If you’ve ever sipped a wine, then turned on music only to find your experience of one or both heightened, it’s not your imagination. Studies have shown that different types of music change a person’s perception of wine.
“Exciting” music with fast beats and a high pitch will make wine taste fresher, whereas French music tends to make people at stores reach for French wine, and German music primes people to reach for, you guessed it … German wines.
Some winemakers even swear by the practice of aging their wines with certain types of music.
While we can’t say how and why wine precisely affects the flavor of wine in the cellar, or your glass, we can confirm that it makes the experience of drinking it more enjoyable—especially when the music is live and you’re in wine country.
Go forth and create your own wine and music pairing taste tests yourself and see how the Garden State’s best performers change the wines you’re sipping.
Grill and Chill With Cape May Winery
Every Wednesday, Cape May Winery offers evenings filled with great wine, flavorful food, and vineyard vibes. Each evening starts at 6 pm and features a seasonal menu curated by Chef Mike Siegel and his culinary team, with grilled goodies paired with Cape May Wine, plus great live music by Jay Bethel. $72.
Sharrott Winery Sets the Stage for the Weekend
On Friday evenings, Sharrott Winery primes everyone’s palates for the weekend with their Live Music Series. The winery offers a menu from the Wine Bar Kitchen and great wines to sip alongside the live performance. Head over there every Thursday from 6 to 9 pm.
Thirsty Thursdays Are Quenched at Working Dog
Working Dog Winery serves up live music and $2 off wines by the glass every Thursday. The show goes on from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. Free to enter.
Make It a Friyay at Willow Creek
Willow Creek offers the opportunity to sip, savor, and soak in live music on Fire Pit Fridays from 4 to 8 pm. Toast to the weekend in style.
Wine, Dine and Groove at Old York Cellars
Every weekend, Old York Cellars serves up incredible wine, BBQ, Paella, boards and brunch (depending on timing) + live music Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 pm, Saturday from 1 to 5 pm, and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm.
Wine in the Vines at Tomasello
Why just wine when you can wine in the vines? Tomasello Winery kicks up the joy, offering wine, live music, great food, and chilled out vineyard vibes every Saturday at the Hammonton location from 10 am to 7 pm.
Music, Vino, Food Trucks at Working Dog
A triple threat of live music, wine, and food truck fun is on tap every Saturday from 1 to 5 pm at Working Dog Winery.
Live Music Pop-Ups at Angelico
On the second Saturday of every month, Angelico Winery rolls out the red carpet for visitors who want to enjoy live music, great wine, and their own picnic fare (if desired). Reservations are recommended.
Pergola Vibes at Villa Milagro
Every Saturday, Villa Milagro Vineyards offers live music with talented regional performers like Michael Reisman, who has graced stages across the country. From 1 to 5 pm, take in the vibes from the pergola, catch some sunshine, and enjoy the wine. Reservations are required for groups of four people or more. $15.
Bring the Whole Crew to Federal Twist
Federal Twist Vineyard offers a family-friendly approach to wine tasting and live music every Saturday from 2 to 5 pm. Enjoy the views, the company, and the tunes. $5 for adults 21 and over.
Group Therapy, Games, Music at Beneduce
Wind down from the week with wine, fun times, live music, lawn games, and great food truck fare at Beneduce Vineyards every Saturday from 5 to 9 pm. $10. Adults and babies under 2 only.
Saturday Night Performances at Auburn Road
Check out live music on the Vineyard Stage at Auburn Road’s Enoteca every Saturday night. The show goes on from 7 to 9 pm, with great wine and dinner available. See who’s playing next here.
Family Friendly Music and Wine at Terhune
If you want to bring your mini-me along for the music and wine party, Terhune Orchards offers live music, cheer, and great drinks in their historic apple orchard. The party happens Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 pm.
Tune Into Brunch at Cape May
Every Sunday this summer, Cape May Winery is offering a Sunday brunch served from 10 am to 2 pm from the Tapas Kitchen. Parties of 8 or more should make a reservation. Live music hits the stage at 11 am sharp!
