time, vines of Norton grew wild in this country, with its birthplace in Richmond, Virginia. Norton is also the official grape of Missouri. It is still popular on wine tasting menus in Virginia. It is truly a native grape. I love its dark, inky appearance, taste of black berries and cherries, and full-bodied earthiness.
Coming Attractions
- Beneduce Vineyards
- Halloween: Pairing Wine with Sweets & Scary Movies
- Laurita Vineyards
Tried a New Jersey wine lately? Visited a NJ winery recently? Please share your experience here. Just scroll down, press the “Comment” button, and add your comment(s). Like what you read and see on these pages? It couldn’t be easier to scroll down, hit the “Subscribe” button, and get your weekly pour of NJ wine right in your inbox. No spills. No mess. Subscriptions are FREE! I will not share your email info with anyone.
