While I’m an avowed fan of dry wine, I do occasionally indulge in a sweeter wine. I have written about the wonderful New Jersey Port-style wines in the past. Today I’d like to discuss a few other styles: Sherry-style wines, fruit wines and some other sweeties. Due to the sheer numbers of fruit and sweet wines (and my tendency to sometimes limit my sampling of these wines) I will mention only those that I have sampled recently and are among my favorites in this category. As a consequence, I know that I am leaving out innumerable super sweet wines around the state that I encourage you to check out. Pictured above (left to right): Sharrott Winery Just Peachy Sangria, DiMatteo Vineyards Chocolate Raz, Wagonhouse Winery Nutty Quaker and Balic Winery Cream Sherry.
On the Sweeter Side…
To my knowledge, there is only one New Jersey winery that makes a sherry-style wine – Balic Winery in Mays Landing. They make a Cream Sherry that is a little lighter in color and body than many others, but worth a try and very reasonably priced. My two favorite sweet fruit/sweet wines there are their Huckleberry wine and their Almanique wine.
I tried my first pear wines at Chestnut Run Farm. They also make a plum wine and an apple wine. Their pear wines are definitely my favorites, ranging from dry to sweet. Since sweet is the key word today, my choice for sweet wine here is their Spiced Sweet Asian Pear Wine, with a bit of ginger. It pairs perfectly with sushi. Chestnut Run Farm is located in Pilesgrove. They only have tastings by appointment, but they participate in many South Jersey wine festivals.
Though they also make many dry wines, one of my favorite wineries for making creative sweet wines is Wagonhouse Winery in Swedesboro. Their Semi-Sweet wines are sold under the Three Boys Brand. Autumn Goddess, Fallen Quaker, Nutty Quaker and Shore Thing are all enjoyable and not cloyingly sweet.
Tomasello Winery, located in Hammonton, has one of the largest wine menus in the state, so they have many dry and sweet wines to choose from. My favorite sweet wine here is their American Almonique.
Cream Ridge Winery in Cream Ridge (central Jersey) makes some classic dry wines, as well as some beloved sweeter wines. My personal favorite in the latter category is their AlmondBerry wine (made from Raspberry and Niagara wine with an almond accent). It is also their all-time best seller. Their JavaBerry is also very good.
If you like sweet wines that combine fruit and flavorings (especially chocolate) you must try Chocolate Raz from DiMatteo Vineyard in Hammonton. It is definitely my favorite here among their sweeter offerings.
I could write a whole post on Sangria, but it is generally a style I do not seek out. However, with Just Peachy Sangria from Sharrott Winery (located in Hammonton), I make an exception. It is delightful!
Speaking of chocolate, it’s hard to beat Chocolate Therapy, found at Laurita Winery in New Egypt. It is like a Bailey’s Irish Cream with a bit less body. It’s actually made with a red wine as the base, according to one of the servers there. Great stuff!
Cheers!
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Coming Attractions
- Blue Cork Winery Part Two (the reds, the Port-style wines and much more)
- The newest NJ winery
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