Discover NEW JERSEY
Wine Country
Our New Jersey Wine Travel Guide shares a brief history of the state's wine country, terroir, where to sip, where to stay and things to do beyond the vines.
Every 50 of the United States produces wine. With four officially designated American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) and 50+ wineries, the New Jersey wine country is one worth sipping in.
WHERE IS NEW JERSEY WINE COUNTRY?
The major wine growing regions that have emerged in New Jersey include Warren County/Hunterdon County in the north, Hammonton in the south, and Cape May at the southernmost tip of the state, although there are quality wineries outside of the each of those regions.
BEST TIMES TO VISIT
The best time to visit New Jersey wineries is in the late spring/early summer when the vines are filling out and the weather hasn’t gotten too hot or humid. Many wineries host outdoor events with live music and food trucks. It’s also the beginning of the festival season.
TOP GRAPE VARIETIES IN NEW JERSEY
White Grapes
- Albarino
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Grigio
- Riesling
- Traminette
- Vidal Blanc
- Viognier
RED Wine Grapes
- Blaurfrankisch
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Chambourcin
- Merlot
- Petit Verdot
- Pinot Noir
- Syrah
HISTORY of NEW JERSEY WINE COUNTRY
New Jersey has about 2,000 acres of farmland dedicated to growing wine grapes, and that is steadily increasing.
Like most states, New Jersey produced wine before Prohibition shut down most of the wineries in the country. After Prohibition it took over half a century for the state to become a wine destination.
Hampered by a post-Prohibition law that permitted only one winery per million residents, a Farm Winery Act was put into place in 1981 allowing for more wineries. Now there are over 50 wineries and that number continues to grow each year as does the quality of New Jersey wine.
Key players in the state include the five wineries in the Winemaker’s Co-op: Unionville Vineyards, Beneduce Vineyards, Working Dog Winery, William Heritage Winery, and Hawk Haven Winery.
These wineries are scattered throughout the state and are dedicated to promoting and encouraging fine wine making in New Jersey. Twice a year – once in the spring and once in the fall – the Co-op holds a tasting that showcases the members’ wines made from state vinifera. Anyone who wants to see the quality that’s possible in the state should attend one of these tastings.
And, while many of the New Jersey wineries focus on and produce quality wine, two others that stand out are Alba Vineyard in Milford that crafts premium wines and Amalthea Cellars in Atco bringing Bordeaux-inspired wine making to the Garden State.
Things Every Wine Lover Should Know about New Jersey Wine Country
According to the New Jersey Wine Association, “NJ’s watershed moment arrived in June of 2012, when a blind taste test between 10 NJ wines and French wines-5 from Burgundy and 5 from Bordeaux resulted in essentially a tie. The takeaway was that there was no significant difference between a NJ red blend and a first growth Bordeaux; a NJ Chardonnay and a premier cru Burgundy.”
New Jersey has about 2,000 acres of farmland dedicated to growing wine grapes, and that is steadily increasing.
There are over 85 varieties of grapes growing in the state.
New Jersey has four AVAs, but one of them – the Central Delaware Valley AVA – doesn’t contain any NJ commercial wineries. The AVA crosses over into Pennsylvania where it does contain wineries.
The Garden State Wine Growers Association gives away a trip each year through a random drawing of completed Passports that prove every winery in the Passport has been visited.
TERROIR
New Jersey is home to four federally recognized AVA, more than 50 wineries.
From its northern tip in Sussex County to its southern tip in Cape May, New Jersey’s landscape is dotted with wineries producing quality wines. The state may be small, but the terroir varies from north to south. Wineries in the various regions know what works well for them. The state has hit its stride, and anyone who appreciates good wine – wherever it’s made – will want to visit New Jersey wine country.
Concentrations of New Jersey wineries exist around three of the state’s AVAs. In Cape May in the south by the ocean, in Hammonton in the agricultural south, and in Hunterdon and Warren counties along the Delaware River in the western part of the state, it’s easy to travel from winery to winery.
Outside of those regions there are additional New Jersey wineries worth seeking out, and new wineries open to the public frequently.
NJ WINE REGIONS
Warren Hills AVA
The Warren Hills AVA in Warren County is close to the Delaware River where the vineyards thrive in glacial and limestone soils. The valleys and waterways in the region create the day and night temperature swings that are beneficial to grapes.
There are five wineries within the AVA including Alba Vineyards that produces fine wines such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Riesling and Villa Millagro known for its Chardonnay and Bordeaux-style red blends from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Huntington County, across the border from the Warren Hills AVA, is home to several must-visit New Jersey wineries, too. Wineries in the county like Beneduce Vineyards and Mount Salem are finding success with Austrian varieties such as Blaufrankisch and Riesling.
