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Community Corner

Wineries Thrive Through the Heart of Winter

Four Gloucester County wineries continue to make great wine and host events in January and February.

There are four wineries right here in Gloucester County that are not only open for business in the winter, but are making the most of it together. Here is a breakdown of what each has to offer.

Cedarvale Winery: Owned and run by Ed and Marsha Gaventa, this award-winning family winery has been open since 2008 and sits right off Route 295 in Logan Township. Named after the neighboring farm, they carry 11 different varieties of wine and other wine-related items. Cedarvale is open for tastings Thursday through Sunday and any other day of the week by appointment.

Cedarvale winery also has live acts at least once a month that range from two-piece jazz outfits to acoustic singer-songwriters. They host events including bridal showers and fundraisers for crowds of up to 70 people.

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As a result, the Gaventas are now in the process of expanding their wine tasting room by moving the barrel room into a much larger warehouse next door.

Cedarvale will be one of the wineries participating in the Wine and Chocolate Wine Trail Weekend during Valentine’s Day weekend, and they have a couple of special recipes ready to go for the event (think: chocolate brownies made with red wine). 

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DiBella Winery: This family owned winery was opened in 2008 by William and Julie DiBella. They currently do not have a tasting room, but their wines are available at many locations throughout Gloucester County, including Joe Canals on Route 45, JB Liquors in Woolwich and Canals in Woodbury. According to the owners, they have tastings from time to time at the Joe Canals and plan to do so again in the future.

DiBella Winery is located on Davidson Road in Woolwich Township.

Wagonhouse Winery: Established in 2004 by Dan and Heather Brown, this family-owned winery offers 13 different wines, including three fruit wines, and four varieties of their “Three Boys Brand” wine. They currently do not have a tasting room, but according to newjerseywines.com they will be a part of the Wine and Chocolate Wine Trail Weekend Feb. 12 and 13.

Their wine is available at six different locations, including Grasso Girls Farm Market in Mullica Hill.

Wagonhouse Winery is located on Cedar Road in Mickleton.

Heritage Winery: This is the big daddy of the local wineries, open for wine tasting seven days a week and carrying a large assortment of award-winning wines. Established in 2001 and opened in 2002 by Bill and Penni Heritage, these fifth-generation farmers turned to making wine after the peach and apple market fell out.

“We planted wine to keep the farm going,” said their son Richard, 24. “We planned on selling the grapes—not making wine.” It was a good thing that they didn’t sell those grapes as Heritage Winery consistently sold out of wine during it’s first two years open.

Currently, Heritage Winery is making the move toward more high-end wines, while continuing to make the fruit wines and their $10 table wine “Jersey Red” that people have come to love.

“Each winery has its own personality,” said Richard Heritage. “We are trying a lot of different things, but we are really focusing on reds and whites."

According to the Heritage’s eldest son, “Wine is where it’s at. We have seen more new faces over the last year than ever before.” Richard, who serves as the winery’s director of marketing, said that they have over 2,000 friends on Facebook.

“The wine industry is exploding,” he said, adding that there are a lot of skeptics that New Jersey can produce good wine, but “people are shocked during blind taste tests.”

But why face the winter cold to taste some wine?

“This is the month to taste. It’s the first chance to taste the harvest,” Richard Heritage said.

Heritage is part of most of the music and wine and wine trail festivals and events that the state has to offer. Their wine is available in more than 50 liquor stores in the area, which can be found on their website. They will also be part of the Wine and Chocolate Wine Trail on Valentine’s Day Weekend.

Heritage Winery is located on Mullica Hill Road in Mullica Hill.

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