The best wineries in NJ

Family growers since 1853, the Heritage staff previously farmed peaches and apples but turned the land over to grapevines in 1999. The evolution was a fortuitous one, as grapes favor the same growing conditions as apples, and today the winery produces fine merlot, cabernet franc, chardonnay, Malbec and more. Hour-long winery tours ($20) are offered daily at 1 and 3pm (call to reserve a spot) and Heritage’s tasting room offers pours of five classic ($5) or reserve ($10) wines to end your tour on a tasty note. 480 Mullica Hill Rd, Mullica Hill, NJ (856-589-4474, heritagewineNJ.com)

Located on sweeping farmland that’s been operational since 1805, Alba Vineyard specializes in minimal-impact, renewable viticulture and favors grapes such as pinot noir, chardonnay and Riesling. The winery’s tasting room, located in the property’s historic stone bars, is open daily for walk-in tastings. For $10, you can sample Alba’s most popular pours paired with cheese, flatbreads and seasonal fruits. Tours of the property followed by a tasting are reservation-only and include a souvenir etched Alba wineglass ($40), so you can keep up the drinking once you get home. 269 Rt 627, Milford, NJ (908-995-7800, albavineyard.com)

A third-generation winery with five tasting rooms scattered around New Jersey, Tomassello has earned admirers since its founding in 1933. With vineyards occupying 70 acres, the winery is able to grow 30 grape varietals and its catalogue of wines is vast: Special selections include an award-winning dessert wine and a spiced apple wine. Find the tasting room closest to you or head to the flagship on-site at the vineyard, which is open daily for tastings. 225 North White Horse Pike, Hammonton, NJ (800-666-9463, tomasellowinery.com)

Founded in 1976 by Louis Caracciolo, a food scientist who began experimenting with winemaking in his college dorm, Amalthea has evolved into an Old World–influenced winery. Offering dry reds (cabernet franc, merlot), dry whites (pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc) as well as a selection of dessert wines, Amalthea also bottles a number of finely tuned blends that embody popular French styles. At the tasting room, red, white and semisweet wine flights are offered Tuesday through Sunday and cost $6 for a selection of five to six tastes. 209 Vineyard Rd, Atco, NJ (856-768-8585, amaltheacellars.com)

A winery for the eco-conscious set, Sharrott’s production relies entirely on solar power. Established in 2003, the winery has built a steady following both in its home state and beyond, even winning awards way out in San Francisco. Tastings are offered daily, and no-reservations-required tours run on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30 and 2pm. 370 South Egg Harbor Rd, Hammonton, NJ (609-567-9463, sharrottwinery.com)

1981’s New Jersey Farm Winery Act eased Prohibition restrictions on winemaking: Before the law, the state provided only one winery license per million residents, so only seven wineries were operational. Old York Cellars was the act’s first beneficiary, and today NJ is home to more than 50 wineries. Award-winning winemaker Scott Gares crafts Rieslings, chardonnays, Malbecs, Syrahs and dessert wines; for a taste of Old World fruit wine, try his blackberry variety. Walk-in tastings, available daily, cost $7 for pours of six wines, and there are also more expensive tastings that pair wines with snacks, cheeses and chocolate (available by reservation) and winery tours led by Gares himself. 80 Old York Rd, Ringoes, NJ (908-284-9463, oldyorkcellars.com)

A fun-loving winery founded by two friends with no prior winemaking experience, Auburn Road has grown into a beloved New Jersey destination that produces some serious wines. Each Saturday night, the winery’s stage welcomes live bands playing everything from bluegrass to blues as you nosh on wood-fired pizza, pastas and salads from Auburn Road’s Enoteca restaurant. On Friday nights, the What’s for Dinner series pairs five courses with glasses of its favorite vintages—a serious bargain at $29.99 per person. And the $5 wine tastings, available daily at the Enoteca, include pours of up to eight wines. 117 Sharptown-Auburn Rd, Pilesgrove, NJ (856-769-9463, auburnroadvineyards.com)