Mount Salem Vineyards facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Salem Vineyards |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | 54 Mount Salem Road, Pittstown, NJ, USA |
| Coordinates | 40.592454 N, 74.988501 W |
| First vines planted | 2005 |
| Opened to the public | 2010 |
| Key people | Peter Leitner (owner) |
| Acres cultivated | 7 |
| Cases/yr | 1,000 (2014) |
| Distribution | On-site, subscription |
| Tasting | Tastings on weekends and by appointment |
| Website | http://www.mountsalemvineyards.com/ |
Mount Salem Vineyards is a special kind of winery located in Pittstown, New Jersey. It is found in Hunterdon County, in the area known as Alexandria Township.
This land was once a farm that grew fruits, grains, and raised dairy animals. The first grapevines were planted in 2005. Mount Salem Vineyards then opened its doors to visitors in 2010.
The owner, Peter Leitner, also started a group called the Appalachian Highlands Vinifera Society. This group works to help improve how wine grapes are grown and how wine is made in Northern New Jersey.
Mount Salem Vineyards has about 7 acres of land where grapes are grown. Each year, they make around 1,000 cases of wine. A "case" is like a box, usually holding 12 bottles. The winery is located high up on Mount Salem, over 600 feet above sea level. The farm is named after this mountain.
What Wines Are Made Here?
Mount Salem Vineyards focuses on using grapes that originally came from Austria and Northern Italy. They make wine from many different types of grapes, including:
- Albariño
- Barbera
- Blaufränkisch (Lemberger)
- Cabernet Franc
- Chardonnay
- Grüner Veltliner
- Merlot
- Riesling
- St. Laurent
- Traminette
- Viognier
- Zweigelt
Mount Salem Vineyards is the only winery in New Jersey that makes wine from St. Laurent grapes. These grapes are special because they originally came from Austria. This winery is not located in one of New Jersey's three special grape-growing regions, which are called viticultural areas.
How They Make Wine
Mount Salem Vineyards believes in using traditional ways to make wine, similar to those used in the Burgundy region of France. They put a lot of importance on terroir. This word means how the land, soil, and climate of a place affect the taste of the grapes and the wine.
They also focus on using the best quality grapes and a lot of hard work in the fields. This helps them make excellent wines.
Licenses and Groups
Mount Salem Vineyards has a special farm winery license from the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. This license allows them to:
- Make up to 50,000 gallons of wine each year.
- Have up to 15 other places where they can sell their wine.
- Send up to 12 cases of wine per year to customers, both in New Jersey and in other states.
While they are not part of the Garden State Wine Growers Association, they are a member of the Outer Coastal Plain Vineyard Association.
