New Jersey Petit Verdot

Petit Verdot is an interesting grape. It ripens late and is smaller than many other grapes. Consequently, it is not grown as commonly in New Jersey as many other grapes. The late ripening makes it more difficult to grow successfully, at least in the northern part of the state. It also has very strong tannins. In France, it has been utilized most frequently as a blending fruit-adding rich color and flavor, especially in the Bordeaux Region. Despite these drawbacks, Petit Verdot has much to offer, with its deep color and rich taste. Fortunately, there are a few New Jersey wineries offering good Petit Verdot wines. Interestingly, a couple of wineries have begun using Petit Verdot to make Rose wines.

So, who would like Petit Verdot? Definitely Cabernet Sauvignon lovers. Like Cabs, Petit Verdot is generally full-bodied, rich in color and flavor, with lots of structure. If you like deep-colored, rich tasting wine that tends to be more full-bodied than many other red wines, try one of these. Open your mind and palate to the pleasures of Petit Verdot. You may be surprised, as well as rewarded.

My Personal Favorites (in no particular order)

• Autumn Lake Winery-I believe this was the first one they have made and it’s a very good one! Unfortunately, they may have sold out this one. There are none on their website.
• Blue Cork Winery-A tasty, somewhat lighter version (color and body) than others I have recently tried, with nice blackberry notes.
• Tomasello Winery-The only bottle I currently have in my cellar. It is a full-bodied wine with a hint of chocolate. The 2016 definitely benefitted from aerating. The 2017 is available on their website.
• Sharrott Winery-It’s been a while since I have had their Petit Verdot, but it has been one of my favorite reds there in the past.
• Bellview Winery-It has also been quite a while since I have tried their Petit Verdot, but I recall it being very good. Their website shows they still have their 2015 in stock and this wine ages very well.

Though I have not tasted it yet, I am eager to try Hawk Haven Vineyards OA Petit Verdot. It is part of my upcoming allotment. The OA stands for Orley Ashenfelter. The grapes for this wine are sourced from his vineyard in Vineland. I love the Hawk Haven Cab Franc  sourced from Ashenfelter’s vineyard. I hope to do an informal interview with him in an upcoming post.

American Viticultural Areas (AVA’s)

I thought that my brief introduction to the Petit Verdot grape, might be a good segue to revisit the concept of an AVA. As discussed above, temperature can be one of the determining factors in choosing what grapes can be successfully grown. Other factors include things like the type of soil, terrain, and drainage. These are some of the things that an AVA (American Viticultural Area) have in common. In New Jersey there are currently only three AVA’s: The Outer Coastal Plain AVA, Warren Hills AVA, and Delaware Valley AVA.

Outer Coastal Plain

The Outer Coastal Plain (OCP) is the largest and oldest AVA in the state. It also has one sub-region, the Cape May Peninsula AVA (established in 2018). The entire OCP is characterized by well-drained sandy or sandy loam soils, with a relatively long growing season. The area’s climate is moderated by the nearness of the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware River. The largest number of wineries in the state are in this AVA.

Warren Hills AVA

Located in Warren County, the AVA includes several small valleys formed by tributaries of the Delaware River. There are several wineries in this AVA.

Central Delaware Valley AVA

Until recently, there were no New Jersey wineries in this AVA, though there are a few Pennsylvania wineries in the AVA. That all changed when Angelica Winery opened in Lambertville. They opened a couple of weeks ago and I still haven’t gotten a chance to visit them. There are satellite NJ wineries that sell wines from their main facility, but before Angelico Winery there were no NJ wineries making wine in this AVA. This AVA encompasses land on both sides of the Delaware River.

Note: There are several wineries in New Jersey that do not presently have a designated AVA. This should not be interpreted as suggesting these wineries are not as good as those that do. There are several award winning wineries that are not a part of a designated AVA (and a few that are among my favorites). Several are fairly close to the Delaware River.

Cheers!

Coming Attractions

• Angelico Winery in Lambertville-My first look and taste
• An Interview with a Wine Professional

You still have time to download your ebook version of my handbook of New Jersey wine and wineries:

New Jersey Uncorked: A Snob-Free Taste of NJ Wine. Hurry now and you can get it for ONLY $7.99. You can only get the ebook at the Apple iBook app and you must use the code Summer22.

Tried a New Jersey wine lately? Visited a NJ winery recently? Please share your experience here. Like what you read and see on these pages? It couldn’t be easier to scroll down, hit the “Subscribe” button and get your weekly pour of NJ wine right in your inbox. No spills. No mess.