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New Jersey is home to over 50 different wineries. What does this mean for them? It’s no longer just about crafting the perfect bottle. Wineries go out of their way to create an experience for their guests. The lighting, music, seating, ambiance, wine, and more are carefully paired together to craft a multi-sensory experience for tourists. But with the numerous wineries that call the East Coast home, how do you know where to begin?

A wine tour affords you the opportunity to take in all of it. A wine trail is carefully designed to have something for everyone. Those new to wine tasting will come to understand flavors and notes they never recognized before. An experienced wine tourist will learn secrets to the growing & producing process they never knew. Whether you’re looking for your next date night, bachelorette party, company outing, or evening with friends, a wine tour is an experience you won’t regret. But for those who haven’t done it before, it can seem overwhelming. How should you prepare for a wine tour? What do you need to know to get the most out of it?

1. Tour Early in the Day

Of course, this is not always an option. But if possible, we encourage guests to tour early in the day rather than later. Our wineries often feature events such as live music, bonfires, food pairings, and more in the evenings. While these activities are exciting, if you’re looking to visit multiple different locations, you’re probably not looking for long wait times. One of guests’ favorite parts of wine touring is the opportunity to speak with the makers and growers. By visiting during their slower hours, you give yourself more opportunities for meaningful conversations with the winemakers. Local wineries are often family-owned and operated by a small, busy team. If it’s peak season and there’s a live band playing, they might not have much time to guide you through the tasting experience. Additionally, some of our favorite New Jersey wineries sit on acres of rich, green vineyards. Strolling through the vineyards under the warm, early afternoon sun is a treat you don’t want to miss.

2. Limit the Number of Destinations

You want to leave each winery with a deep understanding of it. You want to taste dozens of wines, experience the environment, and enjoy the great company at each location. You can’t get this done with 10 different wineries on your list. The true wine tasting experience makes time for meandering. We suggest limiting your tour to 3-5 locations in a day. This allows you time to taste, savor, discuss, and explore. Wine tours are meant to be shared. You’ll want time to chat with your partner, group, the growers, or other winery guests. It’s better to go home thinking about the other wineries you’d like to visit, than the conversations you didn’t have time to entertain.

3. Formulate Questions in Advance

Now is your chance to talk to the experts. As a wine lover, you want to understand what produces the flavors you adore. This is what enables you to fine-tune your palate and discover more bottles you’ll love. So take the opportunity to get your questions out. As you’re tasting, keep a mental list of questions you have for the makers. Leading up to your tour, think about questions you might’ve had in the past about wine. Encourage your friends to do the same. You’ll enjoy picking up the winemaking knowledge they draw out as well.

Plan Your Wine Tour in Jersey

Ready to plan your tour? We work with over 8 different wineries in South Jersey to present you with the best local wine available. Visit our trail map to begin planning your route. Explore each of the individual winery pages to find out more about the wine they produce, how they got started, when to visit, and more. Your next adventure awaits.

We’ve teamed up with City Brew Tours to bring you the best craft beverages South Jersey has to offer. On this 4-hour tour through Western South Jersey, you’ll visit one brewery, one winery, and one distillery, with a cheeseboard pairing at our winery partner. Perfect for date night, bachelor/bachelorette parties, company parties, and more. Ready to plan your tour? Here’s everything you need to know about this exciting 4-hour adventure.

Assemble Your Brew Crew

The Two Bridges + City Brew Tours experience can accommodate up to 14 people. You must be able to verify that everyone in your party is over 21 years of age. This tour has been a time-tested favorite for bachelor parties, bachelorette parties, anniversary parties, company outings, date nights, and more. If you bring a small group, you’ll have the opportunity to share brews and laughs with new friends you meet along the tour. Pull together a team that will love learning about the craft beverage processes, sipping new drinks together, and finding their favorites.

The Two Bridges + City Brew Tours experience is perfect for parties. But we operate under a strict no pregaming policy. Anyone visibly intoxicated before the tour will not be allowed to attend and a refund will not be provided.

Getting There

City Brew Tours operates under the motto, “You drink, we drive.” You’ll start your tour hopping into a clean & spacious City Brew Tours van at the Gloucester Premium Outlets in Blackwood, NJ. Don’t stress about designating a driver, they take care of that for you. Your driver will also double as a beer expert and tour guide to lead you every step of the way.

