On our Anniversary weekend, Melissa and I were looking to do something on Friday night.  I knew that Diliberto Winery in Jamesport had “Music under the Stars”.  Diliberto Winery pours the wine, you bring the food.  So, Melissa packed a wonderful picnic and headed out to Diliberto Winery.

Diliberto Winery is in Jamesport on Manor Road, right in-between Sound Avenue and Route 25.  It is a little family run vineyard started by Sal Diliberto and his wife Maryann.  I visited Diliberto in the spring and loved their wine.  They have a beautiful setting with a Gazebo, tables and chairs and beautiful wall mural that takes you back to the Diliberto’s native Italy.  Diliberto is a charming place to visit, and because it is off the main drag, it is nice escape.

There is one thing I must point out about this winery.  There are no children allowed.  That is due in part to the portraits around the tasting room and in the restrooms of half naked women.  Keep in mind, the pictures are works of art and beautifully done.  I honestly have no issue with them, and to be honest, I have to sketches in my living room that would fit perfectly at Diliberto Winery.

It was a beautiful night when we arrived; there was a subtle breeze and a cool crisp dry night.  Melissa made a wonderful Gazpacho, along with caponata sandwiches and a wonderful fruit salad.  If I beg she might give me the recipe.

I wanted a bottle of their Rose, but Melissa is not a fan of any Rose.  So we opted for their Chardonnay.  I am sorry to say, I don’t recall the vintage.  We devoured the food and the bottle of wine in no time.  From my memory (I was not taking notes, this was a date) there was a subtle toast and floral on the nose.  Upon tasting there was the slightest hint of toast, there was some buttery notes with some green fruit flavors, (Apple and some kiwi) this was oaked, but not over oaked.  There was a touch of acidity at the end that was balancing this wine out.

I then wanted to have a bottle of their wine that I had and loved in the spring.  The Diliberto Winery 2004 Cantina ($20).  It is named after a wine cellar that some of the Diliberto families store their wine.  Cantina is a red table wine with a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot.  This is supposed to be Chianti like wine.

On the nose, there is whole lot of Dark Berries.  I was getting some earthy notes, some tobacco and a nice green herbal aroma.  I love when I get a little basil or mint on the nose in wine.

The taste was a wonderful blend of dark berries and spice.  I tasted some blackberry and black cherry.  There was a hint of smoke and a little vanilla.  In the end I was getting some coca.  The balance was very nice; the tannins allowed the fruit to show and rounded this wine out.

This is a light to medium body wine.  The finish was a little spicy peppery that did not linger to long, just long enough.  It is a great food wine.  It is a nice everyday drinking wine.  It did remind me of Chianti.

I don’t know if this is done every week, because I was our first time there for “Music under the Stars”, but Sal made homemade pizza with fresh tomatoes on his grill and gave everyone a slice.  It was so good.  Next to the acoustic music and the wine, this was the highlight of the night.

I recommend this wine not only for the price but also for the wine itself.  It is a great value and you get allot out of it.  Bring this to your next dinner party or the next time you make Bolognese and this will get some big eyes.

And next year, make sure you check out Diliberto Winery for their “Music under the Stars” on Friday nights.  It is a great way to spend an evening, have some nice conversation with the person you love, at a winery you will love as well.