The topography of New Jersey has a significant impact on the state's wine industry. The slopes of the AVA (American Viticultural Area) provide excellent drainage, while its orientation towards the south and southeast ensures ample exposure to the sun. These two factors are essential for cultivating grapes and making wine in a colder climate. In 1981, the New Jersey Agricultural Vineyard Act was passed, which marked the beginning of several initiatives by the state legislature to relax Prohibition-era restrictions.
This allowed for an increase in the number of wineries in New Jersey, which more than doubled in the late 1980s and continued to grow throughout the 1990s. However, preparing the soil to re-grow a particular crop can take years and farmers had to consider the investment of time and money before returning to winemaking. A decade after the Princeton Trial, New Jersey's wine industry is now thriving. The Garden State Winegrowers Association (GSWGA) and its director, Perry, have several plans to maintain this momentum.
The Wine Growers Select program will soon be launched, in which three wine selections from each winery will be chosen for recognition by other winemakers and experts. Additionally, a new marketing campaign titled “Fall in Love with New Jersey's Wine Country” is being prepared. This will include destination and hospitality recommendations on the Association's app so that visitors and residents can explore the state. At New Jersey Wine Week, held every November, the Governor's Cup is presented.
This year, a new ambassador program will be introduced which includes consumers, media personnel and other individuals interested in the Association's initiatives. All of these aspects of a region affect the taste of the wine (and even whether or not grapes can be grown). I haven't yet heard of any winery in New Jersey that grows or produces Amur (which I loved in Dr.).