Check out what your friends say about our tour guides:

“Lisa was friendly and accommodating right from the start. She has a wealth of knowledge about beer history and her narrated tour has a very natural flow and is personal. She chose perfect tastes for our tour and gave great descriptions! Would do this again for sure and highly recommend!!” – Bridgett L. March 2020

Getting Ready for Your Tour

Due to the nature of the tour, you’ll be going behind the scenes at various facilities and walking around heavy equipment. So closed-toe shoes are a must. No matter what the occasion is for your tour: remember to dress comfortably. You’ll be hopping in and out of the van, touring, walking, tasting, and eating. Many of the stops along your route will feature outdoor seating, vineyards, fields, and more. You want to be able to explore with confidence, so make sure you have the right jacket for the weather and shoes for the terrain.

Don’t forget about the brew expert you’ll have with you at all times. Your guide will be there to educate, answer questions, and help you find those hidden notes you might’ve not noticed before. So think about your wine, beer, and spirits questions in advance. Now is the perfect time to ask. If you do need to reschedule your tour, try to do so at least 7 days in advance. Cancellations made within 7 days of the tour will incur a cancellation fee.

The Tour Agenda

You’ll hop in at the Gloucester Premium Outlets in Blackwood, NJ. From there, we’ll take you to Independent Spirits Distillery, a family-owned and operated craft distillery on ten acres of farmland in Woolwich Township, New Jersey. After sampling their incredible craft spirits, you’ll head over to Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery. Located just off a quiet road that rolls through acres of pasture and farmland in the Garden State, their Italian-style wine bar features amazing award-winning wines and their signature cheeseboard for your crew to enjoy. Next on the trip is Death of the Fox Brewing Company: New Jersey’s first craft brewery and coffeehouse. They feature 16 taps of quality fresh brews and serve gourmet coffees and tea. We also offer alternative brewery stops at Core3 Brewery, Eight & Sand Beer Company, or Westville Brewery, depending on your preference.

Plan Your Tour

What are you waiting for? The Two Bridges + City Brew Tours experience gives you a taste of the best drinks South Jersey has to offer, while making it as fun and stress-free as possible. Book your tour today!

The East Coast sees no shortage of high-quality craft distilleries these days. While it might be a spirit connoisseur’s paradise, it’s also incredibly difficult to know where to begin. Whether you’re looking for the next stop on your distillery list, the best destination for cocktails, or just a local bottle to bring home, our list will get you to your goal. What are the best distilleries in New Jersey? What are some craft distilleries in Jersey to try out this year? Read on.

Independent Spirits Distillery

The first distillery in Gloucester County, Independent Spirits Distillery is a family-owned and operated craft distillery on ten acres of farmland in Woolwich Township, NJ. They’re the definition of a grain-to-glass distillery. You won’t find an ingredient in their spirits that is not grown locally. Good luck snagging a bottle of their Apple Pie Moonshine off the shelves, made with local apples baked in cinnamon and sugar. We suggest upon your visit sipping on their “Jersey Mule,” a layering of your choice of spirit, Jamaican Ginger Beer, and a squeeze of lime. Visit their distillery for a handcrafted cocktail, a bonfire in the backyard, or host a private event in their Cocktail Room.

Pine Tavern Distillery

What was a horse barn in 2005 became a family-owned and operated craft distillery in 2016. Pine Tavern Distillery in Monroeville, NJ crafts “bold, smooth, and unique” spirits primarily from ingredients foraged from their own farm. We recommend accompanying your visit with a glass of Fenwick’s New Salem Single Barrel Bourbon, a 12-month aged traditional bourbon with “a complex sweet corn taste, with a vanilla, caramel oak finish.” Visit their farm for delicious cocktails, tours, live music, and even enjoy a hand-rolled cigar.

Striped Lion Distilling

Striped Lion Distilling is a small batch distillery in Woodbury, NJ, specializing in rum distilled from organic molasses. After spending 14+ years collecting rum and learning about the rum-making process, collectors became creators. They continue to experiment with their rum and natural flavors such as cocoa, citrus, and cinnamon. Kick back in their cocktail lounge with a Coco Cannelle, “a fancied-up cocoa” finished with Cinnamon Rum and milk, served hot. Their distillery is 100% black-owned and majority woman-owned. Make your reservations today.

Mission Spirits Distillery

Mission Spirits is an artisan, small-batch spirits distillery. They produce and bottle hand-crafted spirits made from their proprietary fermentation, distillation and aging processes. Using a practice called ‘technique blending’, they modify and employ a variety of different techniques, new and old, to create original flavors. One of their many fans on Open Table says, “Mission spirits was a refreshing experience. The ambience was amazing, the craft cocktails were unlike anything I ever experienced and the staff were so welcoming and generous.” Be sure to experience their unique spirits for yourself!

