Ventimiglia Vineyard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ventimiglia Vineyard |
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Location | 101 Layton Road, Wantage, New Jersey, United States |
Coordinates | 41.239545 N, 74.595977 W |
First vines planted | 2002 |
Opened to the public | 2008 |
Key people | Gene & Anne Ventimiglia, Anthony & Myla Ventimiglia (owners) |
Acres cultivated | 5 |
Cases/yr | 1,000 (2013) |
Other attractions | Picnicking permitted, pet-friendly |
Distribution | On-site, wine festivals, NJ farmers' markets, NJ liquor stores, NJ restaurants, home shipment |
Tasting | Tastings and tours on weekends |
Website | http://www.ventivines.com |
Ventimiglia Vineyard is a special place in Wantage Township, New Jersey. It's a winery, which means it's a farm where grapes are grown to make wine. The family who owns it, the Ventimiglias, first planted grapevines in 2002. They opened their doors to visitors in 2008. Today, they grow grapes on 5 acres of land and make about 1,000 cases of wine each year.
Growing Grapes for Wine
Ventimiglia Vineyard grows many different kinds of grapes. These include popular types like Chardonnay and Merlot. They also grow some unique grapes. For example, they are the only winery in New Jersey that uses Carignan and Sumoll grapes. These red grapes come from Spain.
They also use Frontenac gris and La Crescent. These are white hybrid grapes. Hybrid grapes are a mix of different grape types. They were created in Minnesota to grow well in colder places.
Wine Competitions
Ventimiglia Vineyard once took part in a special event. It was called the Judgment of Princeton. This was a wine tasting competition. New Jersey wines were compared to famous French wines. It showed that local wines can be just as good!
Making and Selling Wine
The Ventimiglia family believes in making wine in a special way. They use artisanal methods. This means they make their wines in small amounts. They also let the wine age in oak barrels. This helps the wine develop its flavor.
Rules and Groups
Ventimiglia Vineyard has a special license. It's called a farm winery license. This license allows them to make a certain amount of wine each year. It also lets them sell their wine in different places. They can sell it at their farm, at farmers' markets, and even ship it to homes.
The winery is also part of some important groups. They are a member of the Garden State Wine Growers Association. This group helps support wineries across New Jersey.