A Trip to Unionville Vineyards Last Fall

Around Halloween last year, we visited Unionville Vineyards in Hunterdon County for the first time. On the way there, I was struck yet again by how beautiful rural New Jersey is: the rolling green hills, old clapboard churches, and cows and sheeps grazing behind weathered fencing and old stone walls…. it’s the opposite of what people normally think when they think “New Jersey.”

We had a great time at Unionville — they have a very convivial tasting room on the second floor of an old farm building, with barrels of wine fermenting below. I think we tasted about six types of wine and bought a handful of bottles to bring home. They were quite delicious, and gone too fast (again, you don’t normally equate “fine wine” with “New Jersey” — but believe it or not, they DO go together!)

But soon we will have our chance to stock up on Unionville wines again. They will be in Metuchen this Friday evening for the Wine & Cheese reception at the Old Franklin School sponsored by the Borough Improvement League with Metuchen Market Day. So you can taste a variety of their wines in just a few days. And another amazing artisanal food producer from New Jersey, Cherry Grove Farm, will also be represented at the event.

And, hooray, both Unionville and Cherry Grove Farm will be at the Metuchen farmers market this Saturday. After you taste their wares on Friday night, you’ll definitely want to pick up some bottles and an assortment of cheeses for your cellar at home!