The newly opened Blue Cork Winery in Williamstown, NJ offers delightful wines, leafy vineyards flanked by crimson rose bushes, plenty of patio seating for events and live music, food trucks and a ton of potential. It is very rare for me to like every single wine offered at a tasting but I am pleased to report that this was one of those times.
We started with the steel-aged Chardonnay, which was smooth and citrusy but what came next was the biggest surprise of all – the Chardonnay Oak. Normally I dislike all things oaky yet this particular Chardonnay was soft on the oakiness with vanilla overtones and a hint of butter. Then came the strawberry scrumptious Cabernet Franc Rose, the apple-pear perfection of the Blue Cork White Blend, and finally, the tartly sweet Blue Cork Apple.
Blue Cork’s soft opening was on May 1st so our tastings were conducted in the barrel room, which was more spacious and atmospheric than many official tasting rooms. As he guided us through our tastings, Blue Cork’s personable owner Angelo Tantaros shared his vision with us which included the openings of the onsite restaurant and the large tasting room in the front of this picturesque property. I for one can’t wait to see what the future will hold for this promising new winery.