Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2022 and has been updated. When you think of the country’s best wine regions, there is of course Napa Valley in California or Willamette Valley in Oregon. However, living in the Garden State has its perks, including a “terroir” unlike any other.
Terroir is French for “sense of place” and is used to describe the environmental factors that affect how a crop is grown and produced. Environmental factors include climate, soil and terrain, which in this case all affect the taste of wine. And in New Jersey, there’s great variance from the northern part of the state all the way to the south, with more than 50 wineries and vineyards in total.
Late summer is also prime time to truly enjoy a vineyard experience, as temperatures tend to cool down a bit and winemakers begin to harvest the grapes for processing as fall approaches. With this in mind we, Lauren Musni and Karim Shamsi-Basha, spent the last few weeks scouring the state’s wine scene, traveling to vineyards and wineries all over New Jersey in search of the best experiences for those ready to sip some red, white, rosé and beyond. Grab a glass of wine, relax and check out these 29 vineyards and wineries around the state, alphabetized by town name.
Four of the wineries are in the Delaware River towns of Columbia, Milford, Phillipsburg and Lambertville, which put them a short drive away from readers in the Lehigh Valley. Ursula Ormston serving a wine flight at Amalthea Cellars in Atco, NJ. (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media) Amalthea Cellars Farm Winery , Atco This family-owned vineyard founded in 1976 by Louis Caracciolo offers wine tastings and select cheeses, meats, crackers, and chips.
But the winery is most popular for their fresh draft wine they call cantina mas – a dry, red wine blended seasonally (four times per year). Guests can buy them in a plastic tote and return with the empty tote for a refill. I enjoyed sips of their off-dry wine tasting flight, with their green dragon tavern muscat (white wine), callisto gris (rosé), and Emilio’s red (red wine with notes of concord grape).
All of these were fruity and bright, great for summer sips in their outdoor seating area. (LM) Wine Flight and Cheese Board at Bellview Winery in Landisville, NJ. (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media) Bellview Winery , Buena Although this winery opened its doors to the public in 2000, the Quarella family has been farming on the same soil for over a century.
Bellview has a variety of tastings, wines on tap, revolving flights and a special vintner’s club as an opportunity for regulars to earn rewards each time they visit. They have an amazing indoor and outdoor seating area complete with shades and fans, with an even better view of their stage for live performances. Try out their weekly specials like their fiesta sangria alongside one of their delicious meat and cheese platters.
(LM) Grapes for different varietals are close to harvest at Cape May winery. Karim Shamsi-Basha Cape May Winery & Vineyard , Cape May Located way down off Exit 0 on the Parkway, Cape May Winery began producing its award-winning wines in 1989 with its first bottle of cabernet sauvignon. Cape May Winery & Vineyard is the fifth-largest in the Garden State, producing over 65,000 cases per year.
Vines harvested sit on 150 acres around Cape May, home to four vineyards and 11 grape varietals. These include chardonnay, cabernet franc. riesling, sauvignon blanc, vidal blanc and pinot noir.
In addition to numerous awards and honors Cape May Winery & Vineyard has amassed, several features catch visitors’ attention. One is the vine chandelier hanging in the tap room, which used to be a tree the kids swung from at the Hayes family home on the Jersey shore. Another is the barrel stave wall in the tap room, used from 30 oak barrels that have served their purpose.
(KSB) Tasting Room Manager Nick Selitto at Brook Hollow Winery, NJ. (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media) Brook Hollow Winery , Columbia Located just minutes from the Pennsylvania border is Brook Hollow Winery, owned by Paul Ritter and his family. This charming vineyard is open seven days a week, complete with a small tasting room and a 10-acre farm field.
Patrons can rent the whole facility out for birthday parties, weddings and more or can attend one of the vineyard’s many events, like their annual pig roast or paint with your pet. Make sure to snag a bottle of their 2020 New Jersey Diamond white table wine that’s fermented, aged, and bottled right on the property. This refreshing wine bursts with the flavor of tropical fruit, perfect for the warmer months of the year.
(LM) A post shared by Iron Plow Vineyards (@ironplowvineyards) Iron Plow Vineyards , Columbus This winery sits on 62 acres of farmland that was built in 1690 by the Thomas Revell family and was originally named Boythorpe Plantation. Fast forward to 2013, owners Scott and Sara Shumway planted four acres of vineyards on the land and renamed the estate as Iron Plow Vineyards. Since then, they’ve been offering wine tastings at both the vineyard and their tasting room in Mount Holly.
