The New Jersey Center for Wine Research and Education is an organization within the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. The center was developed with help from the Wine Industry Advisory Council and the Outer Coastal Plain Vineyard Association.
- Mission
- History of NJ Wine
- Contact Us
- Support the Center – Wine Research and Education Fund (link also provided below)
Mission
The mission of the New Jersey Center for Wine Research and Education is to facilitate the growth and development of the New Jersey wine industry by nucleating and coordinating broadly based research and educational programs.
History of NJ Wine
Grape growing and wine production in the state of New Jersey predates the founding of America. From the mid-1700’s to today, there have been numerous waves of grape growers and winemakers throughout the state. The most recent wave is speculated to have started in the mid-1900’s, picking up substantially after the turn of the century. Production of NJ wine is currently more expansive than ever.
The industry has reached a size and stature that make it a major force in the growing agricultural and tourism sectors of the state. In the last decade or so, the number of wineries has more than doubled, from 22 in 2004 to over 50 in 2014. The acreage of wine grape production has increased from about 500 in 2002 to over 2000 acres in 2014. Vineyards and wineries are continuing to emerge each year and many believe this trend will prevail in upcoming years.
Although New Jersey is small geographically, three regions of the state have been designated as distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVAs): the largest and youngest, the Outer Coastal Plain AVA (est.2007), includes most of the southern half of the state; the Central Delaware Valley AVA and the Warren Hills AVA are considerably smaller, bordering the Delaware River in the northern half of the state. See the site selection page for more information regarding these AVAs.
Contact Us
Location: Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Mailing address: 121 Northville Rd., Bridgeton, NJ 08302-5919
Director: Daniel Ward
Phone number: 856-391-7628
Fax number: 856-455-3133
Email address: danward@njaes.rutgers.edu
Support the Center
Thank you for supporting the New Jersey Center for Wine Research and Education. The Wine Research and Education Fund is available for donors interested in supporting the center’s mission of facilitating the growth and development of the New Jersey wine industry through research and educational programs. Funds donated go toward supplementing the costs of guest speaker events, wine workshops, and wine industry research.
Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
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