On Friday, my wife and I decided to take a drive to Laurita Winery. It’s only an hour drive and is located in New Egypt. We love it there. In addition to great wines, they deservedly boast one of the most beautiful tasting rooms and grounds in the state.
The Winery
Laurita Winery opened its doors in 2008. They have one of the largest tasting rooms in the state, with a spacious downstairs, featuring two bars to serve you during the busiest times, as well as an upstairs with an elevator to take you there. They also have a large area off the tasting room area for special events or to enjoy your wine in a lovely room with a view of their vineyards. Outdoors, they also have a large, partly covered deck, to get even closer to nature. The winery offers a nice assortment of dry wines, a few off-dry wines, as well as Sangria and their famous Chocolate Therapy and Chocolate Peanut Butter Therapy. Definitely something for everyone. Laurita also owns an Inn, not far from their tasting room. Below are a couple of photos which give you an idea of the size and beauty of this place.
Our Tasting
- Unoaked Chardonnay-Aged in stainless steel; well balanced, with a crisp, smooth finish.
- Barrel Reserve Chardonnay-A wonderful version, aged in Hungarian oak with medium plus body and a creamy finish with hints of vanilla.
- Norton-A very nice version of this full-bodied red with a bold and lovely earthy flavor.
- Bistro-An easy drinking, Pinot Noir, with black cherry notes. This wine would pair well with just about anything on the menu.
- Merlot-A very smooth version with red berry notes and a long finish.
- Cab Franc-Probably my favorite in the tasting (at least among the reds). Smooth and delicious with a hint of vanilla.
- Meritage-A nice blend of Cab and Merlot; silky smooth.
Food
Laurita has their own deli, with more than just charcuterie boards to enjoy. They have many types of sandwiches and salads. My wife and I ordered our favorite here-their Veggie Sandwich, with roasted peppers, squash, zucchini, eggplant, and goat cheese on toasted rye bread. It is fantastic. It comes with a huge serving of French fries. Awesome! We chose a bottle of their Bistro to pair with our sandwiches. It is shown in the picture on the right, above.
Our Take Aways:From left to right below: Unoaked Chardonnay, Barrel Reserve Chardonnay, and Cab Franc.
We had a very enjoyable time at Laurita Vineyards and hope to return soon.
Coming Attractions
- What’s New at Iron Plow Vineyards?
- Amalthea Cellars December 2024
- My Top Wines of the Year
- My Favorite 2024 NJ Winery Memories
- What’s in store for 2025
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