Today, a little wine, a little beer for you. Let’s start with a little wine…G & W Winery is not new (it opened in 2016). However, with limited exposure and limited hours, it remains unknown to many folks-even those living in South Jersey. I previously posted about G & W about a year ago. You can find that here: https://wp.me/p74VSa-d0.
G & W Winery is a small rural farm winery, named after Dennis Hasson’s two daughters, Grace and Willow. The owners (Dennis Hasson, Jerold Hellman and Travis Thomas) have full-time jobs as educators. This presents a challenge: It’s hard to imagine how you can have full-time jobs outside of the winery business. But, they have been trying to “step up their game” a little bit every year. There is a great precedent for starting a winery in this area. There are already six other wineries in Cape May County, that are doing well and have successfully petitioned for their own AVA (Cape May Peninsula). They have tried to match the grapes they plant with the soils and climate.
G and W Winery planted their first vineyards in 2012 and currently makes five wines: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Gemini (blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc). My suggestion: try their Pinot Grigio. It’s their biggest seller. I only got to try the reds when they were very young (long before bottling). Last year I thought the Cab Franc had the most promise. Among the new vintage reds, I preferred their Merlot. They do not currently make a sweet wine, but are considering adding one down the road for those with a sweeter tooth.
At G & W, tastings are by appointment only, though last summer they began selling their wines on Saturdays at the West Cape May Farmer’s Market. They now plan to be open on Saturdays at their winery, in addition to by appointment. They will likely be open from roughly mid-April to mid-October from around 12 a.m.–5 p.m. Tastings are free. Check their FaceBook page or website for up-to-date information.
There is an attractive pergola behind the winery with picnic tables and chairs that overlook the vineyard. Tastings are free and you can bring a picnic lunch or snack to enjoy there. By statute they are not able to sell wine by the glass, but you can purchase a bottle to enjoy there or to take home. G & W is making promising strides. With a commitment to expanding their presence at the winery and their knowledge base (a never-ending endeavor for all those in the industry), they appear to be headed in the right direction.
…and beer... Another day and another brewery opens in New Jersey. Or so it seems, anyway. The most recent of these is Brinx Jones Brewing Company. It is located at 613 Landis Avenue in Vineland. Their grand opening was last week (January 24, 2018) and based on the reports I have heard, happy patrons and my painstaking research, they appear to be doing very well.
Brinx Jones currently offers six beers on their menu:
- Pale Ale – a classic version
- India Pale Ale (very nice; a bit cloudier* than most, but certainly did not take away from the taste)
- ESB (Extra Special Bitters)
- Irish Red Ale (a little light on the alcohol at 4.2% ABV, but smooth and easy drinking brew)
- Oatmeal Stout (my favorite at this tasting)
- Belgian Trippel – a bit sweeter than many I’ve tried, but tasty (and 8.5% ABV)
*Like many microbreweries, the beers here are unfiltered, but you don’t come to breweries like this for a clear, but tasteless Bud or Pilsener.
Due to our state’s antiquated laws, there is the usual “mandatory tour” of the brewery (less than a minute viewing through a window, coupled with a very brief description of the process). The other aspect is, no food may be served. The good news: There are menus for several restaurants and sandwich joints nearby and you can call in your order and by the time you finish your flight of four ($8) your meal will be delivered in time for your next beer order. If you like pork sandwiches, go with the Landis Pig Roast (awesome and huge)! You are also welcome to bring your own food, as many patrons do.
They will eventually be offering about a dozen different brews on tap. I shall return!
On a personal note: It’s interesting to me that this brewery opened only a few blocks away from where my career in Psychology began, at the American Institute for Mental Studies (A.I.M.S.), also known as the Training School (because psychologists were once trained here and a version of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale was developed here back in the 1920’s. It is sad what has become of A.I.M.S. in recent years, but I am thrilled that a very good brewery has opened on Landis Avenue in Vineland. I wish them well and hope they will help bring back the luster of this distinguished avenue in the heart of South Jersey.
CHEERS!
Coming Soon
- Jessie Creek Winery
- Natali Vineyards Revisited
Fly Eagles Fly!
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