Hopewell Valley Vineyards

Going to Hopewell Valley Vineyards is like taking a day trip to Tuscany. From the entry of the tasting room it exudes Old World Charm, Old World Hospitality, and Old World Style wines. While they specialize in Italian reds, they make a wide range of excellent varietals. Sergio Neri is a third generation Italian winemaker. His wife, Violetta has her roots in Greece. She, too comes from a family of winemakers (starting with her grandmother, passed on to her mother and then to Violetta).

Hopewell Valley Vineyards has won numerous awards for their wines. In 2012 they entered 17 wines in the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and 16 of them were selected as winners. More recently they won a Gold Medal for their Barbera at the New Jersey Wine Competition in 2016 and a Silver Medal for their 2006 Port. They took home Bronze Medals at this same competition for their NV Chocolate Port, NV Dolce Vita, 2012 Chambourcin, 2014 Chardonnay, NV Porto Bianco and NV Pinot Grigio.

Hopewell Valley makes the following dry white wines: Pinot Grigio (sales of which benefit autism intervention, research and services), Chardonnay and Vidal Blanc. They make a Stony Brook Blush Rose Wine and a White Merlot.

Their reds include a 2008 Chambourcin, a 2007 Rosso Della Valle, a 2008 Barbera, a 2010 Merlot (using New York grapes), a 2012 Sangiovese (using grapes from Tuscany) and a 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (using grapes from California). Their Dessert Wines all utilize New Jersey grapes and include Dolce Vita, Porto Bianco (White Port), 2006 Porto Rosso (Red Port), and Chocolate Porto Rosso (Red Port).

From their Vintner’s Collection they offer two classics utilizing grapes sourced from Alexander Valley in Sonoma, California: 2013 Merlot and 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as a 2007 Villa Neri Basia (Sangiovese Grapes sourced from California Grapes). The Vintner’s Collection also includes two sparkling wines: Villa Neri Bramante (Sparkling Rose) and Villa Neri Spuma Rossa (Red Sparkling Wine).

My personal favorites were their red wines, especially the Sangiovese and Barbera (both would go well with their Brick Oven Pizza). However, their ports (especially the Porto Rosso and the Chocolate Porto Rosso) would be the perfect ending to any meal. All of these wonderful wines would be reason enough to take a drive and taste them, but the attraction does not stop there. Hopewell Valley also has frequent live music (featuring many genres), special dinners, great brick oven pizza, and all available in a beautiful setting. Just writing about Hopewell Valley makes me want to return very soon. Check out their website for up-to-date info.

Tasted a New Jersey wine lately? Visited a NJ winery recently? If so, share your experiences here.

Cheers!