This week’s Weekly Wine Review brings us to a unique New Jersey wine that puts a local spin on a classic style.
This week’s sip was Chambrusco from Beneduce Vineyards, part of their Crafted Series. We were looking for a wine that would pair well with a casual meal, and this sparkling red turned out to be a fun one to explore.
Chambrusco is made with 100% estate-grown Chambourcin grapes, a French-American hybrid varietal that has become a great fit for New Jersey vineyards.
Chambourcin is known for producing wines with deep color, fruit-forward flavors, and a nice balance of acidity — making it a grape that many Garden State wineries continue to showcase.
What Is a Lambrusco-Style Sparkling Red Wine?
Lambrusco is a style of sparkling red wine that originated in Italy. These wines are known for their bright fruit flavors, refreshing bubbles, and ability to pair well with food.
Lambrusco can range from sweet to dry, and while traditional versions are made from Lambrusco grape varieties, winemakers have created their own interpretations using different grapes.
Beneduce Vineyards’ Chambrusco gives this style a New Jersey twist by using estate-grown Chambourcin and highlighting what local vineyards can do with this unique varietal.
Chambourcin Wine From New Jersey: Chambrusco Tasting Notes
We decided to put our “work in progress” tasting skills to the test and started sipping before dinner. We chose this particular wine because pizza was on the menu. I apologize in advance because we were so caught up in tasting and enjoying the pizza that we completely forgot to take some shots of our slices along with our sips.
In the glass, Chambrusco has a deep, dark red, almost purple color that makes it appear like a full-bodied red wine.
But once you notice the soft bubbles, you realize this is something different. This isn’t a traditional sparkling wine with heavy carbonation. Instead, Chambrusco has a light frizzante-style sparkle that makes it crisp and refreshing.
On the nose, we picked up fruit-forward aromas of blackberry and hints of cranberry. There were slight earthy aromas as well.
The first sip brought flavors of dark fruit and blackberry along with a crisp citrus acidity. There was a noticeable tartness that balanced nicely with the bubbles, giving the wine a refreshing finish.
Even though Chambrusco looks like a bold red, it drinks much lighter than expected. It’s smooth, approachable, and easy to enjoy.
Weekly Wine Review Breakdown: Beneduce Vineyards Chambrusco Wine Details
Wine: Chambrusco
Producer: Beneduce Vineyards
Varietal: Chambourcin
Vintage: 2024
ABV: 11.9%
Style: Dry Lambrusco-style sparkling red wine
Best Food Pairings for Chambrusco Sparkling Red Wine
One of the best things about Chambrusco is how well it works with different foods.
For this tasting, we enjoyed it with pizza — and it was a great match. The bright fruit flavors, acidity, and bubbles helped balance the richness of toppings like pepperoni and sausage.
This wine would also pair well with:
- Charcuterie boards
- Rich cheeses
- Burgers and grilled foods
- Sausage dishes
- Hearty appetizers
Beneduce Vineyards continues to show how New Jersey-grown grapes can create interesting and memorable wines. Chambrusco is a great example of taking a familiar wine style and giving it a local identity.
Check out Beneduce Vineyards to learn more about Chambrusco and explore the other wines in their Crafted Series. Have you been to Beneduce Vineyards? If so, what was one of your favorites?
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