Bellview Winery Winter ’26

On Saturday, my wife and I decided to visit Bellview Winery in Landisville. With all of the predictions of a blizzard, we wanted to get out of the house and have some fun before the deluge. It had been a while since we had done flights here and there were some new vintages available and some recent awards at the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. We also wanted to enjoy some charcuterie, since we hadn’t had lunch yet. I know I have made this observation before, but for those of you who have not visited one of our wineries in New Jersey, I always love it when I walk in and see the winery owner or winemaker and get to have a chat about new trends and insights. More on this topic later.

The Wine

My wife chose the white wine flight, while I chose the red flight.

White Flight

• 2024 Pinot Grigio-Their best Pinot Grigio to date (in my opinion), with a little more body than some and nice orange notes with the expected crispness. This wine recently won a unanimous Double Gold Medal at the 2026 San Francisco Wine Competition.
• 2024 Viognier-A nice version with notes of peach; It was a Terroir NJ Showcase Selection.
• 2024 Chardonnay-A very nice, inexpensive, Silver Medal winner at the 2026 San Francisco Wine Competition. Subtle notes of apple and French oak influences.
• Dry Rose-They let us substitute this beauty for the Sunrise, which is a little sweet. The Dry Rose is quite good, with strawberry notes, good acidity, and a refreshing finish.

Red Flight

• 2020 Petit Verdot-Though not on the list, I was able to substitute this one for the Solavita, which I also enjoy. The Petit Verdot was full-bodied, dark in color, with lots of structure, yet pretty smooth.
• 2022 Merlot-An excellent Merlot with dark, ripe cherry notes and very smooth tannins.
• 2020 Regent-A delicious and smooth wine, rich and dark in color and taste.
• 2023 Cab Franc-In a state with many excellent Cab Francs, here is yet another one. Very tasty with notes of raspberry and a smooth long finish. It was a Terroir NJ Showcase Selection.

After we finished our flights, we still had some cheese and meats left and wanted to try another red wine. I hadn’t had their Blaufrankisch in a long time and this was definitely a new vintage of it for me. Our server was kind enough to give me a taste and I immediately gave her the high sign, asking for a bottle that we could enjoy now. Their 2022 Blaufrankisch was a revelation. While I have enjoyed this wine in the past, this vintage exceeded all my expectations-lovely full-bodied, smooth as silk, with robust notes of plum and subtle notes of vanilla. It won Double Gold Medals at the Finger Lakes International Competition. We enjoyed the remainder of our bottle at home with our dinner, that included lamb chops!

The Food

We ordered their Meat and Cheese Charcuterie Board with a couple of types of meats, a few different cheeses, some crackers, craisins, a wonderful fig jam, and a couple of pieces of chocolate.

Our Takeaways

In addition to the wines described above, we added a bottle of their 2023 Gruner Veltliner, which I am looking forward to enjoying at home. It recently won Best in Show at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

We always enjoy our visits here at Bellview Winery and I enjoyed a brief chat with owner, Jim Quarella. I asked him if they are still growing Saperavi (a wonderful grape that is popular in the Finger Lakes). I knew there had been some damage to some of these during a storm a couple of years ago. Jim assured me they still have them and I told him I was looking forward to trying some in the future. I love that they are always willing to try some new varietals, as long as the soils and climate and other variables are amenable to their health and growth.

Coming Attractions

• Blue Cork Winery Winter ’26
• Sharrott Winery Winter ’26
• Buena Connection Brewing Company
• Willow Creek Winery March ’26
• Angelico Winery Spring ’26
• Beneduce Vineyards Spring ’26

Tried a New Jersey wine lately? Visited a NJ winery recently? Please share your experience here. Just scroll down, press the “Comments” 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 and I will not share your email info with anyone.