They’re back! How wonderful to visit a winery in person again. Better yet to relax, uncork a bottle of wine and take in live music and nature’s beauty. We were able to do all of this on Friday at Bellview Winery, while socially distancing. The spots were all marked off with generous parameters to set up your table and chairs. So much so that my photos don’t accurately convey the number of patrons present. Thank you, Scott Quarella for the great shaded spot with a perfect view of the stage. We couldn’t have picked a nicer day to visit a winery-temperatures in the low 80’s (definitely cooler in the shade) with low humidity and a cool breeze.
For anyone wary of venturing out to a winery for fear of crowds during our COVID pandemic, I have good news. My wife and I are also cautious. The good news is our wineries are taking every possible precaution for the safety of all. You are escorted by staff to your reserved space. The rules are spelled out and enforced and the property is big enough to allow you to enjoy your staked out space without wearing your mask while seated. You only need to wear a mask when purchasing wine or food or using the restrooms. The number of patrons in the tasting room is very limited. You are only there to purchase wine and return to your space. The planning and organization to make this work is amazing!
In addition to the wine and the beautiful venue, we were looking forward to enjoying some live music. Who knows when we will be able to go to a concert again (at least indoors)? John Rossi was the performer scheduled from 4:00-8:00. John did a couple of sound checks, while waiting for a few more patrons to arrive (most folks were still at work at 4:00). Rossi began playing his acoustic guitar a little after 4:30 and was still going strong when we left after 6:30. No breaks!
Rossi played this marathon set with a heavy emphasis on acoustic blues. Among the songs I made a mental note of were songs by The Grateful Dead, Jorma Kaukonen, Doc Watson, Neil Young, James Taylor, and Ben E. King. Rossi demonstrated some serious “chops” on the guitar, while his voice was made for the blues. It was difficult to assess how the audience received Rossi, as the social distancing does have its impact on the infectious, spontaneous clapping and buzz. But from where we sat, John Rossi put on a great show and I would definitely like to see him perform again.
Speaking of New Jersey Uncorked, I selected the following wines to enjoy:
- Bellview Winery Chardonnay 2017-A good, medium-bodied Chard that has nice acidity with notes of butter and vanilla (It paired well with our shrimp that we brought along)
- Bellview Winery Regent-An underrated dark dry red wine, which is fruit forward with a dry finish-pairing well with our crackers and cheese.
A great evening to sit on the patio and enjoy another glass of wine, while reflecting on a a fun and relaxing day. The Bellview Winery Pet-Nat is a beautiful bottle (pictured below). Scott Quarella shared that it is made with their Cayuga grapes. He stated they were very happy with this wine. While Cayuga can be made into a dry or sweet wine, Scott said this one is dry. I decided to save the Pet Nat for my wife’s birthday on Tuesday. If you have not tried a Pet-Nat, they are sparklers made the old fashion way (bottled before the first fermentation is completed). They have smaller bubbles and a bit less carbonation and are capped like a beer or soda, instead of corked. At $20 per bottle, this is a nice and inexpensive way to add sparkle to your celebration.
I should add that the Wipeout Eats food truck offerings looked very good as they were gobbled up at neighboring picnic tables. However, my wife already had a delicious dinner planned and waiting for us. Maybe next time we’ll indulge in the blooming onion rings, taco bowl, and BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches.
Kudos to the Quarella family and the staff at Bellview Winery for a beautiful and safe re-opening! They are located in Landisville (not far off Route 40). They have live music every weekend. For more information check out their website at www.bellviewwinery.com.
Cheers!
Coming Attractions
- New Jersey Uncorked & Unplugged II
- Some Lesser known Wine Varietals
Speaking of New Jersey Uncorked…Have you gotten your copy of this handbook of NJ wines? You can get the print edition for $6 off now (only $19.99) with the coupon code Summer20 at store.bookbaby.com/book/New-Jersey-Uncorked.
The ebook is on sale now on the Apple iBook app. Just use the coupon Summer20 and save $3!
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