Happy New Year!
My apologies for the late posting. I’ve been having some Wi-Fi issues. Fortunately, they seem to be fixed now.
Last week I named my top NJ reds and whites. Today, I’ll share my favorite Rose wines, sweet wines, and sparkling wines. I often don’t give enough love to some of the very good Rose wines and sweet wines in the state. Just because my preference and usual go-to is either a dry red or a dry white wine, does not mean I don’t ever enjoy other styles. In fact, sweet wines can find their place on a holiday table, either paired with a great dessert, or serving as dessert, all by itself. As for Rose wines, some may still consider Rose wines as a warm weather wine, but that’s not my thinking, especially as a lot of these are being made in darker and somewhat heavier styles, utilizing hearty grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon. We don’t drink a lot of sparkling wines, but they do make holidays a bit more special.
While I only have a couple of my favorite Rose wines in my cellar that I could post in a picture, I will add a couple more of my favorites over the past year.
My Favorite NJ Rose Wines in 2024
- 2022 Mistral Rose-The real deal. Still one of my favorite Roses in the state. This version is a bit more robust than usual, based on 100% Syrah grapes with ripe strawberries on the palate.
- White Horse Winery Painted Rose-Besides being a beautiful bottle, it is also a tasty Rose blend of Cab Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is crisp and refreshing with a lingering finish.
- Cedar Rose 2023 Cabernet Rose-An excellent dry Rose utilizing Cabernet Sauvignon (adding to the dark hue and bolder flavor than many Rose wines).
- Amalthea Cellars Leda Rose-A very good, dry, Tavel-style Rose with tasty strawberry notes. One of the best buys for a good dry Rose on the market ($16.99).
My Favorite NJ Sweet Wines in 2024
- Laurita Winery Chocolate Therapy-A perennial favorite, made with red wine as its base and chocolate providing a wonderful aroma and taste.
- Laurita Winery Chocolate Peanut Butter Therapy-Take the above recipe and add a little peanut butter! Think liquid peanut butter cups.
- Sharrott Winery Just Peachy-A great sweet wine loaded with wonderful peach aroma and flavor. Serve it with a slice of peach and a fresh mint sprig.
- Auburn Road Give Peach a Chance-For those who would prefer the taste of peach with a little less sweetness, this one is for you.
- Balic Winery Pumpkin Wine-Very adorable label and surprisingly good sweet wines made from 100% fresh pumpkins.
- Balic Winery Almanique-A tasty dessert wine utilizing natural grape wine fermented with cherry pits and toasted almonds.
My Favorite NJ Sparkling Wines in 2024
- Hawk Haven Vineyards-Hawk Haven Vineyards 2020 Brut Methode Champenoise-The best sparkling wine I have had in some time. It is made from Pinot Noir (66%) and Chardonnay (34%). There are aromas of brioche and apple and delicious pear, lemon, and vanilla on the palate.
- Hawk Haven Fizz Nouveau-A Pinot Noir Rose with a refreshing, but light carbonation.
Coming Attractions
- My 2024 Highlights of NJ Winery Visits
- What I Look Forward to in 2025
- Ready to Drink Cocktails
- More NJ Wines of the Week
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