Laurita Winery

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Laurita Winery
Location 85 Archertown Road, New Egypt, New Jersey, USA
Coordinates 40.066632 N, 74.503652 W
Appellation Outer Coastal Plain AVA
First vines planted 1998
Opened to the public 2008
Key people Randy Johnson,
Ray Shea (owners)
Nicolaas Opdam (winemaker)[1][2]
Acres cultivated 44
Cases/yr 14,000 (2011)
Other attractions Bed and breakfast, bistro, horseback riding, therapeutic riding
Distribution On-site, wine festivals, home shipment
Tasting Tastings Wednesday to Sunday
Website http://www.lauritawinery.com/

Laurita Winery is a winery in the New Egypt section of Plumsted Township in Ocean County, New Jersey.[3][4] Formerly a dairy farm, the vineyard was first planted in 1998, and opened to the public in 2008.[5][6] Laurita is one of the larger winegrowers in New Jersey, having 44 acres of grapes under cultivation, and producing 14,000 cases of wine per year.[7][8] The winery’s name is an amalgamation of the names of the owner’s mothers, Laura and Rita.[1][5]

Wines

Laurita Winery is located in the Outer Coastal Plain AVA, and produces wine from Albariño, Blaufränkisch (Lemberger), Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Grenache, Merlot, Norton (Cynthiana), Pinot gris, and Zweigelt grapes.[7][9] Laurita also makes a fruit wine from strawberries and milk, and a dessert wine using milk, chocolate, and Chambourcin grapes.[9][10] It is the only winery in New Jersey that produces dairy-based wines.[11]

Features, licensing, and associations

Since 2002, Laurita has operated a 10-suite bed and breakfast in an 1835 farmhouse.[12][13] The winery also has a bistro that sells cheeses, salads, and sandwiches, and an equestrian center that offers horseback riding and therapeutic riding.[6][14] Laurita has a plenary winery license from the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which allows it to produce an unrestricted amount of wine, operate up to 15 off-premises sales rooms, and ship up to 12 cases per year to consumers in-state or out-of-state.[15][16] The winery is a member of the Garden State Wine Growers Association and the Outer Coastal Plain Vineyard Association.[17][18]

Controversy, advocacy, and publicity

Laurita has had conflicts with state authorities regarding the installation of solar panels, and the hosting of weddings at the winery. In 2012, the New Jersey Agriculture Development Committee stated that because the winery is on preserved farmland, it could not install solar panels or hold non-agricultural events.[19][20] The winery has advocated changing state law to allow more events to be held by preserved farms.[20][21] In March 2011, travel guide Burt Wolf visited Laurita as part of a New Jersey Network (NJN) fundraiser.[22][23]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wright, Jack. "The Laurita Winery Story" in Builder/Architect: Greater New Jersey Edition (reprinted article) (25 August 2011). Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  2. ↑ DeVito, Carlo. "The Best Lemberger on the East Coast is at Laurita in New Jersey" on East Coast Wineries (blog) (28 December 2009). Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  3. ↑ Porio, Matt. "Making wine a tourist attraction" in The Asbury Park Press (reprinted article) (5 February 2006). Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  4. ↑ Westrich, Sal. New Jersey Wine: A Remarkable History. (Charleston, SC: The History Press, 20). ISBN 9781609491833.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Henry, Derrick. "Dairy Land Yields to Wine Country" in The New York Times (16 October 2008). Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Yoczis, Patricia. "Friends find Laurita winery is just fine" in The Examiner (11 December 2008). Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Jackson, Bart. Garden State Wineries Guide. (South San Francisco, CA: Wine Appreciation Guild, 2011). ISBN 9781934259573.
  8. ↑ Foderaro, T.J. "Laurita Bistro Red Table Wine" in Inside Jersey (published by The Star-Ledger) (27 January 2009). Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Laurita Winery. "Laurita Winery: Wines" (commercial website). Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  10. ↑ Zernike, Kate. "From Garden State to Vineyard State" in The New York Times (2 May 2013). Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  11. ↑ Berkery, Patrick. "Laurita Winery bows Chocolate Therapy" The Burlington County Times (27 August 2012). Retrieved 29 June 2013. A review of the wines made by New Jersey's 46 wineries found no other establishment that combined milk or a dairy product with wine.
  12. ↑ Boatman, Gail T. "Hospitality with a smile" in The Burlington County Times (10 August 2011). Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  13. ↑ Payne, Lauren. "Dancer Farm" in New Jersey Monthly (20 April 2010). Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  14. ↑ Howard-Fusco, Lisa. "No Kids Allowed" on Eating in South Jersey (blog) (15 September 2009). Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  15. ↑ New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. "New Jersey ABC list of wineries, breweries, and distilleries" (5 February 2013). Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  16. ↑ N.J.S.A. 33:1-10.
  17. ↑ Garden State Wine Growers Association. "GSWGA Wineries." Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  18. ↑ Outer Coastal Plain Vineyard Association. "Outer Coastal Plain Wineries." Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  19. ↑ New Jersey Agriculture Development Committee. "State Agriculture Development Committee Open Session Minutes" (24 May 2012). Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Degener, Richard. "State and county preservation groups fighting West Cape May farm's plan to host weddings" in The Press of Atlantic City (10 July 2012). Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  21. ↑ Scully, Tamara. "Assembly bill criticized by NJFB, other ag industries" in The New Jersey Farmer (15 March 2012). Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  22. ↑ Waller, Jonathan. "NJN Wine Tasting with Burt Wolf at Laurita Winery" in The Home News Tribune (10 March 2011). Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  23. ↑ Di Girolamo, Nancy. "NJN Wine Tasting at Laurita Winery" in Manchester Patch (27 March 2011). Retrieved 5 November 2013.

External links

Wineries
Breweries
Distilleries
General articles

Coordinates: 40°04′00″N 74°30′13″W / 40.066632°N 74.503652°W / 40.066632; -74.503652

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