Anyone who loves wine knows it only gets better with age. On Saturday, Jan. 14 and Sunday, Jan. 15, Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery will offer guests a rare opportunity to try some of their best wines that have been aging gracefully in their winemaker’s private cellar. Visitors will be invited into the Hawk Haven barrel room to experience previous vintages including the 2008 Merlot, 2009 Talon, 2012 Quill, 2014 Signature Series Reserve Chardonnay, 2015 Signature Series Gewurztraminer and 2015 Signature Series Viognier. Most exciting on the list will be the 2012 Signature Series Cabernet Franc, winner of the New Jersey Wine Competition’s Governor’s Cup in 2016.
What makes these wines different now compared to when they were first released? “You can absolutely taste the passage of time,” said Todd Wuerker, winemaker. “After bottling, the fruity notes are packed in tightly with more pronounced qualities from the barrel. Once the wine got used to its new home, the fruit lost its inhibitions and rushed to the forefront. Now, time has allowed the flavors of fruit and oak to marry.” And what a beautiful marriage it is!
“You can find the terroir from year to year,” added Lou Harvey, assistant winemaker. “This wine is alive!”
Learn more about things like “terroir” and experience the wines for yourself at this extraordinary Cellar Tasting. Cost is $20 per person, and all of the wines will be available for purchase this weekend only and while supplies last. Only a handful of cases remain for each wine and they are expected to sell out quickly.
Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery is located at 600 South Railroad Ave., Rio Grande. The tasting room is open daily, year-round for wine tastings, winery tours, live music events, wine pairing dinners and more. For more information, visit www.hawkhavenvineyard.com or call (609) 846-7347.