Cape May Peninsula AVA
Cape May is a charming Victorian beach destination, and the Cape May Peninsula AVA is a sub-region of the OCP. The Peninsula’s cross breezes create a variation in terroir, including an extended growing season.
Seven wineries exist within the Cape May Peninsula where vacationers can buy rosés for sipping beach side. Some of the wineries in the region focus on Italian varieties. Turdo Vineyards specializes in Italian grapes such Barbera, Sangiovese and makes a Super Tuscan-style blend. Natali Vineyards gets a little more global with its grape varieties but it produces Trebbiano and Nebbiolo.
Outer Coast Plain AVA
The Outer Coastal Plain AVA covers 2.25 million acres in the Southeastern part of the state. Influenced by the maritime climate created by the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay, more than 20 New Jersey wineries and commercial vineyards can be found in this relatively flat AVA. Because it’s so large, the region’s soils vary throughout. The wineries closest to the ocean are on primarily sandy loam soil. Wineries closer inland plant vines in soils that contain gravel and clay.
This variation makes it possible for the OCP’s vineyards to grow over 50 grape varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Chambourcin make up 40 percent of what’s grown.
Wine lovers travel to the OCP to visit wineries such as William Heritage Winery in Mullica Hill, known for vinifying impressive sparkling wines, reds and whites, and also for producing well-made bottles of trending wines like Pet-Nats and cider/wine hybrids. Near Hammonton, Sharrott Winery makes award-winning Merlot that can be enjoyed with small plates and flatbreads that come out of their on-site kitchen.
Keep an eye out for Coeur d’Est at several the wineries in the region, a wine bottled by several of the wineries. This dry, red blend can only be made by wineries in the OCP and highlights the quality wine grapes grown in the region.
WHERE TO SIP
With 50+ wineries, New Jersey wine country has a lot to sip. We’ve shared the a few of our favorite NJ wineries for your grape escape.
Cedar Rose Vineyards
Tomasello Winery
Velanzano Winery
Planning Your New Jersey Wine Vacation
NEW JERSEY WINE TASTING ITINERARIES
WHERE TO STAY IN NJ WINE COUNTRY
Cape May
- The Grand Hotel of Cape May
- Willow Creek Winery
- The Grand Hotel of Cape May
- The Mason Cottage
Hunterdon County
- Lambertville Station
- Inn at Glencairn in Princet
- The Inn at Laurita Winery
Hammonton
- Château Renault Hotel
- The Farmhouse at White Horse Winery
- Courtyard by Marriott
GETTING AROUND
Private drivers may seem like a dime a dozen, but not all those dimes are equal. Look for those who are well rated and/or ask your hotel for recommendations. In the meantime, here are a few we have used and recommend.
BEYOND THE VINES
The four distinct wine regions in New Jersey are home to many fun activities, so if you’re looking for things to do besides sipping in the 50+ New Jersey wineries, we have A LOT OF IDEAS for kids, designated drivers, and those enjoying the wines of the region.
New Jersey is famous for its beaches and family friendly boardwalks with amusement parks. The beach town of Cape May is an excellent spot to sip in some rays.
Visit Grounds for Sculpture, a 42-acre outdoor sculpture garden in Hamilton with hundreds of life size sculptures, and interpretations of famous pieces such as Monet’s Bridge.
Visit Storybook Land, a charming storybook themed amusement park in Egg Harbor Township. It is makes for the perfect family spot when traveling with toddlers and grade school kids.
Sip in More New Jersey Wine Country
ROBIN SHREEVES
Robin Shreeves is a drinks journalist and lifestyle features writer. Her wine writing has appeared in dozens of print and online publications including Wine Enthusiast, VinePair, Courier Post, Spirited magazine, Edible Philly, Edible Jersey, USA Today, and Drink Philly. A champion of wines from the mid-Atlantic region, she co-hosts an East Coast Wine chat on the Clubhouse app Sunday nights at 7pm. Her writer’s website Wine & Wonder has a weekly roundup of East Coast Wine News posted each Monday.
Robin Shreeves is a drinks journalist and lifestyle features writer. Her wine writing has appeared in dozens of print and online publications including Wine Enthusiast, VinePair, Courier Post, Spirited magazine, Edible Philly, Edible Jersey, USA Today, and Drink Philly. A champion of wines from the mid-Atlantic region, she co-hosts an East Coast Wine chat on the Clubhouse app Sunday nights at 7pm. Her writer’s website Wine & Wonder has a weekly roundup of East Coast Wine News posted each Monday.