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Vineyards

  Vineyards & Viticulture

The Heritage estate in Harrison Township , NJ , provides a special place for growing wine grapes. The location on the elevated western edge of southern New Jersey ’s coastal plain provides one of the warmest locales in the Mid-Atlantic region, a key for growing fully-ripe, richly-flavored grapes. The weather patterns are similar to those in Bordeaux , France , creating a favorable environment for grapes, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot & Malbec, along with the white varietal, Sauvignon Blanc. Other grape varieties also flourish in Heritage Vineyards, including Chardonnay, Syrah and Chambourcin, a dark-colored, richly-textured French-American hybrid grape that we often refer to as the “East Coast Zinfandel.”

Bill & Penni Heritage, proprietors, represent the fifth generation of farmers who have tended this land. After decades of growing mostly peaches and apples, the land is being re-tasked to grow vine fruit in the form of wine grapes. Great care is given to the vineyards and the grape growing effort because the key to making great wine is to grow the best-quality grapes. Low environmental impact methods for controlling weeds & insects are applied. Time-tested techniques are used for vine pruning, cluster positioning, canopy management & yield control, all important steps in raising top-quality grapes. The goal is clearly to deliver to the winery the best fruit possible from Heritage Vineyards.

Vineyard Sites

There are currently 22 acres of vineyards planted in four distinct areas on the Heritage estate. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Chardonnay are planted in rocky, well-drained soil on the north side of busy Route 322 in what was once a gravel pit. On the lower side of the estate, near the Heritage tasting room facility, are two small vineyards, one planted to Chardonnay & Cabernet Franc, ½ acre each, and another, near the festival grounds & a large pond, planted to Chambourcin & Concord grapes. The “other half” of the estate faces southward, sloping downhill from Harrisonville Road that essentially bisects the property. This angled southern exposure allows maximum capture of summer sunlight for the best possible ripening of wine grapes. Along this H’ville Slope are planted blocks of Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Grenache, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon & Sauvignon Blanc. Finally, below the winery near a gently sloping pasture often grazed by American Indian painted horses, is planted a two acre block of Chambourcin in what is now called Painted Horse Vineyard. Another six acres of vineyards will be planted in Spring, 2010.