2023 Makers Profiles: New Jersey's Local Drinks Movement

WINE MAKERS PROFILES

AUBURN ROAD VINEYARDS
117 Sharptown-Auburn Rd., Pilesgrove
info@auburnroadvineyards.com
auburnroadvineyards.com
HOURS: Mon-Thurs 12-5pm, Fri-Sat 12-9pm, Sun 12-5pm

Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery was founded in 2004 by former Philadelphia-based lawyers Scott and Julianne Donnini. A long way from life in the city, Julianne is now an entrepreneur, mother, and self-taught winemaker with a passion for creating high-quality wine—the centerpiece of the agritourism experience at Auburn Road. Hers is an old-world style: small batch fermentation, gentle use of oak, and a keen sense of balance as a frame to present the fruit’s beauty. Along with Auburn Road’s world class wine, you’ll find The Enoteca—a European-style wine bar and patio with a cool, down-to-earth vibe. Relax and escape to a table among the vines while you’re served amazing woodfired pizza, gelato, and cappuccino.

 RECOMMENDATIONS: 

• Dry Rosé
• Gaia
• The White Bottle

“I realize sometimes I am recognized because a woman winemaker is not the usual thing. But I don’t want false accolades because I am a woman. I just want real accolades because I’m making freaking good wine…” —Julianne Donnini, Owner and Winemaker

CAPE MAY WINERY
711 Townbank Rd., Cape May
609.884.1169
capemaywinery.com
HOURS: Sun 10am-5pm; Mon-Tues 12-6pm, Wed 12-5pm, Thurs 12-6pm, Fri 12-8pm, Sat 12-6pm

Father-daughter duo Toby Craig and Betsy Sole love the excitement of New Jersey’s young wine industry, and with the East Coast’s wine reputation steadily growing, Cape May Winery hopes to be everyone’s happy place. Craig and Sole have worked since 2003 to create a unique atmosphere that’s felt as soon as visitors arrive. Winemaker Michael Mitchell carries this feeling from the vineyard to production, making some of New Jersey’s finest wines alongside assistant winemaker Jackson Sole. Consistent innovation pushes Cape May’s winemakers to produce the best wine possible, with attention to detail visible in every bottle. Stroll through the vineyard and pair quality wines with small plates from the on-site kitchen—life is too short to drink bad wine.

 RECOMMENDATIONS: 

• 2021 Stone Series
• 2019 Cape May Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2019 Cape May Red Reserve

“The influence of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay along with our sandy soils create a terroir where our grapes thrive. We constantly look to improve viticulture practices and winemaking techniques with each vintage to make the best wine we can.” — Michael Mitchell, Head Winemaker

SHARROTT WINERY
370 S Egg Harbor Rd.,
Hammonton
609.567.9463
sharrottwinery.com
HOURS: Sun 10am-5pm; Mon-Tues 12-6pm; Wed-Sat 12-9pm

At Sharrott Winery, visitors can indulge in more than just wine—Sharrott’s scratch kitchen offers artisanal cheese plates and plenty of gourmet dishes. Sharrott Winery is one of the few in New Jersey to offer table service; plus, customers can enjoy live entertainment while sipping wine on a patio overlooking the vineyard.

Sharrott looks forward to continuing to grow and build the reputation of the New Jersey wine industry and now offers a full line of sparkling wines. Whether you’re a sommelier searching for the perfect vintage for your menu, or you simply want to enjoy a beautiful day in the countryside, Sharrott Winery offers it all.

 WHEN YOU VISIT: 

• Come hungry—great food in the wine bar
• Live entertainment 5 days a week
• Check sharrottwinery.com/events for details

“There is nothing better than sharing our hard work with our customers. Awards are great, but nothing is better than someone sharing how our wines played a part in one of their celebrations.” — Larry Sharrott III, Founder

BREW MAKERS PROFILES

MUDHEN BREWING COMPANY
127 W Rio Grande Ave., Wildwood
609.846.7918
mudhenbrew.com
HOURS: Mon-Thurs 11am-11pm, Fri-Sun 11am-11:30pm

Located in Wildwood, MudHen Brewing Company is Cape May County’s only brewpub! Once a Harley Davidson dealership, the facility is now home to an award-winning brewery, featuring 10 to 12 rotating craft beers on tap that are all brewed right on-premises. MudHen has become a destination for locals and tourists alike, holding down the heart of Wildwood all year long by hosting special events, weekly live music, and so much more. The space provides year-round indoor and outdoor dining areas, and in addition to their delicious draft selection and extensive cocktail and food menu, there are also four fully-equipped bars, along with firepits and a roof-covered biergarten—they even host weddings!

 RECOMMENDATIONS: 

• 1883 IPA: Flagship IPA
• Nummy Pumpkin Ale
• Pumpkin Russian Cocktail: Tito’s Vodka, Kahlua, pumpkin spiced syrup, and half & half

“Our tiny county of Cape May is home to 10 breweries who are producing some of the most delicious liquid out to the market. MudHen Brewing Company is a proud contributor of that, as we look forward to growing with the state of New Jersey and the craft industry as whole.” —Mary Pat Parson, Brewery Operations Coordinato

TRIUMPH BREWING COMPANY
Locations in Princeton,
New Hope, and Red Bank
triumphbrewing.com
HOURS: Vary by location; visit triumphbrewing.com

For nearly three decades, Triumph Brewing has provided patrons with high-quality craft beers, food, and entertainment. Its first Princeton location opened in 1995; since then, the restaurant and brewery has expanded to New Hope and Red Bank, all while maintaining its award-winning craft beers and exceptional food across all locations.