Best Distilleries on the East Coast

Ready to try them all? The Two Bridges Wine, Beer, & Spirits Trail is a collective of Wineries, Breweries, and Distilleries in Southern New Jersey located between the Delaware Memorial Bridges and Ben Franklin Bridge. We take you on a tour through the depth and range of craft beverages being produced in the New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware area. Stay overnight and enjoy a variety of art, music, festivals, entertainment, and amazing food. Plan your tour today.

With New Jersey being home to over 60 different wineries, it’s not easy for a local wine lover to know where to begin. “The Garden State” is called that for a reason, its rich soil and lush landscapes create the perfect base for vineyards and winemakers. Maybe you’re pinning locations for your next wine tour, or just looking for a cozy local wine to cuddle up with this season. What are the best New Jersey wines in 2022? Read on.

Cedar Rose Vineyards: 2019 Blaufränkisch

What is now a picturesque 2 acres of vinifera grapevines called Cedar Rose Vineyards was not always just that. The land now producing the vast majority of their grapes was previously an impenetrable forest of cedar trees, bushes, and ivy. The young owners, Steven Becker and Dustin Tarpine, relied on physical labor and a strong work ethic to turn the land into what they envisioned. They paid homage to the cedar forest and rose-colored soil by way of their name: Cedar Rose Vineyards.

Their 2019 Blaufränkisch will greet you with aromas of bright red fruit, followed by earthy notes mingling with savory spices. This deep, dark wine sits very lively on the palate and brings forth memories of Christmas and winter festivities. Their medium-bodied Blaufränkisch flaunts great acidity to promote long aging.

Price: $26

ABV: 13%

Buy it now

Plan Your Tour

Auburn Road Vineyard & Winery: Vintage Ruby

Located just off a quiet road that rolls through acres of pasture and farmland in a beautifully unexpected corner of the Garden State, the tranquil and stylish Enoteca, Auburn Road’s Italian-style wine bar is a quick and easy escape to the country. They invite you to relax and enjoy their assortment of artisan cheese, crackers, jams and more alongside a tasting of your new favorite wine. Soak up the heavy, unfiltered sunshine and end the experience with a delicate & creamy cappuccino.

Their Vintage Ruby will light the fire and drape a warm blanket around your shoulders. This Ruby Port style wine is made from Chambourcin grapes and brandy distilled from their own Cabernet Sauvignon wine. “Aged in American oak barrels until perfection is reached.” Auburn Road carefully picks their grapes for this wine towards the end of the season to allow them to reach their sweetest potential. Vintage Ruby has the deepest of local roots, being fortified by Independent Spirits’ signature brandy. Auburn Road recommends serving alongside a piece of dark chocolate to bring out the sweet notes of plum and raisin, or use in cooking for a rich wine reduction.

Price: $25

ABV: 19%

Buy it now

Plan your tour

William Heritage Winery: 2019 Cabernet Franc

William Heritage Winery is a family-owned and operated estate vineyard and winery in Mullica Hill, NJ. They offer an exciting selection of award-winning red and white wines crafted in the heart of the Outer Coastal Plain. Established in 1999 by Bill and Penni Heritage, they saw the potential of winemaking in New Jersey from afar and took action. They began the tireless process of turning their 150 acres of peach and apple trees into vineyards. The land William Heritage Winery’s grapes grow from was called home to decades of farmers past. This rich soil with a rich history produces ripe, top-quality grapes.

William Heritage’s 2019 Cabernet Franc welcomes you with notes of mashed cherries and fresh green bell pepper. This wine spends 11 months in French oak barrels, giving it its youthful but peppery flavor on the palate. It awakens your sense of nostalgia with an essence of eucalyptus, cinnamon, and graham cracker. We recommend sipping alongside a plate of cottage pie or a cozy bowl of wild rice soup.

Price: $34

ABV: 14.1%

Buy it now

Plan your tour

Best New Jersey Wines in 2022

Ready to discover the perfect local wine for you? The Two Bridges Wine, Beer, & Spirits Trail is a collective of Wineries, Breweries, and Distilleries in Southern New Jersey located between the Delaware Memorial Bridges and the Commodore Barry Bridge. We take visitors on a tour through the depth and range of craft beverages being produced in the New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware area. Stay overnight and enjoy a variety of art, music, festivals, entertainment, and amazing food. Enjoy a complete experience of the incredible grape-growing and winemaking that New Jersey has to offer.