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The Holiday Wine Trail Weekend Returns This Friday

Beginning on Black Friday and continuing through the weekend, shoppers will have a few cozy and enjoyable stops to make before rushing home with their treasures. Winery tasting rooms from Sussex to Cape May will invite patrons to travel the New Jersey Wine Trail, with special tastings, entertainment, food pairings, discounts and sales. The Garden State Wine Growers Association’s annual Holiday Wine Trail Weekend is held at over 45 participating New Jersey wineries and vineyards statewide.

Festive holiday foods are a favorite tasting room treat for many wineries during the special weekend. Terhune Orchards & Vineyard in Lawrence will have baked bites and orchard produce, and Milford’s Villa Milagro Vineyards will pair their wine tastings with Mexican-styled Tapas. Tomasello Winery in Hammonton features a burger bar in their brand new glass-walled tasting room, while just down the road Plagido’s Winery will offer visitors light fare to go along with library wine tastings and bottle discounts. There’s plenty of live music during the Holiday Wine Trail Weekend, including performers at Old York Cellars in Ringoes, Sharrott Winery in Hammonton, and Four JG’s Vineyards in Colts Neck. You can lighten up and have a laugh after a holiday with the in-laws at Willow Creek Winery in Cape May, which will hold “Comedy Uncorked,” a comedy night with NYC talent on Saturday the 28th!

For the second year, participating wineries will give away holiday grapevine wreaths and decorative ornaments to dress the wreath with. Wine trail travelers will receive a wreath and ornament at their first winery stop of the weekend, and then additional ornaments from each participating winery visited thereafter Friday through Sunday. “It’s a small gesture of appreciation to our guests who patronize the wineries throughout the year,” said association director John Cifelli. “We hope that the new friends and longtime supporters we’ve met throughout the year will celebrate the beginning of the holidays with their favorite New Jersey wineries.”

With that support, the local wine industry has come into its own in recent years. New Jersey now boasts over 50 wineries, with more than half of them coming online in the last ten years. Locally grown and produced wines continue to receive accolades, earning medals in national and international wine competitions across the globe. Grape growing represents the fastest growing segment of New Jersey agriculture, according to the Department of Agriculture. Over a quarter of a million visitors tried New Jersey wines in tasting rooms or wine festivals in 2015, and the increasing interest in the state wine industry is poised to continue.

If you are in New Jersey, the nearest winery is never more than 45 minutes away. Tasting room hours vary by location but each winery is open during the specific trail hours- 12 to 5pm. Exact details of winery events, and a listing of wreath/ornament giveaway locations can be found by clicking here. The GSWGA has an online map of NJ wine country and a full calendar of special opportunities to help you plan your visit to wineries across the state!

The GSWGA is a coalition of nearly 50 wineries and vineyards across New Jersey, dedicated to raising the quality and awareness of the New Jersey wine industry.