New Jersey Wineries Events: The Garden State Wine Growers Association will host its annual Barrel Trail Weekend on Saturday and Sunday July 14-15 at participating wineries across the state. Visitors to participating New Jersey wineries and vineyards will have the opportunity to sample future award-winning vintages direct from the barrel room, enjoy wine tastings, new wine releases, vineyard tours, and discussions on the winemaking process from the winemakers.
“Barrel Trail Weekend introduces winemaking to the general public as they learn how wine develops and the different nuances and styles that winemakers use to craft their product,” said Tom Cosentino, Executive Director of the Garden State Wine Growers Association.
All New Jersey wineries will be open for tastings and activities. To find a winery in your area, visit www.newjerseywines.com. Here is a sampling of the activities planned for Barrel Trail Weekend.
Autumn Lake Winery in Williamstown will offer an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience and sampling of wines right from the barrel. On Saturday, July 14 from 11:00 am-6:00 pm and Sunday, July 15 from 12:00 pm-5:00 pm, be the first to taste future vintages with the winemakers. At just $6 per person, meet their Albariño ’17, Chardonnay ’17, Blaufränkisch ’16, Cabernet Sauvignon ’16, along with the next batch of Port – with special 25% discounts on pre-ordered case lots. The current wine list will also be offered with 7 tastings and a souvenir wine glass. Enjoy your favorite wine by the glass or bottle and a cheese plate along with live music (Saturday from 2:00 pm-5:00 pm with jazz by Jude & Gary and Sunday from 1:00 pm-4:00 pm with acoustic classics by John Rossi).
Bellview Winery, Landisville – – Have you ever tried a wine in progress? If not, here’s your chance! On Barrel Tasting Weekend you can sample the upcoming 2017 vintage of Cabernet Franc straight out of the barrel. Along with this young wine, Bellview will be sampling aged vintages of Cabernet Franc as a flight so that you can experience how this unique varietal develops over time. This will be the only release of the 2007 and 2012 Cabernet Franc to the public, while supplies last. These wines will only be available for tasting during Barrel Tasting Weekend. Along with this exclusive wine preview, the vineyard tour trailer will be hooked up and rolling through the vineyard for your vine viewing pleasure. Trailer rides are free of charge on a first come first served basis, and will be offered from 12:00 pm-5:00 pm. They will also be pouring samples from the everyday wine list which includes a souvenir wine glass.
Natali Vineyards in Cape May Courthouse is hosting Barrel Tasting with the Winemaker. Spend the afternoon in the barrel room with the winemaker for an educational tour and barrel tasting. Taste the winemaker’s favorite wines straight from the barrel paired with gourmet cheese and crackers.
Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery in Rio Grande will hold their daily winery tour. Learn every step of the wine making process from the vineyard to the vast steel tanks and French oak barrels. Discover what makes each wine unique and how their winemaker achieves every flavor and aroma. The tour concludes with a selection of gourmet cheeses to enjoy on the vineyard view crush pad. Visit hawkhavenvineyard.com or call 609-846-7347 for reservations. Tickets are $25 and include the tour, wine tasting, cheese and souvenir glass.
Sharrott Winery in Hammonton will offer barrel tastings at 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Taste unfinished barrel samples of their dry red wines side by side with the latest released vintages. Learn to taste wine just like the winemakers do. Check in at their new tasting room and arrive 15 minutes prior to the tasting to secure your spot.
At Hopewell Valley Vineyards (HVV) in Pennington, special tastings from the barrel will be available on Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Wine tastings include an etched HVV wine glass.
Tomasello Winery in Hammonton will feature 20% off their Palmaris wines, specialty cocktails made with Tomasello wines, martinis, beer, wine, light fare and tapas from 1:00 pm-5:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Pricing is a la carte pricing. Tickets are not required.
At Villa Milagro Vineyards in Finesville, tour their “Chill Room” where you will learn how they finish, age and bottle wines using no additives. Check their website for tour times. Sample future vintages directly from the barrel as well as their currently bottled wines and enjoy an appetizer plate and gift glass.
Working Dog Winery in East Windsor is offering a day filled with vineyard tours (weather permitting), wine education, and award-winning estate-bottled wine. There will also be a premium tasting including a barrel sample offered for an additional charge. Musical entertainment will feature Cat Moon Daddy on Saturday and Rhyme & Reason on Sunday. Food trucks will also be on site featuring Tower Dogs on the 14th and Gyros to Go on the 15th.
Chestnut Run Farms in Pilesgrove, which is only open to the public on wine trail weekends, will offer tastings from noon to 5:00 pm each day. Plagido’s Winery in Hammonton, 4JGs Winery in Colts Neck, Monroeville Vineyard & Winery in Monroeville, and Ventimiglia Vineyards in Wantage will also be hosting Barrel Trail Weekend events.
Balic Winery in Mays Landing will be holding their annual summer festival featuring live entertainment and food.
From only a dozen wineries open in 2000 to the more than 50 wineries open today, the New Jersey wine industry is growing across the state. For a full list of participating wineries, details of the special offerings at each location and admission prices, visit www.newjerseywines.com/events. Barrel Trail Weekend is funded through a grant from the New Jersey Department of Tourism.
More summer events at New Jersey wineries.
Visit the mybergen.com Calendar for hundreds of Bergen County events.