Guests are welcome to bring their own food or can purchase the vineyard’s select artisan cheeses, honey, charcuterie boards and crackers. (LM) Guests can feast on fruity wines at Cream Ridge Winery. Karim Shamsi-Basha Cream Ridge Winery , Cream Ridge Founded in 1988, Cream Ridge Winery touts 30 years of making fine wines on 14 acres in a rural section of Monmouth County.
Known for their fruit wines, Cream Ridge Winery offers unique varieties including apricot, kiwi, mango and pineapple. Most popular is the almond berry, a unique combination of raspberries and Niagara berries with almond extract. Traditional varieties include pinot grigio, merlot, rose, chambourcin and a sweet riesling.
The Walnford is their most popular dry red wine, a blend of cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. Perfect for the season is the Spring Tide Sangria, which (according to their website) is made with plums, sunshine and love! (KSB) The white flight at Renault Winery Resort & Golf includes the famous Fleur de Blanc. Karim Shamsi-Basha Renault Winery , Egg Harbor City General Manager Kevin McCarty and his team are fully aware of the rich history at Renault Winery, but something more specific has risen as their purpose.
“Intentionality defines everything we do here at Renault Winery. We intentionally make the guest feel appreciated each time they step on property,” McCarty said. “It does not hurt that we have a historic 156-year-old winery and award-winning wines, all combined with beautiful overnight accommodations.
” Renault Winery includes Chateau Renault hotel with 55 rooms and suites, along with the championship 18-hole golf course: Vineyard National. Wines produced feature the popular fleur de blanc with its strong aromas of honeysuckle, lemon verbena and peach blossom. A well-known red vintage is the cabernet franc reserve, a mélange of flavors including bramble fruit, cedar, candid cherry, tobacco and leather.
For years now, the most sought label at Renault Winery has been the blueberry champaign with aromas of blueberry and a crisp palate, followed by a sweet finish. (KSB) Larry Sharrott and his son Larry Sharrot 3rd taste a Cabernet at their winery. Karim Shamsi-Basha Sharrott Winery , Hammonton “It all starts with the farm,” said owner Larry Sharrott, who founded the winery in 2008 with his son, also named Larry.
Since then, they have won several awards including best chardonnay in The Finger Lakes International. Over the years, Sharrott Winery has been recognized in the New Jersey Governor’s Cup for different varieties. Wines available at Sharrott winery include the petit verdo, vidal blanc, chambourcin and a port-style wine named Wicked, which tastes much like a port with dark cherry and chocolate flavors.
Sweet and smooth, the port had enough complexity to earn the name. An unusual grape at Sharrott Winery is the vignoles, a French American hybrid with a wide range from dry to sweet to late-harvest dessert wine. (KSB) Tomasello Winery has many locations around the Garden State, like this one in Cranford, to sample their wines.
Karim Shamsi-Basha Tomasello Winery , Hammonton During prohibition, many wine makers became traditional farmers. In the 1930s, Frank Tomasello was a berry farmer in Hammonton known for his raspberries, peaches and sweet potatoes. But when the federal government repealed the prohibition in 1933, Tomasello drove his truck through a snowstorm and was first in line for his winery license in Washington D.
C. Tomasello Winery had license No. 68 for the entire United States.
“To make great wine, you need a few key ingredients,” Jack Tomasello said. “Naturally, things like good soil, healthy vines, sunlight, plentiful grapes and good barrels are all necessary. However, truly great wines require something more, something our family has cultivated alongside our 70 acres of premium varietals since 1933: Work and passion.
” Among others, Tomasello has wineries in Hammonton, Cranford, Lambertville, Mount Holly and Smithville. Wines are sold all over the United States plus Asian countries like Japan, China, Vietnam, Taiwan and Indonesia. (KSB) A post shared by Kennedy Cellars Winery (@kennedycellarsnj) Kennedy Cellars, Hammonton This winery is much more than a winery! It was founded by Jack Kennedy who purchased the wine school in 2016 and worked for years to perfect their delectable vintages.
You can enjoy their wines at the tasting room or at one of their events. For those wanting to learn about wine, you can attend one of their informative winemaking classes. A wine that will dazzle is the Montepulciano, aged in bourbon barrels with aromas of smoke and a cherry vanilla mid-palate.
(KSB) Wine and Dine at Fox Hollow Vineyards in Holmdel, NJ. (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media) Fox Hollow Vineyards , Holmdel The ways of farming and cultivation have been passed down in the Casola family for six generations and ongoing. The family opened this 94-acre vineyard in 2016 and has been growing grapes ever since.
