My first stop during a recent winery marathon in North Jersey was at Beneduce Winery. On the short walk to the tasting room I admired the great layout of the facility, with plenty of outside seating with umbrellas, a stage for weekend bands, and a pathway to a popular place to enjoy lunch (The Sky Cafe). The tasting room’s attractive interior is highlighted by three large, beautifully arched windows. These windows provide a bright and cheerful centerpiece behind the serving bar and came from an 1870’s schoolhouse and subsequently refurbished.
These windows also provided the inspiration for Beneduce’s Three Windows White Wine (a light and citrusy Riesling). This was one of the best Jersey Rieslings I have tasted. However, the Chardonnay was my favorite of the whites, with a very pleasant creaminess and hint of vanilla and oak. The last white tasted was their Gewurztraminer – a nicely spiced white wine.
The reds were very impressive, though a bit more pricey. The Centerfold, a lovely Pinot Noir was a beautifully made wine that would go with nearly anything (or great alone). The Cabernet/Malbec blend was a nice full-bodied red, while the Cab Franc was a deliciously complex medium-bodied red. I also liked the Shotgun Red (a bargain at $14.99). This is a blend of Chambourcin, Corot Noir* and Noiret.* Beneduce also offers a few other wines for bottle sales only. Beneduce has won numerous awards for their wines and high praise from wine critics.
Following the tasting we took the path to The Sky Cafe (recommended by our server) and had a nice lunch while watching bi-planes taking off and landing after short rides. We only wished we could have enjoyed one of our newly purchased Beneduce wines with our meal (they do not have a liquor license).
*Corot Noir and Noiret are both hybrid red grapes developed at Cornell University.
Next time: Mount Salem Vineyards
Visited any New Jersey Wineries lately? Tried a New Jersey Wine recently? Let me know what you think about your experience.
