It’s been awhile since I visited Willow Creek Winery so it was definitely time for a Willow Creek Winery Revisit. Willow Creek Winery is one of the largest and most beautiful wineries in the state with an expansive open tasting room with a high ceiling, making it look even larger. The furnishings are all very upscale and there’s a large fireplace.
There a three tasting options:
1. Quick Flight – $10 per person for three 2 oz samples of your choice.
2 Gold Flight – $15 per person for five 3 oz samples of your choice.
3. Prestige Flight – $20 per person for seven 2 oz samples and a souvenir glass.
We chose the Quick Flight. Our samples were generous (probably at least 3 oz) and offered a “deeper taste” of the wines chosen. My wife and I shared our choices, so we were able to taste six wines (actually seven, with the addition of the newly bottled Wilde Cock Prestige Rose. The other wines sampled include:
- Wilde Cock White – A nice, refreshing white blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Malvasia Bianca and Chardonnay (from California).
- Pinot Noir – While not as good as the last vintage (to my memory), still a decent Pinot.
- Merlot – A dry, medium – bodied version that is estate grown.
- Wilde Cock Prestige Gold – A very nice medium-bodied red blend of Merlot and Pinot Noir (from California) with a smooth, rounded mouth-feel that suggested a fuller body than it’s appearance.
- Wilde Cock Prestige Red – another red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo (from California) that I feel was even better than the more expensive Prestige Gold.
Note: Their Cabernet Sauvignon was sold out. That one was priced at $58, so I was disappointed that I did not get a chance to try that one in my tasting, but the Prestige Red, Prestige Gold and Prestige Rose were all very good. I am so glad that I was able to taste these three, as at least two of these were not available at previous tastings.
We considered having a glass of one of the Prestige wine offerings in the Wine Bar, another free-standing building a stone’s throw and a beautiful walk on the bricked patio from the tasting room. However, since we were also considering having dinner in Cape May (and the likelihood of enjoying a bottle of wine with the fresh seafood at Harpoons on the Bay) we decided to refrain from enjoying more wine at Willow Creek. Next time, now that we know our favorites…
Wine Bar
Willow Creek has frequent special events, as well as weekly events (like Happy Hour 3:00-5:00 Monday thru Friday (20% off tapas, Sangria and Wild Cock wines (except for Prestige Label); Fire Pit Fridays; and Live Music in the Vineyards on Saturday’s. This is a great time of year to see all they have to offer here. Check their website for more info.
Cheers!
Coming Attractions
- A reminder that on Sunday, 8/19 Robin Shreeves’s interview with me and about my book, will be published in her column in the Courier-Post
- Another reminder: My first public signing and Book Launch will take place at Autumn Lake Winery in Williamstown on Saturday, 9/8 from 1-5. There will be live music. More details to come.
- Interviews of winemakers and winery owners.
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