New Jersey Wineries

     It's no secret.  I have a weakness for the fruit of the vine, and I like to go wine tasting.  There was a time when Renault was the only game in town.  Renault was established in 1864 and has operated continuously ever since.  Strict prohibition era laws limited the number of wineries in New Jersey, but all that changed in 1981 with the passage of the New Jersey Farm Winery Act.  This act exempted low volume, family owned wineries from restrictions, and allowed the farmers to create outlet stores. There are more than 45 wineries in New Jersey today.  That's a lot of tasting!
     I spent some time Friday at Terhune Orchards in Princeton.  The first thing I noticed was the pick-your-own signs.  Strawberries, asparagus, and cherries are over until next year.  You can pick blueberries and blackberries now.  Peaches, apples, and pumpkins are on the way.
     You can shop at the farm store.  There are organically grown fresh herbs and a multitude of fruits and vegetables, including heirloom varieties.

They have black heirloom cherry tomatoes.

They sell donut peaches. 

 

Try some yellow pear heirloom tomatoes.

      Besides produce, you can buy local honey, locally made preserves, fresh breads, and cookies.  They sell pies that are to-die-for and apple cider donuts.  On a hot day, you shouldn't leave without an apple cider slushy, made from Terhune cider, of course.
     The winery is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Tasting is free on Friday.  You have to pay on Saturday and Sunday - $5 for five samples/ $8 if you want to keep the glass.  Besides the whites and reds, they make apple wine, Harvest Blue (apple wine with blueberry flavor), and Just Peachy (apple wine with peach).  I'm adding some seltzer and fruit to my peach wine to make some Just Peachy sangria.
     There are lots of activities at the farm.  Besides the festivals and wagon rides, they offer classes about growing herbs, preserving food, and pruning fruit trees.  Kids can attend farm camp for a week in the summer.
     So take a ride to Terhune Orchards.  Support your local farmer and suck down some of those free samples of grape juice (on Fridays)!

http://www.terhuneorchards.com/index.html