As the effects of climate change become more apparent, the wine industry in New Jersey is undergoing a transformation. With the reputation of New Jersey wines on the rise, the state is preparing a new marketing campaign, titled “Fall in Love with New Jersey's Wine Country”, to promote its wineries and hospitality. The Princeton Trial, held during a conference of the American Association of Wine Economists at Princeton University, was led by journalist George Taber and earned New Jersey wines long-awaited recognition for their quality. The colder mountainous regions of North Jersey are ideal for producing drier wines such as Chardonnay, while South Jersey is home to a burgeoning craft beverage industry.
The influence of big cities like New York and Philadelphia has attracted young consumers to North and South New Jersey, but companies in other areas have struggled to get the products they need from distributors. New Jersey ranks sixth in the country in terms of wine consumption, with an estimated 33 million gallons consumed each year. As disasters and losses become more common, wineries are paying more to protect themselves, driving up the cost of wine. On Alba Vineyard, journalist George Taber was impressed by the wines from Caracciolo's Amalthea wineries.
In the Princeton showdown, New Jersey wines were compared to vintages from many of the same estates that had participated in the Paris event. If you want to visit a local winery right away (August to October are the best months), Four Sisters Winery will host the Vintage North Jersey Wine & Food Festival on August 19th and 20th in Belvidere. The New Jersey wine industry is continuously expanding with possibilities, excellence and experience. Liz Thach, professor of wine marketing at Sonoma State University, noted that a small percentage of exported wines had a “taste of eraser or band-aid”, possibly caused by Brettanomyces yeast. That day on Alba Vineyard was when George Taber fell in love with New Jersey wines and it's been an ongoing love story ever since. With its mix between the influences of adjacent large cities and its local craft beverage industry, New Jersey is creating its own unique market for alcoholic beverages.