Triumph closed its Princeton location in early 2022 in preparation for a new location at the former Palmer Square post office building; it’s anticipated to open in late 2023. The new Princeton spot will house multiple dining areas as well as two bars and a lounge area.

 RECOMMENDATIONS: 

• Keller Pilsner
• Bengal Gold IPA
• Munich Helles

“Through working with the arts and nonprofits, and cultivating relationships with local farmers, Triumph continues to lead toward a more sustainable future. Craft beer, a thoughtfully curated menu, and knowledgeable service awaits you at Triumph.” —Eric Nutt, Director of Corporate Sales

CIDER & SPIRIT MAKERS PROFILES

THE CIDERHOUSE AT IRONBOUND FARM
360 County Rd. 579, Asbury
908.940.4115
ironboundfarm.com
HOURS: Thurs 4-9pm (reservation only), Fri 4-10pm, Sat 12-10pm,

Sun 12-9pm Since 2016, Ironbound Farm has been serving its patrons ciders and cocktails made from only fresh ingredients from its regenerative farm and a tight network of regional family farms. Master cidermaker Cameron Stark makes wonderfully balanced ciders, seltzers, and wines, while beverage director Danielle Nguyen crafts quality cocktails using Cam’s 18.5% ABV fortified ciders as the base and Ironbound farm-fresh botanicals.

Customers can visit the tasting room to experience limited-edition ciders, seltzers, wines, and cocktails, along with a full, seasonal food menu featuring locally farmed and sustainably raised livestock and produce.

 CIDER & COCKTAIL RECOMMENDATIONS: 

• Devil’s Harvest: Hard cider infused with cherries, Jersey cranberries, and a hint of white pepper
• Campalec Spritz: Cider cocktail featuring Campalec Imperial Cider and Harrison’s Sparkling Newark Cider
• Bramble-Bound: Muddled cider cocktail featuring Lemon Beebrush Imperial Cider

“We see the Ciderhouse at Ironbound Farm as the heart of an alternative local food system that creates resiliency and viability for a closed network of farmers, food producers, chefs, and local citizens.” — Charles Rosen, Founder

NAUTI SPIRITS DISTILLERY
916 Shunpike Rd., Cape May
609.770.3381
nautispirits.com
HOURS: Sun-Wed 12-8pm, Thu-Sat 12-10pm

Nauti Spirits, now in its seventh year, is a true 60-acre working farm-to-bottle distillery boasting a broad line of internationally acclaimed spirits handcrafted from raw ingredients grown on their farm and other local farms. Nauti’s creations include: two delicious bourbons; an impossibly smooth white whiskey; a beautifully aromatic sweet potato and corn vodka, along with a popular jalapeno variation; three distinctly tasteful gins; and a whiskey barrel-aged golden rum, with a lovely cold-weather spiced cousin. Visit the nautically-inspired tasting room to sip artisan cocktails and enjoy great music. Kids and canines love Nauti’s massive outdoor spaces (bring a chair or two!). Informative tours of the production facilities detail how Nauti makes spirits the real way—from scratch. Spirited gifts and gear are abundant!

 COCKTAIL RECOMMENDATIONS: 

• Old Fashioned: Cornelius Mey’s Atlantic Bourbon, bitters, simple syrup, garnished with cherry and orange peel
• Shark Tooth: Nauti Vodka, fresh lime juice, house-made orange oleo, garnished with fresh lime
• Shunpike Punch: Nauti Rum, house-made orange oleo, fresh pineapple, lemon, and lime juices, garnished with an orange

“We’ve worked tirelessly to perfect our farm spirits and are proud to have been repeat winners of Gold and Double Gold medals from the finest spirits competitions in the world, including San Francisco and New York World Spirits Competitions, LA Int’l, 50 Best, and others. We are at the heart of what ‘craft’ is all about.” — Steve Miller, Owner

SILK CITY DISTILLERS
321 River Rd., Unit 5, Clifton
silkcitydistillers.com
HOURS: Thurs 5-9pm, Fri 5-10pm, Sat 1-9pm, Sun 1-6pm

Silk City Distillers was founded on a shared love for American whiskies. Brothers James and John Bednar, along with longtime friend Tim Paul, worked together to create a distillery that pushed the limits of traditional whiskey styles. Silk City utilizes novel techniques, unique grains, and quality while still respecting its heritage. The distillery focuses on American-style whiskeys and prides itself on using high-quality, locally sourced corn, rye, and barley to create the best flavors possible by staying true to the complete distillation process. Customers can expect exceptional cocktails and an immersive experience with every visit.

 RECOMMENDATIONS: 

• • Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• • Bottled in Bond Rye
• • Distillers Gin

“We’re excited about the awareness and enthusiasm we’ve been able to create around craft spirits and to continue to grow and enjoy spirits with our community in New Jersey.” — James Bednar, Owner