Page 53 - 2023 Southern NJ Vacationer

WINE & WINERIES
From vineyards to wine glasses
SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY VACATIONER 51
Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery
NEW JERSEY CERTAINLY EARNS, its Garden State nickname. A quick drive through the state is sure to include sightings of farm after farm producing the Jersey Fresh produce for which the state is known. Look closer and you’ll spot vineyards and wineries among these farms – a major industry driving national attention – and visitors – to New Jersey every year, to the tune of more than $323 million in tourism spending! Each of these wineries cultivates individual experiences alongside distinct varietal blends, eagerly welcoming visitors to see where their award-winning wines are produced, while enjoying casual fare, live music, seasonal festivals, and of course stunning sunsets over the vines from indoor/outdoor tasting room spaces.
WINES FOR EVERY PALATE
Throughout the entire state, more than 55 wineries (that number grows every year!) produce wines from their vineyards, part of the more than 1,500 acres of wine-producing vines throughout those 4 AVAs that fill the state. It’s New Jersey’s farming roots that sparked the crop of fruit wines that started
the state’s wine movement. Today, whether you enjoy bubbly, dry red, crisp white, semi-sweet, or dessert wine in your glass, we have an award-winning wine for that! New Jersey wineries are waiting, corkscrew in hand, to pour you whatever your pleasure may be.
NEW JERSEY WINE COUNTRY
New Jersey is home to four official American Viticultural Areas, or distinct vineyard zones grouped by region and climate; the Outer Coastal Plain that runs from Cape May to the Delaware River, the Cape May Peninsula (a sub-AVA of the Outer Coastal Plain), the Central Delaware Valley north of Trenton/ into PA, and the Warren Hills in Warren
County. Collaborative wine trails crisscross these zones to create day-trippable excursions within each – a great starting point for your New Jersey wine country adventures. See below for details on a free app to get your started!
WHERE DO I BEGIN?
Find all the wine (and the fun) with the Garden State Wine Growers Association’s mobile app, a free download that leads wine lovers to the state’s Passport Program, wine trails, events, and a list of wineries and details on each. Check in on the app to start collecting rewards. Hit all the wineries throughout the state in the passport and be eligible for a free, one-of-a-kind wine experience. G
ABOUT GARDEN STATE WINE GROWERS ASSOCIATION
The Garden State Wine Growers Association is a non-profit organization of New Jersey-based wineries, vineyards and allied businesses. It serves as a centralized information repository and offers a unified voice advocating for issues important to the entire range of New Jersey winery and vineyard operations. For more information, visit www.NewJerseyWines.com and download our app in your service provider’s application store.