Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/705606
w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m J u l y - A u g 2 016 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 3 1 wines from the Garden State a hard sell, I asked Baldwin? "On the contrary, these wines have been received extremely well, and many of our guests were so impressed with the quality of the wines that they planned trips to visit some of the wineries," she says. "I predict New Jersey will become known as a travel destination for visiting win- eries. The Bernards Inn is known for having a world-famous wine program, and we love giving expo- sure to quality wines from areas that perhaps haven't yet gotten the respect and press they deserve." You won't find New Jersey wines in every retail shop in the state, but stop in at one of the four Gary's Wine and Marketplace stores, and you'll be able to pick up something local. Although owner Gary Fisch makes it a point to carry at least some Garden State wines, he does admit that selling them can be a challenge. "There's plenty of hesitation among consumers, but I think if you give them an opportuni- ty to taste the wine, they're almost always pleasantly surprised," he says. "We've always believed in the value of supporting local busi- nesses, and supporting local winer- ies is a natural fit." Price, however, is an issue, says Fisch. "New Jer- sey wines tend to be pretty expen- sive for what they offer. I'm not sure what the philosophy is behind this, or if it's just a matter of cover- ing costs. But it's hard to charge our guests $30 for a New Jersey Cab- ernet Franc when there's great Chi- Insulated Bins MonsterCombo ® Bins Winetainer™ Bulk Barrel™ Revolutionary Plastic Barrel Racks! 2 & 4 barrel Patent 646,040 Patent 628,355 S Solutions in Wine Making www.bonarplastics.com • sales@bonarplastics.com • 800-768-6246 Celebrating Over 35 years of Serving the Wine Industry Premium French, American and Eastern European Oak Barrels French Oak Alternatives Tel: (707) 257-3582 • sales@bouchardcooperages.com www.bouchardcooperages.com EAST WATCH MARGUERITE THOMAS