Unionville Vineyards | |
---|---|
Location | 9 Rocktown Road, Ringoes, NJ, USA |
Coordinates | 40.422590 N, 74.829264 W |
Appellation | Hunterdon County |
First vines planted | 1988 |
First vintage | 1992 |
Opened to the public | 1993 |
Key people | Kris Nielsen & Patricia Galloway (Founders) Lindy Eiref, Robert Wilson (Owners) Cameron Stark (Consulting Winemaker) John Cifelli (General Manager) Conor Quilty (Winemaker) [1] [2] |
Acres cultivated | 41 |
Cases/yr | 4,500 (2016) |
Known for | Chardonnay wine |
Varietal | Pinot Noir |
Other attractions | Picnicking permitted, pet-friendly |
Distribution | On-site, wine festivals, NJ farmers' markets NJ liquor stores, NJ restaurants, home shipment |
Tasting | Daily tastings, tours on weekends |
Website | http://www.unionvillevineyards.com/ |
Unionville Vineyard is a winery in the Unionville section of East Amwell in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. [3] [4] Originally part of the largest peach orchard in the United States, the vineyard was first planted in 1988, and opened to the public in 1993. [5] [6] Unionville has 41 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 4,500 cases of wine per year. [7] The winery is named for a former village near where the farm is located. [1] [8]
Unionville Vineyards specializes in the use of Burgundy, Rhône, and Alsatian grapes. Wine is produced from Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Counoise, Gewürztraminer, Marsanne, Mourvèdre, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Roussanne, Syrah, and Viognier grapes. [7] [9] It is the only winery in New Jersey that grows and produces wine from Counoise, Marsanne, and Roussanne – vinifera grapes indigenous to the Rhone river valley of France. [10] [11]
Unionville is best known for its single vineyard Chardonnay wines. At the 2010 International Wine and Spirit Competition, which included both blind tasting and laboratory analysis, Unionville's Chardonnay was the only wine from the United States to win a gold (best in class) medal. [12] [13] Likewise, their Chardonnay was the highest-scoring wine from New Jersey at the Judgment of Princeton, a wine tasting organized by the American Association of Wine Economists that compared in-state wines to premium French vintages. [14] [15] The winery is not located in one of New Jersey's three viticultural areas. [16]
Unionville has a plenary winery license from the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which allows it to produce an unrestricted amount of wine, operate up to 15 off-premises sales rooms, and ship up to 12 cases per year to consumers in-state or out-of-state. [17] [18] The winery is a member of The Winemakers Co-Op, a collection of wineries advocating and promoting fine wines from New Jersey-grown vinifera grapes. Unionville Vineyards is also a member of the Garden State Wine Growers Association and Vintage North Jersey. [19] [20]
Roussanne is a white wine grape grown originally in the Rhône wine region in France, where it is often blended with Marsanne. It is the only other white variety, besides Marsanne, allowed in the northern Rhône appellations of Crozes-Hermitage AOC, Hermitage AOC and Saint-Joseph AOC. In the southern Rhône appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC it is one of six white grapes allowed, where it may be blended into red wines. Roussanne is also planted in various wine-growing regions of the New World, such as California, Washington, Texas, South Africa and Australia as well as European regions such as Crete, Tuscany and Spain.
Marsanne is a white wine grape, most commonly found in the Northern Rhône region. It is often blended with Roussanne. In Savoie the grape is known as grosse roussette. Outside France it is also grown in Switzerland, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.
Terhune Orchards is a winery in Lawrence Township in Mercer County, New Jersey. A family produce farm since 1975, the vineyard was first planted in 2003, and opened to the public in 2010. Terhune has 5 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces an estimated 1,100 cases of wine per year. The winery is named for the family that formerly owned the farm.
California wine production has a rich viticulture history since 1680 when Spanish Jesuit missionaries planted Vitis vinifera vines native to the Mediterranean region in their established missions to produce wine for religious services. In the 1770s, Spanish missionaries continued the practice under the direction of the Father Junípero Serra who planted California's first vineyard at Mission San Juan Capistrano.
Wagonhouse Winery is a winery in South Harrison Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey. Wagonhouse's original vineyard was first planted in 2004 in Mickleton, also in Gloucester County. The winery began sales of its wine in 2005, and opened a tasting room in South Harrison in 2011. Wagonhouse has 10 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 7,000 cases of wine per year. The winery is named for an old wagon house that is on their farm.
Balic Winery is a winery in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township in Atlantic County, New Jersey. The vineyard was first planted in the early 19th century by descendants of the original settlers of Mays Landing. Balic is the third-oldest active winery in the state, after Renault Winery and Tomasello Winery, having opened in 1966. Balic is one of the largest winegrowers in New Jersey, having 57 acres of grapes under cultivation. The winery is named after its founder.
