On Thursday, my wife and I visited New Jersey’s newest winery, Saddlehill Cellars. Located in Voorhees, the owners have clearly spared no expense to make this a beautiful venue and offer a first class experience. There is quite a history to this property, as well. A very brief history is given on the back of their wine bottles. George Washington gave this land to his loyal guard, Lt. John Stafford. The Staffords grew mostly potatoes and corn until the 20th century, when they shifted to growing hay and began horse harness racing. In 2003, the Stafford legacy of farming was preserved by the Land Trust of New Jersey, ensuring the land now known as Saddlehill will always remain farmland. Over time, the farm infrastructure began to fall into disrepair. In March, 2021 Amy and Bill Green purchased the land. Horses remain a fixture, joined by some very cute alpacas. Farming continues, but now grapes are the primary focus of the farm.
Upon entering their property, we were greeted by their alpacas (shown below).
The grounds of this winery are beautiful and there are picnic tables scattered along the vineyard. The tasting room itself is huge and elegant, with seating on a couple sides of the adjoining patio.
The grapes were only planted about three years ago, but in the meantime, the winemaker, Peter Szerdahelyi, has been making wines from local growers, like Orley Ashenfelter, as well as sourcing grapes from afar. Peter has been a winemaker in several great winemaking regions around the world.
My wife and I shared three flights: a White flight, a Red flight, and the third flight was a mix of wines we really wanted to try, but were not included in the basic flights. We were happy to pay an upcharge in order to taste four additional wines that are truly special. Our server, Grace, was a ray of sunshine on this cloudy and windy day. She was very enthusiastic and very helpful.
White Flight
- Sauvignon Blanc-A very good dry version, that is 75% from estate grown grapes (eventually it will be 100%). This was my favorite in this flight, with ripe tropical fruit on the palate.
- Estate Chardonnay-An unoaked Chardonnay made with their estate-grown grapes. It offered hints of citrus, pear, and apple.
- Rosata-A nice dry Rose with notes of strawberry; made with Cab, Cab Franc, Merlot, Syrah, and Chambourcin.
- Starflower-An off dry white blend made with Cayuga, Vidal Blanc, Traminette, and Chardonnay. The aroma is wonderful and the sweetness is not cloying.
Red Flight
I must say that, at least at this point, the red wines appear to be their strong suit here, with a greater number of offerings, and the super quality of those tasted.
- Cabernet Franc-A very good Cab Franc, sourced from Ashenfelter Vineyards. Characteristic notes of bell pepper and super smooth.
- Merlot-This American Merlot is as smooth as silk and very tasty. Should make those who have scoffed at Merlot since “Sideways” give it another try.
- Lisa’s-A very good light red blend of red and black fruits. Smooth and tasty.
- Cabernet Sauvignon-Sourced from Orley Ashenfelter’s vineyards in Vineland, this is an excellent Cab with balanced structure and smooth tannins.
Miscellaneous Flight
- Grand Reserve Chardonnay-A tasty American oaked version with delicious tropical flavors.
- Syrah-A wonderful medium+ bodied version, with ripe cherries and a hint of spice.
- Vintner’s Reserve-Pricey, but special full-bodied Bordeaux-style blend of Cab, Petit Verdot, Cab Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Syrah. Delicious!
- Vinho de Sobremesa (Port-style)-Very recently bottled, but already wonderful! Already wishing I brought home a bottle to enjoy with some chocolate.
We also ordered a charcuterie plate (“The Cowboy”). The cheeses included manchego, goat, and gruyere. The meats included Prosciutto, Soppressata, and Coppa, with Saddlehill fig jam, grapes, walnuts, and artisan crackers (pictured below).
Shortly before we left, we got to meet the Proprietor, Bill Green (in his 10 gallon hat). We loved this charming winery and will definitely be back in the very near future. In the meantime, we did get to take home a couple of friends…
Eclipse at Eclipse Brewing
I had to do a brief follow-up to last week’s post on Eclipse Brewing. After all, I followed up by viewing the Solar Eclipse at Eclipse Brewing. How cool is that? We were provided official viewing glasses that met all necessary specs. Chris, the brewer and owner (who I got a chance to meet) made a Pale Ale just for the occasion. We got to eat our great veggie paninis from Red’s Rolling Restaurant, while listening to a Pink Floyd cover band, playing songs from Dark Side of the Moon. How great is that?! While we did not get to see a 100% Total Eclipse, it was estimated to be around 85-90% and amazing. My photo below does not really capture the moment, but still a bit eery…and mesmerizing. We Totally 100% enjoyed ourselves. We won’t wait until the next eclipse to return!
Coming Attractions
- Spring Fling Weekend at Bellview Winery
- Va La Vineyards
- Another NJ Wine of the Week
- Face-Off #2
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