My Top 10 Reasons to Visit a NJ Winery (a dozen other good reasons shown above):
10. New Jersey is the 7th largest wine-producing state. All 50 states produce wine, but NJ is one of the biggest (and best).
9. Diversity of Varietals – More than 100 varietals available throughout the state. Tired of the same old choices? I recently had a choice of nearly 50 different varietals at one tasting room alone. While that is not typical, you can see from this example that we’re not talking about Just the Usual Eight Suspects (like Merlot, Cab, Cab Franc, Pinot Noir, Chard, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Grigio).
8. Intimacy of Tasting Rooms – Obviously buying wine at the wineries makes the most sense. You can taste it first and buy wines tailored to your palate. You may be served by the owner and/or winemaker. This is fairly common in NJ. The wineries are not cookie-cutter outlets, they reflect the unique individuality of the owners.
7. BYOB’s – You may pay a couple of dollars more for NJ wine than for that bottle with the cute penguin on the label, but it’s local, you can enjoy it in a serene setting with free (often) entertainment or take it to one of the many BYOB’s around the state (especially in South Jersey). With about 20 NJ wineries within a half-hour drive from me and 100’s of BYOB’s to choose from, this is a recipe for a great, affordable meal!
6. Cool Place to Hang Out – NJ wineries offer a more conducive setting to talking with your pals than a crowded bar, three deep waiting to get service, with 90 decibels ringing in your ears. Yes, some of the wineries offer reduced prices for glasses or bottles or other incentives (entertainment and better snacks than peanuts, popcorn and pretzels) during Happy Hour. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy stopping at a Starbucks (I love my coffee, too) and checking my email and social media. But wineries are like coffeehouses for Grown-Ups. Just saying…Coffee helps you get through the day. Wine helps you savor the moment. It could also be a great, inexpensive date!
5. The Food – From brick oven pizza and food trucks to tapas and Sangria to more formal sit down dinners, they are definitely part of the draw. Many wineries also offer the choice of bringing your own picnic lunch or dinner, helping you save money and stick with your diet, if you’d like.
4. Creative Sources of Entertainment – From Book Clubs to Murder Mystery Nights and from Painting and Crafting to Live acoustic music, Jazz Trios and Concerts – Most are free!
3. Wine has Proven Benefits for the Heart and Mind – Resveratrol and flavonoids, found in red wine, have been linked to heart and brain health; and a recent neuropsychological study showed evidence that wine tasting may be one of the best ways to stimulate your brain, using all of your senses in the process. Just remember to drink responsibly.
2. The Environment – Buy local, eat local, drink local. Farm to table; Vineyard to Wine Glass! How often do you get to drink AND do something good for the environment?
1. The WINE, of course – How good is it? Well, in the past couple of years NJ has won hundreds of medals at competitions, competing against thousands of other wines in other states, and even other countries. NJ wines won almost 100 medals in this year’s Finger Lakes International Wine Competition alone! This is the #1 Reason to Visit a NJ Winery!
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Cheers!
