MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 10, 2023
Contact: Dan Keashen
Phone: (856) 225-5431
Cell: (856) 816-1374
E-mail: dan.keashen@camdencounty.com
COMMISSIONERS UNVEIL RECORD GRAPE HARVEST AND EXPANSION
After a publication named New Jersey the number one underrated wine region in the nation
- Date: October 10, 2022
- Time: 12:15 p.m.
- Location: Camden County Vineyard
- 508 Lakeland Rd. Blackwood, NJ 08012
- Attendees:
- Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr.
- Commissioner Jonathan Young
- Gloucester Township Mayor David Mayer
- Devon Perry, Executive Director of the NJ Wine Growers Association
- Amalthea Cellars owner, Lou Caracciolo
- Executive Director of Visit South Jersey, Michael Snyder
- Visual: More than 7,000 pounds of grapes will be harvested during the press conference.
- Details: The Commissioners Lakeland Vineyard is producing its third crop of chambourcin grapes with a 15% yield over last year. The county’s vineyard sits on an acre of land and its second crop last year yielded about 6,000 pounds of grapes. This year the county will be harvesting more than 7,000 pounds of grapes from the Sustainability Campus.
“We continue to see an explosion of wine making and accolades for Camden County wineries throughout the nation and the state,” Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said. “This growing industry is creating new jobs and opportunities for our local workforce. In addition, this vineyard also allows to create a marketplace for locally grown grapes.”
In 2019, the Board of Commissioners wanted to support an expanding industry in Camden County which was the ever-growing wine making sector. Wine growers were creating jobs, creating a product unique to the county and creating community through their small businesses. Based on that objective, former fallow open space, that was once used as a makeshift farm, was repurposed for the vineyard and now in year two has had record harvest.
“This program has produced a bumper crop this year and our intentions are to expand out our outer costal wine making so our producers have the right number of local grapes to keep up with demand,” said Commissioner Jonathan Young, liaison to the Camden County Office of Sustainability. “
VineTech was hired by the county to plant and maintain the vineyard when it initially opened. The vineyard is comprised of chambourcin, a variety of grape that is one of the world’s most popular hybrid varieties and is noted for its distinctive dark coloring and herbaceous aroma. This vineyard supports the rapidly growing wine industry in the state and once harvested, the grapes will be put out for bid and sold to the highest bidder.
“The vineyard is an asset to the township and an amenity for residents to see the progress of our local wine makers here in the county and the region,” Gloucester Township Mayor, David Mayer said. “There is no question in my mind that South Jersey wines are becoming a serious contender in the international marketplace and we proud to have some of our very own grapes involved in the process.”
On Oct. 2, the publication InsideHook wrote that New Jersey was the number most underrated wine region in the nation. Take a look at the article here-
www.insidehook.com/article/food-and-drink/7-underrated-wine-regions-worth-your-attention.
“The Camden County Chamborcin Harvest marks the commencement of festivities one month ahead of the 2023 NJ Wine Week,” Executive Director of the Garden State Wine Growers Association, Devon Perry said. “This event stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of the individuals tending to the New Jersey wine country vines. With their hard work, we are poised for an exceptional season and the promise of future, delectable vintages. Cheers to New Jersey wines.”
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