Grab Your New Jersey Wine Passport

Who says you have to travel out of the country to enjoy great wines? Maybe once upon a time, but no more. You don’t even have to travel out of the Garden State! With over 60 licensed wineries, many of which are garnering national and international accolades, Jersey has a lot to offer today’s oenophiles.

So, it’s time to lace up your shoes, pack your bags, and grab your New Jersey Wine Passport from the Garden State Wine Growers Association (GSWGA). The goal? Visit every participating winery in the state and receive a stamp in your passport book. Once completed, you then have a chance to win an extravagant grand prize—an insiders’ trip for two to a sought-aft er wine region and other VIP experiences.

This year’s winners did just that. Chris and Jackie Mueller, the 2022 Grand Prize winners, recently enjoyed the culmination of their “Special New Jersey Wine Experience” grand prize at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg.

“It was a very impressive drive meandering up the hill to the entrance of the resort with wonderful views of the mountainside,” says Chris, recalling their arrival. As part of their two-night stay, they enjoyed a tasting guided by Crystal Springs’ Sommelier and Wine Director Susanne Wagner and dinner at The Crystal Tavern, where they chose their selections from a 112-page wine list. “They have over 40,000 bottles in stock,” notes Chris of the property’s world-renowned wine collection. The stay also included a guided tour of the famous Wine Cellar and dinner at Springs Bistro, where they enjoyed a 2010 Chardonnay from Ventimiglia Vineyards, a NJ-based winery in Wantage.

The Resort getaway was one part of an awards package that included special dinners and wine experiences across NJ. “We have many highlights, from all the owners, staff, other guests, and musicians we met to all the wonderful wines we enjoyed,” says Chris.

The first stamp the Muellers ever received in their passport books was back in 2014 from Old York Cellars in Ringoes. “On the weekends, we would travel around the state, enjoying wine tastings and some bottle purchases, and getting our books stamped,” says Chris.

This year’s winner, expected to be announced this summer, is still up for grabs and will get to enjoy their own VIP experience of New Jersey's wine country.

• Visit the Garden State Wine Growers Association website at newjerseywines.com to learn more about the Passport program and to download the GSWGA mobile app to record your winery visits.