Cedar Rose Vineyards Fall ’26

Cedar Rose is located in Millville in a beautiful bucolic setting. My wife and I usually like to visit a little later in the day because the sunsets there are gorgeous. However, our other commitments last week would not allow for that. However, anytime is a good time to visit. Their kitchen is very good with excellent and diverse offerings. That came in handy, as we hadn’t had lunch yet, and we were pretty hungry. It’s also not a good idea to drink wine on an empty stomach. So we ordered some food to enjoy along with our two flights of wine.

The Food

We chose their Seafood Sampler (Crab bites, Wonton Shrimp, and Cocoanut Shrimp served with Cocktail Sauce and Remoulade) and an order of Truffle Fries. A nice assortment to share!

The Wine

Lighten Up Flight (5 dry white wines)

• 2021 Vidal Blanc-While never one of my favorite varietals, this was a pretty good one .
• 2024 Silica-a tasty white blend of Albarino, Viognier, and Sauvignon Blanc that is crisp and refreshing.
• 2024 Traminette-A nice dry version that offers a flowery aroma and a distinctive taste.
• 2022 Chardonnay-A tasty Chardonnay with bright acidity, notes of apple and pear, and a good buy at $24.
• 2020 Laissez Faire-An orange wine made from Traminette, utilizing the two weeks of skin contact during fermentation, offering a fuller body and an orange hue.

The Red Zone (5 of their boldest Jersey-grown reds)

• Kindling #5-This is their best version yet. It is a full-bodied blend of Cab (40%);  Norton (40%); and Chambourcin (20%).
• 2023 Cabernet Franc-A nice medium-bodied version that is very smooth.
• 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon-A good medium plus bodied version with cherry notes and smooth tannins.
• 2019 Thundergust-Hard to believe they still have some of this vintage. It is an excellent, full-bodied red blend of Cab, Cab Franc, and Chambourcin.
• 2021 Regent-Another good, full-bodied, inky colored red. Regent is (in my opinion) an underrated hybrid grape.

As usual, Carol and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit, with our bird’s eye view of the vineyards, the very good food and wine, and excellent service.

Our Take Aways

Though our cellar is pretty full, we couldn’t pass up taking home our favorites from the tasting: 2024 Silica, 2022 Chardonnay, Kindling #5, and 2019 Thundergust (pictured below on left). The picture to the right below, is their 2016 Norton, probably my favorite red here. I’m hoping they continue to grow Norton and making it into a single varietal (as well as using it as a great blending grape, as in the Kindling #5). We decanted the Norton and enjoyed it with a grilled steak later that evening.

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Coming Attractions

• Auburn Road Vineyards Fall ’26
• Beneduce Vineyards Fall ’26
• Laurita Vineyards Fall ’26
• Plagido’s Winery Fall ’26
• Terroir New Jersey Wine Showcase

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