For a good time, hit a NJ wine trail

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

“Our wineries offer a unique destination experience, drawing consumers from all over New Jersey and neighboring states,” says Tom Cosentino, the Executive Director of the Garden State Wine Growers Association. “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 from offering live entertainment, to collaborating with local food and craft artisans to heighten the experience for visitors.”

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 Cabernet Franc you’re drinking.”

On July 14 and 15, 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 15 each year to enter to win a trip to a renowned winemaking region. Last year’s winner traveled to Texas Hill Country, an up-andcoming 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.