Customers may purchase a bottle or enjoy a glass of wine in their huge outdoor seating area with tables, umbrellas, a stage for live music and even a few fire pits! Although, what I love most about his winery is their extensive food menu, featuring homemade flatbreads, sandwiches and paninis, salads and desserts. (LM) A post shared by Angelico Winery (@angelico_winery) Angelico Winery , Lambertville The family that owns this humble winery immigrated to the United State in 2002, bringing together cultures from Italy and China. They eventually opened this vineyard in 2022 growing Italian grapes in this 10-acre of vineyard.
Enjoy a glass of wine in their tasting room, which is a refurbished barn, while munching on a small plate of select meats and cheeses or sandwiches. The winery is open Wednesday to Friday and Sunday from 12 p.m.
to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 p.
m. to 5 p.m.
(LM) Vineyards at Balic Winery in Mays Landing, NJ. (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media) Balic Winery , Mays Landing Balic comprises a 57-acre vineyard that produces more than 27 award-winning wines. The founder, Savo Balíc migrated to the United States from Europe in 1966 to fulfill his lifelong dream of bringing European influence to the American wine scene.
Customers can buy a bottle of one of their wines and are encouraged to BYOF (bring your own food) to wine and dine in their outdoor seating area. You may even get a chance to run into the vineyard dog, Mariah who likes to hangout in the gazebo. This winery also produces pumpkin wine – who’s ready for autumn? – and it was absolutely wonderful, a must-try.
(LM) Limestones in the earth give Alba Vineyard wines a unique flavor. Karim Shamsi-Basha Alba Vineyard , Milford Way out in western New Jersey, Alba Vineyard owner Tom Sharco has continued his family’s farming legacy. “Making wine is all about a huge commitment to farming,” Sharco said.
“We are a 100% estate vineyard that produces Chardonnay, Pinot, cab frank, resiling and more. Our unique flavors come from the lime in our soil here in the Musconetcong River Valley.” Most of the plots on Alba Vineyard are on sloped terrain facing southern exposure, which provides the vines with ample sun.
In addition, the winemakers use French oak barrels with its tighter grain, resulting in less oxidization and enhancing the flavors of the wine. Most prized among the labels is the 2015 vintage port, made from chambourcin grapes and fermented with classic French yeast. This wine has a rich cherry character with a touch of brandy.
(KSB) Richard Heritage continues his family's legacy in making wine. Karim Shamsi-Basha William Heritage Winery , Mullica Hill Richard Heritage helped his parents start the winery in 1988. “My family has farmed this land since 1863.
We needed something new to save the farm; apples and peaches were barely making it. We planted vineyards and began making wine, which saved our family farm,” Heritage said. William Heritage Winery includes low-yielding vineyards, which produce less grapes but result with more intense flavors.
They also employ the dense-planting method which forces the roots to reach down deeper, enhancing the flavors of the grapes. Their top-rated merlot is the BDX (Bordeaux) red blend, which won 95 points from Tastings.com .
Early current ratings shows William Heritage Winery is number one in the state.Every Thursday this summer, William Heritage Winery is holding Vino & Vibes with live music and wines by the glass. (KSB) The tasting room is a popular place at Laurita Winery.
Karim Shamsi-Basha Laurita Winery , New Egypt Winning big honors is no big deal at Laurita Winery. In 2022, they won Best Winery in New Jersey from Eat This Not That, and Best Tourism Achievement Award by Monmouth Ocean development council. Wines offered at this sustainable winery in New Egypt include chardonnay, cabernet, merlot, pinot gris, lemberger, chambourcin and zweigelt.
The buildings are made from reclaimed materials and is also an eco-destination for those interested in conservation and sustainability. The main building combines two 150-year-old barns, and solar panels are used for heat, cooling and refrigeration. Other sustainable principles, such as water retention and conservation, enhance the natural environment and allows much wildlife to inhabit the grounds.
A hugely popular feature is the Inn Hotel & Spa at Laurita Winery, and the Laurita Equestrian Center, offering trail rides at the beautiful woods surrounding the winery. (KSB) Sign at Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington, NJ. (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media) Hopewell Valley Vineyards , Pennington Violetta and Sergio Neri wanted a place where people could experience world class wines in a beautiful environment while enjoying the company of family and friends.
So they planted their vineyard in 2001 and opened Hopewell Valley Vineyards in 2003 with, 25 acres of grapes producing about 6,000 cases of wine per year. I loved the atmosphere here. Sit down in their patio area overlooking their whole vineyard, sip a glass of Bramante wine (sparkling wine from the white Moscato grape) and chow down on their homemade spanakopita (Greek spinach pie) or personal sized pizza.
