Natali Vineyards is a small, but interesting winery. Despite their small size they produce many different varietals and have been producing quality wines for a decade. Natali is another of the Cape May wineries, where winters are moderated and summers softened by the nearness of the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay. Al Natali, founder, owner and winemaker came to winemaking from an unlikely background — a professor of history at C.U.N.Y. and a network engineer on Wall Street. However, he has been applying that same academic/scientific approach to his obvious passion for winemaking. He also continued his education related to wine by taking courses in wine chemistry and attending winery workshops.
Natali makes six dry white wines: Chardonnay; Chardonnay (barrel aged); Sauvignon Blanc; Pinot Grigio; Goshen (a blend of Chardonnay and Viognier) and Viognier. Their dry reds include Tempranillo; Nonno’s Cellar Wine (full-bodied with a hint of smokiness from barrel aging); Barbera; Nebbiolo; Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot and Cedar Hammock (a blend of 60% Cab Franc/40% Cabernet Sauvignon). They also make a Blush (Court House Blush) and a Moscato.
Natali’s fruit wines include Pineapple, Strawberry, Cranberry, Beach Plum, Peach, TG Banana, Aronia, Erotic Aronia (blend of aronia berries and two white grapes), Blueberry and Raspberry Fusion (85% Merlot infused with 15% fermented raspberries). Unlike many New Jersey wineries, Natali added fruit winemaking to his repertoire (rather than starting with fruit wines).
Finally, Natali also makes a wine called Nonna’s Cucina Wine (light and fruity with some residual sugar) and a Port Style Wine they call Captain Vinho (blend of black grapes, brandy and sugar and aged in whiskey barrels).
Natali Vineyards won a Gold Medal for their Cabernet Sauvignon in 2016 at the New Jersey State Fair First Annual Commercial Wine Competition. At the same competition they also took Silver Medals for their 2015 Blueberry and their 2013 Raspberry Fusion and Bronze Medals for their 2015 Chardonnay, 2013 Nonno’s Cellar, 2015 Beach Plum and 2014 Barbera. In 2016 Natali won four Bronze Medals at the New Jersey Wine Competition (for their NV Blueberry, NV Albarino, NV Pinot Grigio and NV Chardonnay). Since opening they have won over 80 medals for their wines.
Tastings are $5 for your choice of five wines from the tasting menu. They are open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and stay open later (until 6:00 or 7:00) in the spring and summer months. With the many varietals offered, this is a great place to try a new one on your list. My votes for best buys are the Barrel Aged Chardonnay ($20), the Barbera ($18) and the Beach Plum ($20). However, the Nebbiolo ($35) and the Captain Vinho ($30) were both very good.
Cheers and Happy New Year!
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Natali Vineyards is one of my favorites! Always a good experience visiting Natali Vineyards.
Thanks for your comment, Nancy. I wish it was closer, though. But we get to Cape May often.