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The Heritages were about to lose everything when they
decided to risk it all on entering the wine industry. They are another
example of a farm turned winery or ‘vineyard’ and I should also say
pioneers, at least in Gloucester County.
For those people who are saddened to see the loss of
so many farms to housing developments, we can thank the Heritages for
being one of the families who found another way to keep on farming and as
Richard would say ‘keep the family Heritage’. For those who have been
customers of their farm market for years, they have made a complete
transition from being a farm market/winery to a winery only as of 2010.
Congratulations. Your risk paid off and you started a
new trend that helps put not only New Jersey on the map for being better
than a state known solely for pollution and landfills, but Gloucester
County as well.
Of 120 acres of land, about 30 are reserved for
growing Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Cabernet
Sauvignon, as well as others used for blending. They grow 100 percent of
the grapes used in their wines and all of the fruit used in their fruit
wines except the blueberries.
While I have tasted most of their wines before, and
having not gotten that driver, I was limited on what I wanted to taste so
Richard recommended their Cabernet Franc which is their most popular. As a
dry red wine lover, I could see why and probably would have finished the
bottle …if I had that driver.
Like most people trying a good wine, I commented on
the aroma and was politely corrected ‘its called bouquet’ in winespeak.
No, Richard was not a wine snob at all but was able to correct me when I
called his vine a plant and his vineyard plants.
And as for ‘bouquet’ aka aroma, we here in New Jersey
call it ‘nose’.
Since I was getting a free education and free wine
tastes, I thought I’d pick his brain a little more. Apparently the soil
and climate in New Jersey is very similar to the Bordeaux region of
France.
So when I asked him why wineries haven’t been around
longer he mentioned that regulations in New Jersey have always been tough
until more recently. New Jersey? Go figure.
Speaking of regulations, I asked him if the younger
generation thought it might be easier to buy wine as an alcoholic beverage
at a farm stand to which he replied they card ‘everyone’. “Even me?” This
46 year old person asked. After a long “uuuuuhhh”, I thought I’d let him
off the hook and change the subject to the age of the plants…or vineyards.
He explained that grapes off of a ‘mature’ vine are
better and the more mature the vine, the better the grape. “Just like
women,” I said. He immediately replied “yeah!” without hesitation.
As for awards, Heritage Winery and Vineyards have won
too many to list including local and worldwide.
When you visit, you will find an impeccable winebar
housed in a storefront offering all their wines as well as numerous
collectibles and wine related accessories. Like Cedarvale, Heritages
offers wine tastings and offers their winery for rent for private events
including private wine tastings, fundraisers and weddings to name a few.
Also, if you get a chance, do not miss this years
Jersey Fresh Wine and Food Festival which will be held at Heritage winery
and Vineyards on the second weekend in August. Twenty wineries with over
200 wines will be available for tasting and food provided by local
restaurants. Tickets will be available at the door or at Heritages winery
ahead of time.
The next winery owner I wanted to track down was Dan
or Heather Brown, owners of Wagonhouse Winery. Their vineyard is located
on Cedar Road in Mickleton and their wines can be tasted at one of four
places their wines are sold.
So off to the place where tastings are conducted I
went. I did not locate one of the owners but I did find Mary Grasso
working at her farm market ‘Grasso Girls’ Farm Market on East Wolfert
Station Road in Mullica Hill.
This too happened to be the last stop of that bus
tour I mentioned so I did recall having tasted their wines already. I’ll
have you know that after tasting them, I bought several.
On this day, Mary said I had to try one of their
specialty wines sold under the label ‘Three Boys Brand’. At first I was
hesitant due to not being crazy over sweet wines but then I remembered
Wagonhouse was the only Blueberry wine I liked. So after Mary twisted my
arm a bit I gave in.
I tried “Fallen Quaker’ which is a blend of their red
grapes, hints of chocolate, coffee and lavender. WOW. I’ll take one of
these.
Next was the ‘Jersey Girl’ made with their white
grapes blended with citrus and vanilla. WOW. I’ll take one of these too.
Next I wanted to try the ‘Sundance’ which is a blend
of peach, honey, and almond, but Mary told me that as soon as its bottled,
it quickly sells.
So finally I tried the ‘Ornery Apple’ which has just
the right blend of spice. I went home with a bottle of that too.
Did I tell you I wasn’t much into sweet wines? But
these are absolutely incredible.
I finally got a hold of Dan several days later while
he was bottling some more specialty wines that they will be out with this
year called ‘A Shore Thing’ and ‘Make Me Blush’. Even though he was
multi-tasking, he seemed happy to provide me with some information.
Their winery is located on 3 and a half acres of land
leased from family property that was originally his grandfather’s farm
that he used to work on. So Dan Brown also has farming experience.
Wagonhouse grows Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese. Their fruit for their fruit wines also
come from area farmers.
See, they all support each other. Besides Grasso
Girl’s, their wines can be purchased at Farmer Frank’s in Mt. Royal,
Rosie’s Farm Market on Rt. 322, Joe Canals, and is served at Talluto’s
Italian Restaurant in Washington Township. But if you want to taste, head
on over to Grasso Girls. Mary’s pretty fun to hang out with. |
