Six of New Jersey’s finest wineries plus holiday vendors, artisans and entertainers are set for Cheers! A Holiday Wine Festival which will take place at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank on Dec. 4.
Tickets for the 21-and-over event, to be held throughout the Count Basie Center complex, are on sale now at theBASIE.org, the Basie Center box office and Ticketmaster.
Tickets are priced at $35 and include a souvenir tasting glass. A $180 VIP experience for four with tickets, souvenir tasting glasses and reserved seating at The Vogel is also available, according to a press release.
Patrons can stroll through the Basie Center grand lobby for tasting and sales opportunities, with seating and live entertainment available at The Vogel, the Basie Center’s new performance venue. The Tacoholics food truck will be on hand serving Mexican fare.
Participating Garden State wineries include Auburn Road Vineyards of Pilesgrove, Millville’s Cedar Rose Vineyards and Terra Nonno Winery, Tomasello Winery of Hammonton, Shamong’s Valenzano Winery and Villa Milagro Vineyards out of Philipsburg.
Fine meats purveyor Jerky James, Freehold’s Hangover Pretzel Company, Linden-based family bakery Bakers Bounty, charcuterie vendor Gina’s Cheese Corner, jewelers Touchstone Crystal, handbag creators House of Cork, bath product company B. Baths and alcohol-infused dessert makers Cynful Bliss will also be part of the festival.
In line with the holiday season, the Cheers! A Holiday Wine Festival will also feature strolling carolers, opportunities for visitors to take pictures with St. Nick and live entertainment featuring Christmas music classics, according to the press release.
According to the Garden State Wine Growers Association, New Jersey is quickly establishing itself as one of the premier wine regions of the Mid-Atlantic.
More than 1,500 acres in the state are operated as vineyards, with New Jersey wines now regularly earning accolades and high scores in magazines like Wine Enthusiast and Wine Advocate, according to the press release.
Only Garden State wines are served during state dinners held at Drumthwacket, the Governor’s mansion, while the International Wine Review recently said New Jersey wines are “on the rise,” noting the interest and increase in production of wine in the state and concluding that “we think all of these factors are currently moving in the right direction and promise a very bright future for the wines of New Jersey.”
