Follow the New Jersey wine trail, all summer long

No matter where you are in New Jersey, you’re never more than an hour or so away from one of the state’s more than 50 wineries. With tasting rooms, food, music and events year round, hitting the New Jersey wine trail guarantees a good time.

“There’s something for everyone, we’re not just making one style of wine or growing one kind of grape,” says Tom Cosentino, executive director of the Garden State Wine Growers Association. “We are diverse and eclectic as a state, and as far as our taste buds go, too.”

New Jersey wines have won awards around the country, including five gold medals and one double gold medal at the 2017 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, and four gold medals and one double gold medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition—one of the most prestigious American wine awards.

Grape varietals of all kinds, from cabernet franc to sauvignon blanc, are grown in the state, and New Jersey winemakers are producing nearly any type of wine you can imagine. Try an award-winning Albariño, a crisp, dry, Spanish-style of white, at Cape May Winery. Sample a blueberry wine at Old York Cellars. Sip serious cabernet franc or a sweet red at Sharrott Winery. No matter what you like to drink, you will find it in New Jersey, and you’re likely to discover a new favorite along the way.

Most of the wineries in New Jersey are relatively small, producing only a few thousand cases of their wines each year, which Cosentino says makes for a better experience when you visit. “The tasting rooms have a direct connection to the vineyards,” he explains. “In New Jersey you have a good chance of meeting the winemaker or the owner, when you visit, there’s not tour buses going in and out. You’re able to talk to someone who is directly involved in making that glass of cab you’re drinking.”

While you might be just discovering the joys of New Jersey wines, they have a long and illustrious history. The state has been producing wine since before the Revolutionary War and Renault Vineyard, which was started in 1864, is one of the oldest, continually producing vineyards in the U.S. “New Jersey was once known as the champagne capital of the country,” says Cosentino. “New Jersey champagne was served at JFK’s inaugural.”

All summer long, and throughout the year, wineries around the state create special events to make it even more fun to visit. “They all do something different,” says Cosentino. “Some have live entertainment, others bring in local chocolatiers to collaborate in the tasting room.” Some wineries host festivals, like the Wine & Wings Festival at Cava Winery in Hamburg, N.J. on June 29 and 30, featuring sips from three different producers.

On July 15 and 16 the whole state will participate in the barrel trail weekend, during which winemakers will be giving cellar tours and barrel tasting of wines that are still aging, and not yet ready to sell, offering a peek into the winemaking process. You can also get a wine passport, in either paper or app form, and get it stamped at each winery as you visit. Submit a completed book before May 20 each year to enter to win a trip to another winemaking region. This year’s winner will travel to Texas Hill Country, an up-and-coming wine production area.

For a full list of wineries, events and more passport details, visit the Garden State Wine Growers Association website at www.newjerseywines.com.