New Jersey’s wines are growing in stature, amassing accolades and making their mark in the viticultural world. There’s no better opportunity to see, and taste, why this is happening than by attending the 2018 Winemakers’ Co-op Spring Portfolio tasting.
This now-annual, seminar-cum-tasting is set for Sunday, June 3 from 3 to 7 pm at William Heritage Winery, 480 Mullica Hill Road in Mullica Hill.
William Heritage, the Garden State Culinary Arts Foundation’s Outstanding Wine Professional for 2018, is one of four principals in the co-op established to promote the fine-wine movement in New Jersey. Its partners are Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes; Beneduce Vineyards in Pittstown; and Working Dog Winery in East Windsor.
There’s big news connected to the portfolio tasting: the release of the 2016 “Open Source,” the co-op’s collaborative effort in chardonnay.
It’s the first collaboration of its kind in New Jersey wine history. How did it happen? One thousand pounds of chardonnay grapes from each of the four co-op members were combined and then pressed during the 2016 fall harvest. The resulting juice was then equally divided among the four wineries; each winery then made and bottled its own chardonnay.
The four wines will be offered to the public for the first time at the Spring Portfolio tasting.
In addition, the wine writer Lenn Thompson will lead a seminar and panel discussion starting at 2 pm that will be open to those with VIP tickets to the portfolio tasting.
All told, 32 wines from the co-op membership will be offered; food vendors will be on hand to sell a variety of edibles. The tasting will take place rain or shine, in barns, tasting facilities and, if the weather dictates, under tents.
General admission tickets are $34 and VIP tickets, which include the seminar and special tasting options, are $59. For tickets, or more information, visit thewinemakersco-op.com or call 908-866-6529.