Garden State Wine Growers to Hold Jersey Fresh Wine Festival September 6th and 7th
Columbus, NJ (PRWEB) September 03, 2014 -- The Garden State Wine Growers Association will hold the annual Jersey Fresh Wine Festival this weekend at the historic Burlington County Fairgrounds in Columbus, NJ. The festival will be open from 12-5 pm each day and feature 17 terrific NJ wineries, local foods, arts and crafts and live music. This will be the second of five annual statewide wine festivals produced by the GSWGA this fall. The events give both in and out of state wine enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy the rising quality of New Jersey wine, as well as the rapidly increasing number of local wineries.
The fairgrounds have long been home to 4H and other agricultural events, making it the ideal setting to celebrate the arrival of the grape harvest season statewide. The festival pays homage to the NJ Department of Agriculture’s “Jersey Fresh” campaign, long heralded nationally as a pinnacle example of how a state can promote its local agricultural products. While those traditionally have included peaches, tomatoes, and corn for NJ, wine grapes are the fastest growing sector of New Jersey agriculture. NJ wineries have exploded in number, from 10 in the early 2000’s to nearly 50 today. The festival will include tastings of all three Governor’s Cup winners, awarded to NJ’s top wines. Sharrott Winery, Heritage Vineyards, and Tomasello Winery will be pouring their trophy winning wines.
Nearly 300 wines will be poured for tastings and sales from the wineries, which will come from as far north as Sussex County to Salem in the south. The fairgrounds allow responsible consumption on the property, so attendees can enjoy their favorite wines at the festival. On Saturday, the seven piece southern rock outfit Painted Blue Sky will play classic and contemporary covers from the Allman Brothers to the Black Crowes. Sunday, Philadelphia club circuit regulars Right Turn at 40 will bring their own brand of classic rock to the stage. The bands play from 12-5 each day.
Foodies will feel at home with food trucks offering delectable bites from flatbread wood-fired pizzas and BBQ, to seafood and Belgian waffles. Artisan food and craft vendors will have their wares available, guests can snack on gourmet pretzels and chocolates, or take home specialty sauces, seasonings and spices. The event is family friendly with a crafts activity tent for kids to enjoy as well.
The festival is sponsored in part by Care One, a Senior Care Company, with locations across the state. “New Jersey wines are a source of pride for the state, and we enthusiastically support their efforts to make fine wine and protect agriculture in New Jersey,” said regional Marketing Director Patrick Quinn. “We’re excited to be affiliated with an exciting, authentic segment of the NJ economy.”
Tickets are $25 for adults while those under 21 are free. Designated drivers receive entry for $5. Tickets can be purchased online in advance at a $5 discount, which is available through Saturday the 6th. Admission includes a souvenir wine glass that can be used to sample the wines. The Burlington County Fairgrounds are located conveniently off of Route 206 in Columbus, and the Jersey Fresh Wine Festival will run from noon to 5 pm each day. Ticket information, a festival guide, and the full list of winery participants can be found by visiting http://www.newjerseywines.com.
The GSWGA is a coalition of nearly 50 wineries and vineyards across New Jersey, dedicated to raising the quality and awareness of the New Jersey wine industry. For more information, please contact Executive Director John Cifelli at 908-866-6529 or [email protected].
John Cifelli, GSWGA, +1 (908) 866-6529, [email protected]
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