New Jersey has Awesome Wineries to Visit
Did I really just say New Jersey and Winery in the same sentence? It’s true! New Jersey has so many wineries and most of them are actually pretty good!
I know what you’re thinking, New Jersey isn’t really known for their wines. True. But we are the Garden State. And wineries have been popping up all over the state for several years now.
I should qualify this article first by saying that I am by no means a sommelier. I’m not even close to knowing anything about wines. There’s red, white and rosé. Dry, semi-dry, sweet and semi-sweet. Other than that I pretty much just enjoy sipping on adult beverages.
Now, I am getting a bit more confident in what I like and don’t like in terms of wines. When I order a glass or go to the store to buy a bottle, I generally know what I want. Other than that, wine for me is more about the experience.
Do I enjoy it in good company? In a good atmosphere? With delicious food? Then it’s fine by me.
Okay, so to be a little more serious, I do enjoy wine rather frequently and I love checking out new wineries. Since Cody and I have been dating, we’ve made it a habit to visit local wineries for dates probably at least once a month.
Being the list-maker that I am, I’ve been taking notes about all the places we enjoy the most. This is based not only on quality and taste of wines, but also the atmosphere, service, pricing and food offerings (or if they allow you to bring in food, which is even better).
8 Best New Jersey Wineries to Visit
Working Dog Winery
Working Dog is a great little vineyard located in Robbinsville, NJ. As the name implies, they are all about the dogs and in the warmer months, guests can bring their dogs to play on the lawns while they sip wine. They also have an expansive covered patio with tons of open seating.
Their indoor facility has a nice tasting room, as well as a larger room with tables and chairs (the tables are made out of old wine barrels). In the cooler months, the inside is packed, as they usually have live music playing.
The great thing about Working Dog is you can bring your own cooler of food. They don’t serve or sell any food. We love the fact that we can pack our cheeses and snacks because it can save a bit of money.
Our favorite wines are the Ugly Duckling Red and the Blueberry. Ugly Duckling Red is a sweet wine that has flavors of blackberry and spices. It’s super smooth to drink and great any time of year. The Blueberry Wine is made with blueberries from Hammonton, NJ and it shows. It’s a super sweet burst of that summer fruit flavor!
Hopewell Valley Vineyards
Hopewell Valley Vineyards is located in Pennington, NJ. HVV also has indoor and outdoor seating and you can choose to do a tasting, glass or full bottle. They offer an extensive menu of light fare, so no outside food is permitted. Their pizza is very good!
One of the best things about HVV is they have live music several times a week and they also host tons of events each month. It’s way more than just a winery — there is always something to do there!
Our favorite wine is the White Merlot. It’s on the sweeter side and has hints of peaches and pears. It’s definitely a light wine, great for pairing with cheeses or dessert.
Iron Plow Vineyards
Iron Plow Vineyards is a casual farm-to-table style winery located in Columbus, NJ. They are all about small batches, sustainability and local produce, so you can feel good about where your wine came from. There is a small indoor tasting room and plenty of patio and yard space for when the weather is warmer.
They do have a few small snacks for sale, but you are also allowed to bring in your own! And they’re open Tuesday through Sunday 12pm to 5pm and Fridays until 10pm! They also offer live music and other events, so check their calendar for options!
Our favorite wine is the Little Black Dress, a semi-sweet blend which is a mix of blackberries and their Pinot Noir. You’ll notice each of their bottles has a fun name and their labels are illustrations of different women. It’s a fun twist on delicious wine!
Cape May Winery
As its name suggests, Cape May Winery is located in the heart of Cape May, NJ. This winery is one of my favorites because it’s one of the first wineries I visited after I turned 21!
They’ve become a lot bigger over the years and have a pretty expansive indoor tasting room, as well as a few outdoor patio areas. As of 2019, they also have a culinary menu, so no outside food is permitted.
The staff is super friendly here and they will help you find the wines that are best suited to your taste buds. I really enjoy most of their wines, but of course I have a few favorites.
It was here that Cody discovered he liked port! Their Isaac Smith Red Port is one of our favorites. It definitely has a strong cherry flavor and we recommend accompanying it with dark chocolate chips. It’s delicious and reminiscent of a tootsie roll pop!
I also enjoy their Barrel Fermented Chardonnay for a dryer wine, and their Lighthouse Red and Lighthouse Rose are nice for those who like sweeter, lighter wines.
Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery
Hawk Haven Winery is located in Rio Grande, NJ, right near Cape May and close to Wildwood. It’s a beautiful property with lots of outdoor seating and gorgeous views of the vineyards.
