Introducing the Terroir New Jersey Wine Showcase
The New Jersey wine industry has taken exciting, important steps over the last 18 months with a significant redesign to its statewide wine competition. Terroir New Jersey is newly formed organization led by several member wineries stewarding the new design for how New Jersey grown wines are evaluated and shared with wine professionals from all around the world. The word grown is at the center of this project, as only wines produced from 100% New Jersey grown grapes or fruit can be submitted and evaluated. This brings the NJ wine evaluation in line with the judgements of wines from Virginia and New York at their respective competitions. These are states alongside which New Jersey aspires to be considered when people think of America's great wine regions. As all wine enthusiasts know, no region of merit has ever been built on grapes, juice, or wine imported from somewhere else. Terroir NJ seeks to emphasize what makes wine special and unique- that it can represent place unlike any other food or drink.
The other aspect of the annual Terroir NJ evaluation that elevates it beyond previous versions of the NJ wine competition is the caliber of judges travelling to NJ to participate. The inaugural iteration in 2025 had a cast of evaluators including two masters of wine, in which there are fewer than 500 in the world. This was followed up with three new MWs in 2026. More than 1% of all Masters of Wine globally have visited New Jersey, toured its wine country, and tasted its wines in the last 2 years. Other judges have included winemakers from Napa, Croatia, and FLX, senior faculty from international university wine programs, and even Joel Peterson, the godfather of American Zinfandel and founder of the Ravenswood wine brand.
Each year, the Terroir NJ evaluation gives NJ wine enthusiasts and patrons the opportunity to participate in several ways. The event rotates across the state each year. Evaluators and Terroir NJ staff visit participating wineries for vineyard and winery tours. In the evenings on these days, public receptions and dinners are held, bringing judges, staff, winery principles, winemakers, and public guests together to celebrate and learn during the four day tour and tasting introspective.
The star power of the judges and the dedication to authenticity lend cache and a new level of credibility to NJ's premier wine evaluation, and almost 150 wines were submitted each of the last two years. Another element that makes this a little different from past years and other versions of wine competitions is that Terroir NJ doesn't have explicit "winners." Instead, all wines that reach a quality threshold that correlates to the highest two tiers in traditional contests (typically Double Gold and Platinum) are deemed "Showcase Selection." Showcase Selection wines are poured at Terroir NJ events throughout the year, including the Grand Tasting event coming up at Unionville on Thursday, October 29th at 6pm. Tickets are available to the public, giving guests a chance to taste the Showcase Selection wines, mingle with wine press, and chat with winemakers about the wines and most recent harvest season. This year, the event will be highlighted by keynote speaker, New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn. Tickets are $50, and include the tasting and light fare and are on sale now. Other events are being planned to share the Showcase wines statewide in 2027.
I am quite proud to have worked alongside leaders of several other New Jersey wineries these last two years to bring this concept to fruition. Sharyn Kervyn, an American Wine Society chapter president has been an incredible leader and partner to us all. As New Jersey ascends to take its place among the other notable wine regions across America, the Terroir NJ effort helps to lay the bedrock foundation that a healthy New Jersey wine industry reputation can be further built upon. Purchase tickets to the Grand Tasting, Thursday, October 29th.
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