Last Wednesday, my wife and I decided to take advantage of a sunny, beautiful day and enjoy the great outdoors for lunch and wine. Not many better places to do so than Old York Cellars in Ringoes. We reserved a cabana, which gives you comfortable seating (which could accommodate a few other companions), but it allowed my wife and I to spread out our belongings and focus on the wine, food, and views in front of us. Had it been a bit cooler, we also could have lit the fire chest that comes with each cabana. I was not able to adequately capture the views, but well beyond the vineyards, lie some notable hills and the sky can be majestic when the clouds are in a playful mood and before long the vines will be full of the grapes we so look forward to enjoying in liquid form.
The Wine
White Flight
- Chardonnay-A good, unoaked version, with a little more body than expected. We enjoyed this along with our tapas.
- Pinot Gris-A refreshing, light-bodied wine with grapefruit and lemon notes.
- Vidal Blanc-Tasty citrus and tropical notes.
- Albarino-A refreshing version with subtle tropical notes.
- What Exit White-A nice, refreshing, easy drinking wine that is a steal at $15.
- Riesling-A refreshing Dry Riesling, with just a hint of sweetness. One of the better Rieslings I’ve had recently.
Red Flight
- Darryl Mack Cellars Red*-A real surprise. I don’t remember this one from previous visits. A blend of Merlot, Cab, Cab Franc, Syrah, and Chambourcin. A full-bodied, smooth, and easy drinking red that is a real bargain at $18. It is produced with grapes predominantly outside of New Jersey (but still USA).
- Cabernet Sauvignon-A decent Cab, though I much preferred the Cab Reserve.
- Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve-A very good medium-bodied version with subtle oak notes and a very smooth finish.
- Merlot-medium-bodied with cherry and spice notes.
- Malbec-One of my perennial favorites here; medium-bodied with hints of cherry and plum.
- Vintner’s Blend Red IX-A nice blend of Syrah and Merlot.
*For those who are not familiar with Daryl Matthews McDaniel, he is a rapper, record producer, and founding member of the hip hop group, Run-DMC. He has collaborated with Old York Cellars on a collection of wines. A portion of these wines with the DMC label support the Felix Foundation, a non-profit started by Darryl in 2006 to “help create inspiring experiences and opportunities for children growing up in the foster care system.”
The Food
I love the flexibility that tapas offer-small bites, with a diversity of choices. Our choices were as follows and are pictured below:
- Spanish Meatballs-Paired with Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
- Barbecued Chicken-Paired with Chardonnay
- Mini Vegetable Paella-Paired with Albarino
The food here is always good. We love the meatballs and paella!
We really enjoyed our food and wine. Such a beautiful and relaxing afternoon. We decided to bring home a few souvenirs…
Our Takeaways
Below from left to right: What Exit White, Darryl Mack Cellars Red Blend, and Chardonnay:
Coming Attractions
- Hawk Haven Vineyards Barrel Tasting Spring ’25
- Turdo Vineyards Spring ’25!
- Bellview Winery Spring ’25
- Unionville Spring ’25
- Hopewell Valley Vineyards Spring ’25
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