Autumn Lake Winery is located in Williamstown, a hop, skip, and a jump from my home. Besides the beautiful view of the lake from almost anywhere on their grounds, the winery’s tasting room is also gorgeous. I love that it sits atop a hill, maximizing the views from almost all seating inside and outside.
We decided to do a tasting, since there were three new wines on the menu since our last visit (Chardonnay, Pinotage, and Sauvignon Blanc. The last two are part of their new Travel Series, with grapes from other parts of the world. We also decided to snack on some charcuterie and an excellent new item: Red Wine Biscuits.
Dry Red Wines
- 2021 Blaufrankisch-It is 100% estate grown, with cherry notes and a very smooth finish.
- 2021 Squankum-Chambourcin aged in Bourbon barrels; it is full-bodied and full of flavor, including cherries and vanilla. A smooth winner. I wrote about the previous vintage and the story behind its name here: https://wp.me/p74VSa-djd
- 2021 Pinotage-Sourced from South Africa, this dark and juicy red is a very good addition to the menu. It is part of their new line in the Traveler Series wines.
Dry White Wines
- 2021 Chardonnay-A medium bodied version with green apple notes.
- 2021 Viognier-A very good version of this wine-fruit forward and medium-bodied.
- Sauvignon Blanc (the other wine from the Traveler Series)-This one was sourced from Chile. It was wonderful! Not the over-the-top grapefruit you see in New Zealand versions, but delicious tropical fruit that is brimming with flavor and a bit more body than most American and New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs.
- 2021 Traminette-Still one of the best Traminettes around, with its famous floral nose, yet dry and refreshing finish.
As we were finishing our wine, Gar Simers (COO) came over and asked if we minded if he joined us. Of course we welcomed him. He also offered to pour us a bit more wine of our choice. We thanked him and chose the Squankum. Gar is a very interesting man with lots of experience (in the wine business and his previous career in the Physical fitness arena, which took him to the Middle East for several years). He’s a great addition to the Autumn Lake Team, at a time when they continue to grow. We really enjoyed talking with Gar and sharing our thoughts about New Jersey wine- past, present, and future.
Our Takeaways are pictured below:
From left to right below:Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, Squankum, Blaufrankisch, Halcyon*, and Traminette.
*The Halcyon was a bonus take-home that I can’t wait to try. It is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. The label is beautiful and depicts a kingfisher (a species that inhabits the Autumn Lake property). Thank you to everyone at Autumn Lake for everything and making this another great visit. We’ll be back soon.
Tanner Brewing Company
Tanner Brewing is located in Haddon Heights. It has only been open for about six months, but they are already making a fair number of different styles and they did not disappoint.
- Coffee Break-A very good coffee Pale Ale (perhaps my favorite in our tasting). ABV=6.4%. The coffee aroma and taste are fantastic. I don’t recommend folks drink with your breakfast…but maybe a late brunch…
- Straight to the Shore (“East meets West IPA”)-a very nice incorporation of both styles, with an ABV=6.8%.
- Head in the Clouds-Double IPA with lots of Citra and Mosaic hops. ABV=7.3%.
- Prospect Ridge-A good Pale Ale that would go great with a burger, pizza, or on its own. ABV=5.0%.
- Rip Current-A Belgian Golden Strong Ale-Beautiful golden color and surprisingly smooth, considering its 8.3% ABV. My wife usually does not like Belgian beers, but she enjoyed this one, too.
- One-Eyed Jack Mosaic-A tasty Pale Ale made with a single malt and a single hop (Mosaic). ABV=6.4%.
Our Takeaway is Pictured below (a four pack of the Stout that is no longer available on tap or to taste)
Another winner!
Coming Attractions
- Bellview Winery
- Balic Winery
- Va La Vineyards
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