(LM) Farmhouse at Little Ridge Vineyards in Phillipsburg, NJ. (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media) Little Ridge Vineyards , Phillipsburg Little Ridge is a hidden vineyard in the hills of Warren County. Owners William and Abigail Posema’s shared passion for agriculture led them to open this vineyard in the beginning of the 2021 summer season.
They’re open on Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 8 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.
m., offering wine tastings and hosting a variety of food trucks and local caterers on site. Don’t leave this vineyard without making the short walk up the hill to score a breathtaking view overlooking parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
(LM) Nothing compliments a cheese plate like the Dry Rose at Beneduce Vineyards. Karim Shamsi-Basha Beneduce Vineyards , Pittstown Mike Beneduce won New Jersey Farmer of the Year in 2002 and the honor only strengthened his strong belief and commitment to Garden State wine. “New Jersey has the potential to be one of the best wine producing regions on the East Coast,” Beneduce said.
“We have cool nights for the grapes to have acidity and freshness, and warm days for them to ripen into aromatic and full body wines.” The Beneduce family began this vineyard in 2000, but making wine goes back four generations to when their ancestors emigrated from Italy in the early 1900s. The winery produces several varieties including gewurztraminer, riesling, rose, cabernet franc and a cabernet/malbec blend.
They offer weekly live music events in the summer that are light-heartedly named: Group Therapy! (KSB) Grapes await the harvest in early October at Auburn Road Vineyard and Winery. Karim Shamsi-Basha Auburn Road Vineyards , Pilesgrove Co-owner and winemaker Julianne Donnini is clear on her role at Auburn Road Winery: “I realize sometimes I’m recognized because a woman winemaker is not the usual thing, but I don’t want false accolades because I’m a woman. I want real accolades because I make freaking good wine.
” Donnini practiced law in Philadelphia for ten years before embarking on the wine trail. Now she uses old-world style and small batch fermentation to produce varieties including petit verdot, cabernet franc, chambourcin and pinto Grigio. The vineyard was planted in 2003 and sits with the Delaware River to the West and the Atlantic Ocean to the East, resulting in the preferred temperate climate for the grapes.
(KSB) A post shared by Salem Oak Vineyards (@salemoakvineyards) Salem Oaks Vineyards , Pedricktown A family farm, Salem Oak Vineyards hosts private events, weddings and craft/painting events. Vines grow on the coastal plains of the Garden State and are aligned with Southern France. They are also treated to a sea breeze from the east and mountains to the west.
This combination allows a wide range from dry to sweet white, red and rose wines. Among other honors, Salem Oak Vineyards has received the Best of New Jersey silver medal for their Chambourcin, and the Best Fruit Wine in New Jersey in 2019 for the Triple Twin Strawberry. For the chocolate lover, Salem Oak Vineyards offers a chocolate and wine tasting for your living room.
It comes with three bottles of wine, two chocolate shot cups and six pieces of chocolate. (KSB) Patrons celebrate family and fun at Old York Cellars. Karim Shamsi-Basha Old York Cellars , Ringoes Like many businesses during the pandemic, David Wolin had to offer outdoor seating and live music to attract customers.
This proved to be a huge success at his vineyard. “We did it out of necessity, but it was the best thing we have ever done,” Wolin said. “We are a family friendly winery, and we encourage folks to bring their children and enjoy the grounds, music, food and all that we offer in addition to fabulous wine.
” Wolin has intentionally promoted his winery to attract a diverse clientele. “We’ve been working for years to bring people from all walks of life to our winery,” Wolin said. “We celebrate the diversity of New Jersey and would like to represent that win our visitors.
If you look at our social media pages, you will see our love for all people in action.” Live music is offered at Old York Cellars every Friday, Saturday and Sunday this summer. (KSB) Unionville features a popular Chardonnay among several other varietals of wine.
Karim Shamsi-Basha Unionville Vineyards , Ringoes Owner Andrew Farantio and his team have planted vines in six different vineyards traversing three New Jersey counties. “This results in an incredible variety of soil and climate, which gives our winemakers a wide range of grapes to work with,” Farantio said. “The result is a spectacular list of wines we produce every year.
” In 1987, the vineyards began with chambourcin and vidal blanc grapes. Later, more varieties were introduced including chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and riesling. “The typography of our vineyards yields unique characteristics in our wines, especially the Riesling with its fruity acidity and Cabernet Sauvignon with its dark berry flavors,” Farantio said.
