FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Executive Director: Devon Perry
T: 856-761-9986
devon@newjerseywines.com

Media Contact: Martha Wright
T: 856-261-9983
SegelAssociates@gmail.com

NEW JERSEY GRAPE GROWERS AND WINEMAKERS CRUSH 2023

Garden State Wine: 2023 in Review

Haddonfield, NJ (December 6, 2023) – As 2023 comes to a close, the Garden State Wine Growers Association – a coalition of 60+ New Jersey wineries and vineyards supporting the Garden State’s wine industry through information, resources, and advocacy – toasts to a year’s worth of new experiences, accolades, and game-changing ideas.

“New Jersey wine crushed it in 2023,” said Devon Perry, Executive Director of the Garden State Wine Growers Association. “From Princeton to Rome, our vineyards and wineries are making a name for themselves. We gave our guests a wide array of opportunities to enjoy the Garden State, all while celebrating prestigious recognitions. Most importantly, we made excellent wine and we’re on a path to continue growing.”

2023 Highlights:

  • 2023 Wine and Chocolate Trail 
      • Over two February weekends, the New Jersey Wine & Chocolate Trail celebrated Valentine’s Day, with wine, artisan chocolate, music, and more. (2024 Save the Date: GSWGA will also feature two weekends February 9-11 and 16-18.)
  • 2023 Mother’s Day Trail 
  • The Judgment of Princeton International Wine Summit
      • In June, the Judgment of Princeton International Wine Summit kicked off, featuring a three-day media tour that hosted Sally Semeria and Davide Gilioli, Italian sommeliers. They were guided through the picturesque New Jersey wine country, exploring a curated selection of 11 distinct wineries.
  • International Wine Summit Celebratory Ambassadors’ Reception
      • On June 22, 2023, the International Wine Summit Celebratory Dinner commemorated the 2012 Judgment of Princeton with a double-blind tasting for members of the press, New Jersey legislators and dignitaries, industry leaders, and New Jersey Wine supporters.
  • New Jersey Wine Debuts in Italy 
      • On June 26, 2023, Sally Semeria, along with Auburn Road Vineyards’ Scott and Julianne Donnini, represented the Garden State Wine Growers at the US Ambassador’s residence, Villa Taverna, in Rome, Italy. The event attracted an estimated 3,500 attendees and aimed to introduce New Jersey wines as legitimate contenders in the European market to meet the growing demand for wines from emerging regions. Mike Beneduce of Beneduce Vineyards, and Todd Wuerker of Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery continued the partnership with a New Jersey wine tasting in Italy during Thanksgiving.
  • 2023 New Jersey Wine Week 
      • The 3rd week of November, New Jersey Wine Week, an annual statewide celebration of Garden State winemaking and grape growing, provided both new and experienced wine enthusiasts a reason to raise a glass in celebration of the New Jersey wine scene.
  • 2023 Governor’s Cup
      • In November, the Garden State Wine Growers Association in collaboration with the Beverage Testing Institute, announced the results of the 2023 Governor’s Cup.
  • 2023 Holiday Wine Trail Weekend
    • The New Jersey Holiday Wine Trail Weekend is a cherished Thanksgiving weekend tradition for wine enthusiasts. The weekend offers festive fun, with holiday bazaars, crafts vendors, live music, food trucks, and more. (2024 Save the Date: November 29 – December 1.)

About Garden State Wine Growers Association
The Garden State Wine Growers Association is a non-profit organization of New Jersey-based wineries, vineyards and allied businesses. It serves as a centralized information repository, resource and clearing house for industry members, and offers a unified voice advocating for issues important to the entire range of New Jersey winery and vineyard operations. Central to this mission are efforts toward branding, marketing, public relations, education, and legislation and regulation for the furtherance of the vineyard and wine industries in the Garden State. 

For more information, visit https://www.newjerseywines.com. 

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