Forget Napa Valley! New Jersey wine is better than you think

Mention New Jersey wine to a friend and you’ll probably get a skeptical response like, “Is there any wine in New Jersey? Is it good?” The answer is yes. There are more than 60 wineries across the state, and overall, the quality ranges from very good to excellent.

In fact, Jersey’s terroir (a French term referring to the natural environment in which wine is produced, including soil and climate) is considered in some areas Reflecting parts of Francethe world’s top quality wine producing area. Cape May, in particular, has become the state’s premier wine producing region, with sandy soil similar to the famous Bordeaux grape producing region in France. Cape May wineries produce high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc wines.

But unlike some tasting rooms in France, those in New Jersey are unpretentious and offer a chance to learn about an industry that is quickly becoming one of the most exciting emerging wine regions in the country.

Susanna Wagner, Wine Director at Crystal Springs Resort Hamburg, who owns a renowned wine cellar that houses 45,000 bottles, has been observing the Garden State’s wine industry for the past 20 years and is excited by what she sees.

“I think the quality has gone from basically great wines that you could tell were from New Jersey to now I’m tasting wines that could be from anywhere in the world. It could be Europe or California. You can’t necessarily tell they’re from New Jersey anymore,” she said. “So I think they’re starting to make a difference in the international market. They’re really high quality.”

Beneduce produces only 100% estate-grown wines, including Pinot Noir. photo: Laura Moss

Beneduce Vineyards in Pittstown Considered one of the top wineries In the state. Mike Beneduce, Owner and WinemakerHe worked in vineyards while studying plant science and viticulture/enology at Cornell University. During his junior year, he began growing grapes on the family farm in Hunterdon County; the vineyard opened in 2012.

“Our goal has always been to create a 100% estate-grown vineyard,” explains Benedus, who owns the winery with his wife, Cory. Since 2021, they have used only grapes grown on the farm. “We are working hard to find the best varieties to grow so that we can make the highest quality wines.”

That persistence paid off. Benedus has been recognized multiple times in various categories for the Garden State Winery Governor’s Cup for Best Wine and was named New Jersey’s Outstanding Farmer of the Year in 2022.

The vineyard’s white wines are mainly Riesling, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer; the red wines are mainly Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and their own Austrian red wine called “blaufränkisch”, which has become Benidos’ signature red wine.

Auburn Road Winery in Piercegrove, Salem County, is another top winery. Owners Scott and Julianne Donnini both left successful law firms to start their own winemaking business 20 years ago. Scott said that when they started making wine, it quickly became clear that Julianne would be the winemaker. Now, they own 23 acres of vineyards, land that is considered the best place to grow grapes because of its proximity to the Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean. This helps keep the climate mild. Auburn Road Winery is known for its Chardonnay aged in French oak barrels, as well as its dry rosé and Cabernet Franc blends.

Like many New Jersey vineyards, they host outdoor wine tastings that attract new and old wine lovers, and offer pizza and snacks.

Where to Find New Jersey Wine

One reason many New Jerseyans may not be aware of the high-quality wines produced here is that they are not easy to find in local wine shops. This is partly because many of the wines, like Beneduce, come from smaller boutique vineyards that produce just enough wine to sell in tasting rooms and wine clubs.

Beneduce, for example, produces about 5,000 cases of wine a year and always sells out—both to visitors and to its wine club. Many local vineyards have wine clubs, where winemakers handpick seasonal wines and ship them to members. Membership levels vary.

“For a small winery like ours, we prefer to have people visit our farm and see the care and effort we put into growing the grapes and making the wine,” Benedus said. “That creates a more loyal consumer, rather than having your bottle on a shelf with thousands of other bottles, where you don’t have the opportunity to tell your story or give people a unique experience.”

Beneduce has been producing wine since 2012. photo: Laura Moss

Hawk Haven Vineyards in Rio Grande, Cape May County, has 300 wine club members and sells out its annual production. On a recent summer Friday, the vineyard was packed with visitors attending Rootstock, a lively weekly event, where a band played to an enthusiastic crowd. A food truck was parked in the back. Todd and Kenna Wuerker opened the vineyard in 2009, and since then their wines have been recognized for their quality. The 2023 Petite Sirah rosé and Fizz Nouveau sparkling rosé were particularly delightful.

How good is it?

In 2012, Garden State wineries participated in a tasting held by Princeton University, known as the Princeton Judgment, and New Jersey wines performed unexpectedly better than many foreign imports. At a double-blind tasting in 2023, no one in the room could tell the difference between New Jersey wines and wines from other countries that cost hundreds of dollars a bottle, said Devon Perry, executive director of the Garden State Winegrowers Association (newjerseywines.com), a nearly 40-year-old association dedicated to promoting local wines.

She wants more people to know about the state’s fine wines, noting that they have to be tasted to be believed. “The wine really does speak for itself. We give people what we call epiphany wine experiences almost every day. People are shocked at how good our wines are… I think awareness of our fine wines has definitely increased since 2012,” she said.

Jeffrey Vasser, executive director of the New Jersey Department of Tourism, agrees that the quality of New Jersey wine has improved significantly over the past few years.

“Our winemakers are committed to making the best wines possible, and it’s showing. If you haven’t had a bottle of New Jersey wine in the last 10 years, you’d be surprised at how good they are,” he said.

Visit New Jersey Wineries

Hawk Haven Vineyard also offers wine tastings and live music throughout the fall. Many other New Jersey wineries alsoIt’s a great way to get to know the wines and the people behind them firsthand.

Perry says visiting local vineyards, taking a tour and checking out their tasting rooms can be the most enjoyable way to truly escape your daily life. “At the same time, you’re supporting farmers, supporting agritourism, and you’re having a unique experience, and every winery you visit is family owned,” she says. “New Jersey wines are outstanding and they’re just picking up steam.”

So what does Benidus have to say to critics who question whether New Jersey wines can compete with those from California and Europe?

“I think it’s up to people to decide whether the wine is good or not – but the quality has really improved exponentially over the past decade. We’ve finally got enough collective experience to start figuring out which varieties work here. We’ve been getting national and international attention, with critics tasting wines all day and giving us 92 and 93 points. I think the quality of wine here is the best it’s ever been. And of course, for people who love to eat local food and drink local wine, there’s nothing better than eating locally grown food and drinking local wine.”

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Visit one of the wineries, taste a wonderful bottle of wine and experience the fun.

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