When you hear of “the Garden State,” what do you think of? Maybe you think of blueberries, tomatoes, or corn, but New Jersey also has a booming wine industry, producing exquisite wines that are recognized locally, nationally, and internationally. New Jersey wines are praised for their exquisite flavors, consistency, and quality that can compete with those of California and Italy. The state boasts over 50 wineries and vineyards, thriving due to its ideal soil. Although New Jersey has a rich history of winemaking, this cultural aspect was lost during Prohibition. According to David Gardener and Jim Quarella of Belleview Winery, “if you go back to 1900 or so, when you had a lot of immigrants coming into, especially South Jersey. You had the Italians, you had the Germans. There a lot of wineries down here, and a lot of grape grown down here… But then when prohibition came, they all had to stop to put them all out of business.” Prohibition ended in 1933, but New Jersey's wine industry struggled due to a law limiting residents to one winery. The 1981 New Jersey Farm Winery Act repealed this restriction, allowing many new wineries to open. In forty years, the state grew from seven to nearly 60 wineries and vineyards.
What makes New Jersey so great for winemaking is that, for one, we have lots of farmland, especially in the Pinelands of South and Central Jersey. For two, New Jersey has phenomenal soil and climate for growing grapes, as Larry Sharrott of Sharrott Winery explained, “The climate here is very similar to the climate you would have in Bordeaux, which, of course, is a famous growing area. There are a lot of farms here… You need to have unique soils for growing drinks. You need to have soils that are fairly loose and well-drained.” New Jersey's rich soil is due to its location between the Delaware River and Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. These water systems create a natural sandy loam, and ocean and bay breezes create milder air temperatures. Both of these conditions are ideal for grape growing and enhancing the flavor of New Jersey wine.
According to Scott Donnini of Auburn Road Vineyards, “…when you're tasting wine grown in a New Jersey winery, you're tasting what the expression is from the particular soil and the particular climate… It is partially the artistic expression of it.” Not only does New Jersey's rich soil enhance wine flavor, but each winery adds its own artistic expression through its personal touch in winemaking. This uniqueness can come from even the most unexpected factors, such as how the wine is stored, as Brock J. Vinton II of White Horse winery explained, “...one of the things you get with the oak is you get that concentration… But then you also get the addition of some flavors and some tannins. Like a nice toasted oak can impart some pleasant vanilla flavor… You can get kind of like a sweetness from the oak, and it really changes the body and the texture of the wine.” The love and artistic talent NJ winemakers put into their products have resulted in many award-winning wines. These awards include, in New Jersey, the Governor’s Cup and Winery of the Year, and awards from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, and the Beverage Tasting Institute in Chicago.
New Jersey's exquisite wines have fostered a vibrant wine community, supported by the Garden State Wine Growers Association. The GSWGA is, according to its Executive Director Devon Perry, “...the official nonprofit representing the entirety of the New Jersey wine community. So that is wineries, vineyards, and allied businesses… throughout the year, we have seasonal wine trails that serve both the public and the wineries alike, because it allows for them to enjoy, sip, and savor beautiful New Jersey wines.” The GSWGA collaborates with educational partners, including Stockton University and Rutgers University, engaging professors to deliver lectures, panels, and tastings in their agricultural and hospitality programs.
The Garden State Wine Growers Association (GSWGA) hosts events to support New Jersey wineries, including the 2025 Terrior New Jersey Wine Showcase and the NJ Wine Expo. The Terrior Showcase took place on July 19th and featured 132 wines and 12 world-class judges. There, wineries received constructive feedback from renowned wine tasters. The second annual NJ Wine Expo took place during New Jersey Wine Month on November 15th in the ballroom at Bellworks in Holmdel, NJ. The expo featured 28 wineries and over 130 wines, with tables organized by state region. Attendees enjoyed curated tastings and could purchase bottles to take home. The NJ Wine Expo creates a festive atmosphere that unites wine lovers and growers across the state. GSWGA also promotes NJ wineries through a comprehensive map of member growers and a wine passport program that encourages community involvement. Stockton University Professor of Hospitality, Tourism, & Event Management and honorary GSWGA member Donna Albano explains that participating in this program is a great way to engage with the NJ wine scene: “The best way to participate is by picking up a passport to New Jersey wine country… when dining out, ask for New Jersey wine, as demand influences online availability.” The GSWGA passport program was initially released on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, but this past November, physical passports were printed and distributed just in time for New Jersey Wine Month. The passport is a travel brochure with extensive lists of NJ wineries, vineyards, wine trails, wine tasting rooms, restaurants, and nearby lodging. Thus, creatively promoting local wineries through an interactive and personalized experience.
New Jersey’s wine industry is thriving thanks to the Garden State Wine Growers Association and its partners. Their efforts in promoting award-winning wines, hosting community events, and educating and nurturing future wine growers have revived a significant part of NJ culture lost during Prohibition. Many wineries and vineyards are open to the public, often featuring restaurants and tasting rooms. If your taste buds are tingling, visit your local NJ winery or vineyard today!
You can find an NJ winery or vineyard near you by visiting the Garden State Growers Association’s website at: https://www.newjerseywines.com/
Interested in attending an NJ wine event? The GSGA has an organized list at: https://www.newjerseywines.com/events/category/winery-events/
Interested in the Passport Program? Visit: https://www.newjerseywines.com/passport-program/