Recent awards include 90 Points from Wine Enthusiast magazine for the 2019 Home Vineyard Chardonnay, and another 90 Points for the 2019 Hunterdon Mistral Rouge. (KSB) These are some of the well-known varietals at Velanzano Family Winery. Karim Shamsi-Basha Valenzano Family Winery , Shamong Growing a passion into livelihood is a dream of most people, and the Valenzano family has done that since 1996 with their first commercial wine.
Among numerous honors, Valenzano Family Winery has won gold medals from the Indy International Wine Competition, the Finger Lakes Wine Competition and the coveted New Jersey Governor’s Cup. “We don’t get too caught up on accolades regarding wine,” Anthony Valenzano said. “We make wines that are original and of the highest quality.
Our customers appreciate the efforts we put into our winery.” Valenzano sits on 88 acres in Shamong and produces countless varieties including chardonnay, vidal blanc, chambourcin and cabernet franc. Their Shamong label in known for its sweet and fruit-forward flavors.
The Harvest label features blueberry, cranberry, pears, plums and raspberry wines. With grapes sourced from Valenzano wineries across the country, the Destinations label includes a sangiovese and a riesling from California, and a malbec from Wyoming. A limited release wine made from honey is the Jersey Devil Meadery.
(KS) A post shared by Cedarvale Winery (@cedarvale_winery) Cedarvale Winery , Swedesboro The Gaventa family originally bought this land in 1995 for growing fruits and vegetables. In 2004, they decided to plant their first vineyard and began operating as a winery in 2008. Guests can grab a bottle of wine, do a wine tasting, or enjoy wine flights.
They also have food for purchase, but you can also bring food of your own. Stop by this winery for events like live music, paint n’ sip, and drag queen bingo. (LM) Owner, Bill Green and marketing director, Julie Pierre of Saddlehill Winery in Voorhees, NJ (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media) Lauren Musni Saddlehill Winery , Voorhees This is no ordinary winery.
The whole property sits on historic land gifted by George Washington . Owner Bill Green and his wife, Amy opened the winery earlier this year after purchasing the land in March 2021. For three years, they restored and built what Saddlehill Winery is today – now operating as a farm, full-scale winery, tasting room, farm-to-table kitchen and retail shop.
They still strive to preserve the cherished land’s history by restoring its old horse track and housing three carriages. Guests can choose to sample from 17 of their crafted wines and enjoy their delicious menu items in their stunning tasting and dining room. (LM) Its vineyards established in 2012, Autumn Lake Winery in Willliamstown aims to creates wines of superior quality from its cultivated grapes in the Outer Coastal Plain (AVA) region in southern New Jersey.
Autumn Lake Winery , Williamstown This 115-acre winery has been opened since 2016 with its 16-acre lake and nine acres of vineyard. Owner Mark Hernandez never planned to make this land a winery, but as he started to grow his own grapes it just naturally gravitated toward that direction. Autumn Lake is most known for their traminette grape which crosses Gewürztraminer and Johannes Seyve, a French-American varietal.
They offer wine by the glass or bottle and have charcuterie boxes available for purchase. Check out their website for festivals, live entertainment, and bonfire events during the cooler months. (LM) A post shared by Blue Cork Winery & Vineyard (@bluecorkwine) Blue Cork Winery and Vineyard , Williamstown Owner Angelo Tantaros grew up in Greece on a farm.
He learned several winemaking practices and made the move to America at 20 years old with hopes to one day open a winery of his own. When he met his wife, Michelle, who also grew up around agriculture, they wanted to start this wine journey together – purchasing the land in 2012 and planting their first vines in 2014. Blue Cork offers wine and port flights, wine slushies and sangria with guided wine tastings and tours.
They also partner up with Milano Pizza & Cafe in Williamstown that will deliver food directly to a customer’s table. (LM) A post shared by DiBella Winery (@dibellawinery) Dibella Winery , Woolwich Township Owned by Will and Julie Dibella, this winery is a family affair. The couple is a fourth-generation farmers who planted the grapes in 2002, and now, they are harvesting the rewards with tasty wines.
They offer a variety of vintages including blush, blueberry, chardonnay, merlot and a white wine that is a blend of pinot grigio, chardonnay and cayuga grapes. The Dibella Winery offers several events throughout the year as well as live music. (KSB) Related coverage Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.
Lauren Musni may be reached at [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter @Laurengmusni and on Instagram .
Find NJ.com on Facebook . Karim Shamsi-Basha may be reached at kshamsi-basha@njadvancemedia.
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