Happy New Year!!!
Happy New Year! This first month of 2025 we have two spectacular wines from one great producer: William Heritage Winery in Mullica Hill, NJ.
Bill (William) & Penni Heritage started the winery in 2001 on family lands. These had formerly been orchards of apples and peaches, but these were replaced with grapevines. I am so glad they were! The Heritage’s land is well-suited to grape-growing (more on that below), and the wines are well made. That quality is recognized by their peers as William Heritage Winery has twice been named Winery of the Year (2011, 2014) by the Garden State Wine Growers Association. Their wines have also rated highly with reviewers, including Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, the Wine Enthusiast, and Wine & Spirits. I believe it was in 2014 that I first tasted their wines, and was very, very impressed.
This month, we are offering you two of their estate-grown red wines:
William Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Outer Coastal Plains, NJ
The Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from 3 areas in the vineyard, all sustainably grown. The juice was fermented on the skins. The wine was aged 11 months in French oak, of which 9% was new.
The resulting wine is elegant and tasty. Fruits are forest-y, with raspberry and currant. There are hints of eucalyptus, which is my favorite style for cab sauv. The mouth has cherry, a bit of graphite, and some herbs.
William Heritage Syrah 2022, Outer Coastal Plains, NJ
The Syrah comes from one area of the vineyard and is also sustainably grown. Like the Cab, the wine was aged 11 months in French oak, of which15% was new.
The Syrah has dark fruit notes of blue and back berries, a little black olive, Syrah’s typical smokey meats, and is brightened by field herbs. In a word – wonderful.
Concerned about the quality of New Jersey wine? Don’t be.
American wine produced on the East Coast has been gaining traction with both critics and consumers over the last decade or two; foremost among these is that from the Finger Lakes region in New York, but other parts of New York and areas in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia have also received deserved accolades. Philadelphia is surrounded by several notable wine-growing regions, including the Lehigh Valley – best known for Jet-favorite Galen Glen Winery. Another excellent wine growing region can be found east of the Delaware and across the Ben, Walt, and Betsy Bridges. All of these wine areas share something in common: recognized American Viticultural Area (AVA) appellations.
Among the many AVAs on the East coast are the Finger Lakes AVA, the Lehigh Valley AVA, and the Outer Coastal Plains AVA of New Jersey – the appellation of William Heritage Winery .
AVAs work the same as appellations in other countries, such as France’s AOC or Italy’s DOC. The AVA designates a grape-growing region by the unique features of climate, geography, and production that distinguish it from its surroundings.
The Outer Coastal Plains AVA was named In 2006 – the year that Lucy the Elephant was first struck by lighting. It stretches from Cape May, past Lucy, to just north of Asbury Park, encompassing the pine barrens and most of the Atlantic coast. In other words, it is very, very Jersey.
Pine barrens soils are GREAT for growing. They have well-draining sandy particles and ample plant matter for nutrients. Those sandy soils help retain heat; that, along with the Outer Coastal Plains’ temperature tempering via the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay, helps ensure around 200 frost-free days of growing per year. All of this is great for Cabernet Sauvignon and for Syrah – both of which love sandy soils. In it, they grow a little bit lighter and fruitier, which is parlayed into the glass.
But, don’t take my word for how good these wines are, you can try them yourselves. And, the fine folks at William Heritage Winery are offering all of our wine club members a gift card to their tasting room!
So, grab your gift card and head over to their Mullica Hill winery and tasting room. But, I figured you may as well make a day of it. So I’ve created an itinerary of great places to stop in- and around- the pine barrens and the AVA – last stop is wine. Just watch out for those Jersey Devils!
Outer Coastal Plains AVA roadtrip!
Emilio Carranza Monument - Captain Emilio Carranza Rodríguez was a Mexican aviator who died when his plane crashed in the pine barrens in 1928 on his way back to Mexico. His flight had been for goodwill between Mexico and the US, and he was greeted by many dignitaries during his trip – including then-US president, Calvin Coolidge. A monument was erected at the site of his crash, which can be found in Tabernacle, just off Carranza road. There is a large parking lot, so you can stop, enjoy the fresh air and do some hiking. There are several, easy to navigate trails through pine forest.
Blueberry shakes at Sofia’s Supreme Subs in Hammonton – slake your thirst with the amazing blueberry shake at this small, roadside stand on the White Horse Pike. If you need more than a shake, the subs are also excellent. And fries!
New Gretna Renault champagne bottle- In te 1920s, the Renault Winery erected 80, 24-foot tall, concrete champagne bottles across the US as part of an advertising campaign. At the time, Renault was renowned for their sparkling wine. A few of these still exist, though repainted and evolved over time. Find one on Route 9 in New Gretna.
Tree Monument of Richland – When a 235-year old tree died, instead of cutting it down chainsaw artist Gary Heitz carved into it the history of the town of Richland. It stands today – as art and history – in Sawmill Park on Route 40 in Richland.
Sweet Amalia Market – the amazing Sweet Amalia Market on Route 40 in Newfield is run by Sisterly Love Collective members and friends of Jet, Lisa Calvo and Melissa McGrath. Whether you just want some oysters on the half shell, or one of Chef Melissa’s award-winning sandwiches, it is worth the drive and the wait (until they re-open in March!).
William Heritage Winery – your final destination! Taste and enjoy!
