It’s hard to keep your jaw from dropping as you turn onto the gravel road that leads to Old York Cellars winery.
As you drive through the vines on your way to their wine tasting room, a stunning landscape of mountains and farmlands appears before you.
“That’s one of the things we hear the most,” says Laurin Dorman, who runs the winery’s events and publicity. “People immediately tell us how beautiful it is here.”
The winery is set with a southern view of the Sourland Mountain range, with vines sprawling out from the tasting room’s patio. Customers are encouraged to bring picnics and food with them when they come to the winery to enjoy the outdoors.
Dorman believes that is one thing that helps Old York Cellars stand apart from other wineries.
“Our vineyard and our tasting room are among the vines. There are other vineyard properties around, but you don’t get a sense of being among the vineyard like you do here,” she said.
The winery has been up and running for just over a year, the land having needed some renovations after owner David Wolin purchased it in 2008. It opened in October 2010 and has become increasingly popular in the area.
Their growing popularity is due in part to the personal, one-on-one experience when customers get when come in to taste wines. Dorman says the wine experts in the tasting room ask questions to narrow down the choices until the customer finds the perfect wine.
Winemaker Scott Gares, a Ringoes local who has been making wine for over 15 years, believes that there’s a wine for everyone.
“If you say you don’t like wine, do a tasting and see if you still don’t. That’s what sets us apart from a liquor store, you can sample the wines and find one you like before you buy it,” he said.
Gares has earned the right to boast, since several of his wines have won awards in several competitions. Their vidal blanc, merlot and cabernet sauvignon won medals at the Finger Lakes Wine Competition, their chardonnay, vidal blanc, and sweet riesling won medals at the New Jersey Wine Competition, the cabernet sauvignon and sweet riesling won medals at the Riverside International Wine Competition, and their syrah won a medal at the NextGen Wine Competition.
The winery is open on weekends year-round for tastings, but they also hold monthly events. Every month they show the work from an artist in residence, have a wine and music under the stars series, and host a master chef food series. November’s chef will be Matt McPherson of Matt’s Red Rooster in Flemington, scheduled to be held Nov. 13.
At Old York Cellars, a great emphasis is placed on their family-friendly environment said Dorman.
“Our atmosphere is special. This is something you can do with your family if your family is coming into town. It’s a fun and economical activity you can do to get them outside of the house for a while,” Dorman said.
Dorman also said that Old York Cellars has affordable gift items available for the upcoming season.
“You can make your own gift baskets and can pick and choose what you want in it. You can put in wine along with some of our gift items,” she said.
All additional items for the gift baskets are locally made, from chocolates to wine-bottle art.
Gares recommends a cabernet sauvignon for the holidays.
“The cabernet is a full bodied wine, and it won gold medal in California. It’s a balanced wine, and it compliments most meals,” he said.
At Old York Winery, everyone is welcome to come and try something new and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Hunterdon County.
Wine tastings are $5 for six wines. For more information about the winery or to schedule a corporate or private event, go to oldyorkcellars.com, or call (908) 284-WINE
Address: 80 Old York Road, Ringoes
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