Impromtu Tasting at Turdo Vineyards

Turdo Vineyards is located about 3/4 mile from my house in Cape May, NJ. Sad to say the last time I visited them was 2009. (to see the post click here)  Not much has changed except the Cape May wine scene has grown.  They are still a nice boutique winery located in Cape May toward the ferry.  They produce mostly Italian varietals with the majority of them estate grown.

I went there to pick up some wine Carlo DeVito of Hudson-Chatham Winery had ordered.  On my way home from the fish market I stopped in and of course found my self belly up tasting the wines with Sal's wife Sarah who is a lovely charming person.  Even though the tasting room was quite busy (it was a cloudy beach day) she still gave me attention.

Here is a summary of what I tasted.

2012 Bianco Rielsing - This wine is under the DiLuca label and the grapes in this wine are sourced from a vineyard in Ocean View NJ.  This is a nice dry Riesling full of citrus.  Hints of lime, grapefruit and lemon give way to some peach breakthrough on the finish. $15

2012 Bianco Albarino - Another wine under the DiLuca Label.  I found floral notes on the nose with hints of peach, orange and distant jasmine.  Stone fruit filled the palate with soft dried apricot towards the finish.  Nice finish.  I purchased this wine to go with the shrimp I had in the car for dinner. $16

2012 Pinot Grigio -  Nice and crisp with a citrus finish $16

2012 Sauvignon Blanc - A medium bodied made in the Bordeaux style.  soft flavors of melon, lemon and grapefruit $17

2012 Pinot Noir - Estate grown and aged in French Oakfor 24 months.  Aromas of smoke, cherry and strawberry filled the glass.  The wine had nice earthy tones with layers of cherry, strawberry and a bit of cranberry towards the finish. $25

2012 Barbera - Great berry aroma on the nose with hints of vanilla.  Nice fresh red berry fruit, acidic with hints of vanilla and some black cherry towards the finish.  $25

2011 Persara - This wine is the red blend Sal and his son Luca made for Sarah and Luca designed the label. The base for the wine is Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese.  The wine is full of dark dried fruit.  $24

2012 Nero D'Avola - this is their signature wine.  The indigenous grape of Sicily they are the only vineyard on the east coast that grows this varietal. It was a very lovely wine.  The aromas were beautiful.  Layers of fresh berries, tea leaves and a hint of licorice.  Flavors of black cherry, plum and a hint of black raspberry filled my palate with a slight hint of spice on the finish $29

If you are down in Cape May, this is definitely a winery you want to visit.

Memorial Day on the Outer Coastal Plain AVA

Can you believe it, we are coming up to Memorial Day weekend, the beginning of the summer.  Time goes by to fast these days!  What will you be doing this weekend?

I've been very fortunate to be able to go to Cape May for many years and now have my own home to go to there.  I've written before about the wineries of that region and have watched the region grow, but I plan to explore them in more detail now that I will be visiting the region more than once or twice a year, but making the region my second home.

The wineries of Cape May are part of the Outer Coastal Plain AVA. Yes there is actually a designated AVA.  The Outer Coastal Plain AVA wine appellation covers the counties of Cumberland, Cape May, Atlantic, Ocean, and portions of Salem, Gloucester, Camden, Burlington and Monmouth.  They have well drained sandy or sandy loam soils with moderate fertility and a long growing season. There are 27 wineries and growing in this region.

I will admit first things first when I head down to the region - it's the beach for me.  I am a sun worshiper at it's best  baking on the beach.  But there is always time on my way home to stop at a winery and I plan on taking part in some winery events along the way.

I will visit the new wineries and the established ones and am looking forward to seeing how they have grown.

Also on the agenda is New Jersey Craft Beer.  Yes there is a craft beer movement in New Jersey and the first brewery on my list to visit is the Cape May Brewery.  I even purchased a NJ Craft Beer membership. Any suggestions on must try NJ Craft beer?

Let the summer begin!

Turdo Vineyards

Turdo Vineyards

Natali Vineyards

Jessie Creek Winery