Bellview Winery is a winery in the Landisville section of Buena in Atlantic County, New Jersey. A family produce farm since 1914, the vineyard was first planted in 2000, and opened to the public in 2001. Bellview has 50 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 9,000 cases of wine per year. The farm was named by Angelo and Maria Quarella and is of Italian origin.
Beneduce Vineyards is a winery in the Pittstown section of Alexandria Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. A family farm since 2000, the vineyard was first planted in 2009, and opened to the public in 2012. Beneduce has 10 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 4,000 cases of wine per year. The winery is named after the family that owns it.
Cava Winery & Vineyard is a winery in Hardyston Township in Sussex County, New Jersey. The vineyard was first planted in 2005, and opened to the public in 2008. Cava has 5 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 3000 cases of wine per year. The winery is named for the Italian word cava which means "cave," reflecting the mining heritage of Sussex County.
Old York Cellars is a winery in the Ringoes section of East Amwell in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Originally owned and established by the Fishers of Ringoes, the winery was purchased by David Wolin in 2008 and opened to the public in 2010. Old York Cellars has 12 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces an estimated 3,600 cases of wine per year. The winery is named for the road where it is located.
Coda Rossa Winery is a winery in the Franklinville section of Franklin Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. The vineyard was first planted in 2002. The current owners obtained the property and winery in 2021, and previously Coda Rossa opened to the public in 2010. Coda Rossa has 10 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 1,500 cases of wine per year. The winery is named for the Italian words coda rossa which mean "red tail," because of the red-tailed hawks that live near the farm.
Mount Salem Vineyards is a boutique winery in the Pittstown section of Alexandria Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. Formerly a produce, grain, and dairy farm, the vineyard was first planted in 2005, and opened to the public in 2010. Peter Leiter, the proprietor of Mount Salem, founded the Appalachian Highlands Vinifera Society, whose mission is to enhance the quality of wine grape growing and winemaking in Northern New Jersey. Mount Salem has 7 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 1,000 cases of wine per year. The winery is located at over 600 feet above sea level on Mount Salem, the mountain for which the farm is named.
Monroeville Vineyard & Winery is a winery in the Monroeville section of Upper Pittsgrove Township in Salem County, New Jersey. The vineyard was first planted in 2010, and opened to the public in 2012. Monroeville has 4 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 1,800 cases of wine per year from New Jersey and Chilean grapes. The winery is named for the community where it is located.
Hopewell Valley Vineyards is a winery in Hopewell Township in Mercer County, New Jersey. The vineyard was first planted in 2001, and opened to the public in 2003. Hopewell Valley has 25 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 6,000 cases of wine per year. The winery is named for the region where it is located.
Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery is a winery in Rio Grande section of Lower Township in Cape May County, New Jersey. A family dairy and produce farm since 1940, the vineyard was first planted in 1997, beginning with Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery opened their doors to the public in 2009 with their first vintage in 2007, which consisted of the American Kestrel White, Red Table Wine, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, Hawk Haven has 16 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 5,000 cases of wine per year. The winery is named for the large number of hawks that migrate to the farm every year. They currently have sixteen different varietals and all of the grapes are harvested, pressed, fermented, aged, blended, and bottled on site.
DiBella Winery is a winery in Woolwich Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey. A family produce and grain farm since 1925, the vineyard was first planted in 2002. DiBella began sales of its wine in 2010, and opened a tasting room in 2012. DiBella Winery has 4 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 250 cases of wine per year. The winery is named after the family that owns it.
Working Dog Winery is a winery located on the border of Robbinsville Township and East Windsor in Mercer County, New Jersey. The vineyard was first planted in 2001 and opened to the public in 2003. The winery was originally known as "Silver Decoy Winery," but the name was changed in 2013. Working Dog has 17 acres of grapes under cultivation and produces 4,000 cases of wine per year.
Sylvin Farms Winery is a winery in the Germania section of Galloway Township in Atlantic County, New Jersey. The vineyard was first planted in 1977, and opened to the public in 1985. Sylvin Farms has 11 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 1,000 cases of wine per year. The winery’s name is an amalgamation of Sylvia and sylvan, reflecting the owner's wife's name and the surrounding Pine Barrens, respectively.
Ventimiglia Vineyard is a winery in Wantage Township in Sussex County, New Jersey. The vineyard was first planted in 2002, and opened to the public in 2008. Ventimiglia has 5 acres of grapes that, for a while, were under cultivation, and produces 1,000 cases of wine per year. The winery is named after the family that owns it.
Tomasello Winery is a winery located in Hammonton in Atlantic County, New Jersey. Tomasello is the second-oldest active winery in the state, after Renault Winery. The vineyard was first planted in 1888, and opened to the public in 1933 after the end of Prohibition. Tomasello is one of the largest winegrowers in New Jersey, having 70 acres of grapes under cultivation, and producing 65,000 cases of wine per year. Although the winery is in Hammonton, most of the grapes are grown on three vineyards in the neighboring Winslow Township in Camden County. The winery is named after the family that owns it.