Beneduce Vineyards Revisited

This revisit of Beneduce Vineyards, in Pittstown, was the first leg of a recent Central Jersey trip. The trip itself was inspired by a generous and thoughtful gift from friends, enjoying an evening at Main Street Manor in Flemington (more on that in a future post) as our home base. Beneduce has only been open to the public since 2012, but it is obvious that they have done a lot of planning about how to use their beautiful grounds for maximal benefit for visitors. There is a stage where bands perform and outdoor seating with many tables, chairs and umbrellas set up for picnics (and wedding parties when scheduled). In bad weather, they have ample greenhouse seating. The coordination of these and other special events is the job of Justen Beneduce-Hiles, Event Director and daughter of Michael Beneduce, Sr., making the vineyards a true family effort.

The tasting room’s attractive interior is highlighted by three large, beautifully arched windows, which provide a bright cheerful centerpiece behind the serving bar. They came from an 1870s schoolhouse and were refurbished for their new home. But it is the wine that will bring you back here.

Beneduce produces wines in three collections. The first is their Classic Collection: Three Windows White Riesling; Shotgun Red (a blend of their Chambourcin, Corot Noir and Noiret grapes); and Row’s End Dry Rose.

The Premium Collection consists of 60/40 Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec blend, Cabernet Franc, Barrel-Fermented Chardonnay, Dry Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Syrah.

Beneduce’s Signature Collection (more complex and unique, though a little more expensive) consists of Blue2 (a Blaufrankisch); Centerfold (a Pinot Noir); Tuxedo (a white Pinot Noir); and Mangione (described mysteriously as “In the bottomless barrel await infinite possibilities”). The Tuxedo and Mangione are only available for bottle sales, not tastings.

My personal favorites on this second visit were the Blue2 (Blaufrankisch) and the Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec blend, but the Three Windows White is an excellent, refreshing Dry Riesling.

Beneduce Vineyards has won numerous awards for their wines in state, national and international competitions. They were recently named one of the top 25 vineyards in the country by Travel and Leisure Magazine. They won four Silver Medals at the 2017 New Jersey Wine Competition for their 2014 Blue 2, 2015 Chardonnay, 2016 Gewurtraminer and 2015 Shotgun Red. They also took four Bronze Medals at the same competition for their 2014 Cab Franc, 2016 Three Windows White, 2016 Rows End Rose and 2015 White Space. Beneduce won three Silver Medals at the 2017 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition for their 2015 Chardonnay, 2014 Blue 2 and 2015 Shotgun Red. They also took two Bronze Medals at the same competition for their 2015 Gewurtraminer and their 2014 Pinot Noir. About 70% of Beneduce wines are made from their own grapes, while the rest come from other New Jersey and California growers.

Tasting hours are from 12 p.m.–6 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 12 p.m.–8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. However, it is always a good idea to check their website for any changes due to special events, etc. A taste of their current offerings is $5 per person, though you can try their deluxe tasting (including local artisanal cheeses and cured meats) for $15 per person.

A short walking path from the parking lot leads to a local restaurant called Sky Café, a wonderful place to have lunch while watching vintage planes take off and land from a small patch of land nearby. The tiny airport is privately owned and primarily used to take tourists for a brief ride. Unfortunately, the Sky Café is not permitted to sell wine or spirits, and you may not bring wine from Beneduce’s (or anywhere else) to complement your meal.

Check out Beneduce’s schedule of concerts and special events. The grounds are very attractive and the setting is definitely conducive to an evening of entertainment, complimented by your favorite Beneduce wine.

Next week: Old York Cellars Revisited.

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