This fall I went to many New Jersey wineries, tasting the bounty of the state. While on my travels, I came across this charming book NEW JERSEY WINE: A Remarkable History,
The story of New Jersey wine is older than the United States itself. As early as 1767, the colony's wines were garnering awards from London's Royal Society of the Arts. The vineyards continued to grow through some of the country's most turbulent times. In 1864, at the height of the Civil War, Renault Winery was founded, and it continues to operate today. While Prohibition nearly destroyed the industry, in 1933, the founding of Tomasello's Winery in Hammonton helped revive it. In 1980, only seven wineries were in operation, but by 2011, the state boasted over thirty-four--many of which are winning awards in some of the world's most respected wine competitions. So grab a glass and join winemaking expert Sal Westrich as he tracks the history of New Jersey wine, accompanied by photos by John Muth.
Sal Westrich is currently a Professor of History at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. He has written one other wine book, on the wines of Bordeaux, France, and is widely regarded as an expert on wine and winemaking. He is very active in the Garden State Wine Growers' Association.
The book was published in 2012, but the history contained therein is certainly well told. A terrific little book still very much worth the price.