They offer tastings and tours, as well as special events. They also have a light fare menu, so no outside food is permitted.
My favorite time to go to Hawk Haven is during the summer months when the vineyards are super lush and green! Also, Sundays are the best days to visit (May 26-September 1) when they offer Sangria Sundays! So good!
If you happen to go on any other day of the week or sangria isn’t your thing, I enjoy their Signature Series Syrah for a medium-bodied red or Riesling for an off-sweet white.
Valenzano Winery
Valenzano Family Winery is located in Shamong, NJ. They are a family-owned establishment and their hospitality shines through. The best part is if you buy a bottle (most bottles average about $12-15), your tasting is on the house!
They have a nice tasting room that’s open every day and offer several events throughout the week. Since they are family-owned, they close by 4 or 5pm each day unless there is an event.
No outside food is permitted as they do offer a hearty snack menu. They have a decent sized tasting room inside and some nice outdoor areas, as well.
One of the reasons we like Valenzano is they offer a large variety of sweeter, fruiter wines. If you couldn’t tell, we have a taste for the sweeter stuff (especially Cody!)
My favorite is the Blackberry Syrah. It’s definitely on the sweeter side, but it has a bold richness to it. I also enjoy their Shamong Red and Shamong Red Reserve, which are sweeter reds. Cody’s favorite is the Plums Up Plum Wine. It’s made with all fresh fruit and definitely unique if you like fruit wines.
Laurita Winery
Laurita Winery is located in New Egypt, NJ and probably one of the more well-known wineries in the Garden State. They have a ton of events year-round and are also a popular spot for weddings and other private events. Please check online for daily hours, as it changes based on events and time of year.
Laurita has a beautiful, expansive property that’s truly picturesque. They even have an inn on the property which is an adorable renovated farmhouse where each room is uniquely decorated to complement specific themes.
They offer fresh food on premises, so no outside food is allowed. There are plenty of tables inside to buy a bottle, sit and relax, but if the weather is nice, the deck is amazing to sit a gaze out at the vineyards.
Our favorites are the sangria and the Tailgate Red, which is a fruity, sweet red that’s perfect for summer sipping.
Cream Ridge Winery
Cream Ridge Winery is located in Upper Freehold, NJ. It’s a super small property with a tiny indoor tasting room but plenty of outdoor seating when the weather is nice. They are local all the way, in that you can only buy their wines at the winery and a few select local farmers’ markets.
This is a great place to visit for a quick afternoon tasting. They offer up to 10 wine tastes for just $5 and they have a large selection to choose from. All of their wines are small batch and hand-crafted and their staff are great!
Our favorites include the Blue Mooney, a combination of Merlot and blueberry wines and AlmondBerry, a raspberry and Niagara wine with hint of almond. And we’re not alone on the latter. According to their website, AlmondBerry is their No. 1 best seller for 28 years running!
Final Thoughts
Winery tours are one of our favorite weekend activities. We love being able to relax in a beautiful, friendly setting, taste new wines and enjoy some delicious snacks.
For most of these wineries, warmer months are ideal times to visit when the vineyards are in full leafy goodness and you can enjoy time outside. But we are definitely traveling to wineries all year, as most offer indoor tasting rooms and an escape from the winter cold.
While it’s also not a completely cheap date day experience, we find it’s worth the cost of a bottle to spend some time together in an atmosphere we’ve both come to enjoy. Whether you enjoy live music or entertainment or just the company of your friends and loved ones, these wineries truly offer it all.
If you live in New Jersey or are visiting from out of town, give one of these wineries a try! You’re sure to experience a nice day out, learning about your wine palate. And if you didn’t know it before, you’ll see one of the reasons why New Jersey is called the Garden State!
Do you have any favorite New Jersey wineries? Are there any on my list you want to try? Let me know in the comments below!
One of the first wineries we went to was Renault Winery – located in Egg Harbor City. At that time, they offered dinner and a tasting in their wine cellar. Very cool. Not sure if they still offer that – but it’s definitely one to check out since, I believe, it’s one of the oldest wineries in New Jersey.
That’s so cool! I didn’t know that they were the oldest. Will have to check them out next!
I never would have thought that NJ had wineries! Thank you for showing me something I didn’t know! I will have to persuade my New Yorker husband to visit the next time we are in NYC …
Yes, you should definitely check some out if you’re nearby! Working Dog and Hopewell Valley are fairly easy drives from NYC!