Alba Vineyard

Alba Vineyard
Location 269 Route 627, Finesville, New Jersey, USA
Coordinates 40.614637 N, 75.165496 W
Appellation Warren Hills AVA
First vines planted 1980
Opened to the public 1982
Key people Rudolph Marchesi (founder)
Tom Sharko (owner)
John Altmaier (winemaker)[1][2]
Acres cultivated 42
Cases/yr 11,000 (2011)
Other attractions Picnicking permitted
Distribution On-site, NJ liquor stores, home shipment
Tasting Daily tastings, tours on weekends
Website http://www.albavineyard.com/

Alba Vineyard is a winery in the Finesville section of Pohatcong Township in Warren County, New Jersey.[3][4] Formerly a dairy farm, the vineyard was first planted in 1980, and opened to the public in 1982.[5][6] Alba is one of the larger winegrowers in New Jersey, having 42 acres of grapes under cultivation, and producing 11,000 cases of wine per year.[7][8] The winery is named for the Italian word alba which means "dawn," the time of day when the original owner first conceived of producing wine.[5][9]

Wines

Alba Vineyard is in the Warren Hills AVA, and produces wine from Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cayuga White, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot noir, Riesling, Syrah, and Vidal blanc grapes.[8][10] Alba also makes fruit wines from blueberries and raspberries.[11]

Advocacy, licensing, and associations

The winery is an advocate of New Jersey's three-tier alcohol distribution system, wherein wineries sell to wholesalers and retailers rather than directly to consumers.[12][13] Alba 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.[14][15] Alba is not a member of the Garden State Wine Growers Association.[16]

Controversy

Alba has had conflicts with nearby residents regarding noise from the use of cannons. The cannons are discharged regularly during the autumn in order to keep birds away from the crops.[17][18] The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has attempted to mediate a resolution between Alba and its neighbors.[18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Stoneback, Diane. "The Grape State of New Jersey State Regaining Impetus Squeezed Out By Prohibition" in The Morning Call (22 August 1990). Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  2. ↑ Rignani, Jennifer Papale. Images of America: New Jersey Wineries. (Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2008). ISBN 9780738557229.
  3. ↑ Goldberg, Howard G. "New Jersey Vines; For Those Hot Days Left, a Cool White" in The New York Times (7 September 2003). Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  4. ↑ Westrich, Sal. New Jersey Wine: A Remarkable History. (Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2012). ISBN 9781609491833.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sullivan, Kathy. "Alba Vineyard and Winery" on Wine Trail Traveler (blog) (3 July 2011). Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  6. ↑ Schmidt, R. Marilyn. Wines and Wineries of New Jersey. (Chatsworth, NJ: Pine Barrens Press, 1999). ISBN 9780937996386.
  7. ↑ Auteri, Stephanie. "Ultimate NJ wine tour" in Inside Jersey (published by The Star-Ledger) (12 August 2010). Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Jackson, Bart. Garden State Wineries Guide. (South San Francisco, CA: Wine Appreciation Guild, 2011). ISBN 9781934259573.
  9. ↑ "N.J. Vines: A Glass of Raspberries" in The New York Times (13 June 1999). Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  10. ↑ Alba Vineyard. "Alba Estate Vineyard" and "Chelsea Cellars Wines" (commercial website). Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  11. ↑ Alba Vineyard. "Alba Vineyard: Dessert Wines" (commercial website). Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  12. ↑ Sharko, Thomas M. "N.J. liquor-law changes would hurt vineyards, wineries" in The Express-Times (27 May 2010). Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  13. ↑ Suthard, Tom. "What You Need to Know, Part II – Size Matters" on NJ Wines Uncorked (blog) (5 June 2011). Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  14. ↑ New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. "New Jersey ABC list of wineries, breweries, and distilleries" (5 February 2013). Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  15. ↑ N.J.S.A. 33:1-10.
  16. ↑ Garden State Wine Growers Association. "GSWGA Wineries." Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  17. ↑ Wojcik, Sarah. "Vineyard blasts chase birds, peace" in The Express-Times (22 September 2008). Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Brill, Douglas B. "Warren County vineyard gets complaints over loud cannons" in The Express-Times (9 September 2012). Retrieved 22 May 2013.

Coordinates: 40°36′53″N 75°09′56″W / 40.614637°N 75.165496°W