Making the Rounds: It’s a Perfect Time to Visit Wineries, Breweries & Distilleries
Summer was fun but hectic. Fall is all about relaxing and unwinding after the busy season. Why not try some new wines, brews and spirits while enjoying time with those you love? Plan a date night or a girls’ trip to visit a winery, brewery or distillery. Cape May County is full of opportunities just waiting to be explored and enjoyed. Here is a list of some of the best venues that Cape May County has to offer for you to fall in love with this season!
Nauti Spirits
916 Shunpike Road, Cape May
609-770-3381 | nautispirits.com
Nauti Spirits is a true farm distillery, one of only a handful on the East Coast. It also happens to be the largest distillery in New Jersey. It produces internationally acclaimed vodka, gin, rum and bourbon the real way. Locally made, world-class, true artisan farm spirits – that is the Nauti Spirits difference.
Its highly skilled and trained distillers take raw ingredients from the earth to create authentic handmade spirits. The employees handle the whole process of making spirits on-site, including the milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling, aging, and bottling. Nauti Spirits’ premium farm-to-bottle spirits are top shelf, having won several gold medals in some of the world’s most well-respected competitions. Why not head over and check out the beautiful 60-acre farm Nauti Spirits calls home and taste some of what it has to offer?
Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery
600 S. Railroad Ave., Rio Grande
609-846-7347 | hawkhavenvineyard.com
Todd and Kenna Wuerker opened Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery in May 2009, on the family farm that Todd’s grandparents bought in the 1940s. Though the landscape has changed through the years, from cattle to vegetables to vinifera, there is a dedication to quality and a passion for excellence that has been as constant as the namesake hawks that soar overhead.
Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery specializes in handcrafted dry vinifera wines. Its wines have won many awards with the most recent being its 2019 Signature Series Syrah, its 2019 Signature Series Cabernet Franc, and its 2019 Quill, a Bordeaux blend. Stop in to taste these award-winners as well as many others. Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery is open daily, year-round, offering wine tastings, outdoor seating, and tours available on the weekends.
7 Mile Brewery
3156 Route 9 South, Rio Grande
609-365-7777 | 7milebrew.com
When visiting 7 Mile Brewery, customers can choose from a dozen or more beers on tap. Pete Beyda and his team brew something for every palate with a variety of malts, grains, hops, fruits, and flavors.
Their flagship beer, the award-winning Seven Suns Double IPA, is a deep, rich malt hopped with 90 IBUs and offers a citrus aroma. When poured into your glass, you will see the pillow-like white foam head and taste the balance of pine, citrus and malt, with a clean finish. Seven Suns is available on tap and in 16-ounce four-packs from retailers throughout South Jersey.
The brewery is also celebrating five years in business this Labor Day weekend and will host an anniversary party Sept. 4 with live music, a barbecue, prizes and, of course, “Great Beer for Great People.” Sit back, relax, and enjoy a cold one at 7 Mile Brewery.
COHO Brewing Co.
28 Indian Trail Road, Unit 103, Cape May Court House
609-264-6480 | cohobrewingco.com
Founded in 2018, COHO Brewing Co. is one of the youngest breweries in Cape May County. It was founded by Karen Buckingham out of her husband’s love of craft beers and her distaste of retirement. Boasting one of the largest tasting rooms in the county, COHO is known for its wide selection of quality ales and lagers. Located in Cape May Court House, COHO leans into this courthouse theme honoring its roots with some truly unique beer names like the American light lager “Crime Scene,” New England IPA “Hazeas Corpus,” or its berry sour beer, “Temporary Restraining Order.”
Give the best-seller “Back the Blue” a try; this is a clean, crisp and light American Rice Lager. At COHO, they are bold enough to say they Back the Blue, the Justice system, and great craft beer! Proceeds from this lager benefit National Night Out and local police youth camps in the area. Not sure what to order? Try the Jury Box flight, featuring a sample of each of the 16 beers available on tap.
Bucket Brigade Brewery
205 North Main Street, Cape May Court House
609-778-2641 | bucketbrigadebrewery.com
Bucket Brigade Brewery was founded in 2016 by identical twin firefighters with a passion for craft beer. After brewing at home for years, they thought it was time to share their love of quality beer with the public, thus Bucket Brigade Brewery was born. It was founded on the same principles they share with their colleagues who wear the shield with the utmost pride and attention.
To ensure consistency and amazing taste, they use the traditional brewing methods and brews in small batches. At Bucket Brigade Brewery, you will find a variety of ales, pilsners and lagers. It currently offers nine brews on tap, and often updates what it has to offer with new brews and seasonal offerings.
Whether you are a craft beer enthusiast, service personnel, or just enjoy getting together with friends, the Bucket Brigade Brewery welcomes you.
Jessie Creek Winery
1 Route 47 North, Cape May Court House
609-536-2023 | jessiecreekwinery.com
Dr. Bruce Morrison started Jessie Creek Winery after touring Napa, Calif. Visions of beautiful vineyards, tasting rooms, outside fire pits, and wines shared with strangers who became friends were planted in his memory. It was this vision that he strived to bring back home and share with others. One day, while riding his motorcycle down Route 47, he found the perfect spot.
Jessie Creek Winery specializes in small-batch production of white and red varietals: Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and hybrid grape Chambourcin, grown on the grounds of the winery’s estate. Since releasing its first wines, Jessie Creek Winery has brought in additional outside varietals and introduced fruit wines to the program. Its fruit comes from the best local growers and West Coast affiliates to ensure the highest quality beyond its 5-acre estate.
Natali Vineyards
221 North Delsea Drive (Route 47), Cape May Court House
609-465-0075 | natalivineyards.com
Located just minutes from the Jersey Shore, at Natali Vineyards the emphasis is put on performing all the pruning, canopy management and harvesting by hand. It believes that the wine is made in the vineyard, so the harvest of high-quality grapes is of the upmost importance. Likewise, this vineyard chooses the artisanal style of wine making, creating very small batches to make it easier to maintain the quality. At Natali Vineyards, this is called “Old World” crafting, where everything is done by hand and where a single individual manages the entire process from planting to harvesting to bottling. There is a pride of ownership in the production of each bottle.
One of Natali Vineyards’ best-selling wines is its “Erotic Aronia,” a blend of Aronia, Chardonnay and Trebbiano. This wine is super high in antioxidants, and has a fresh nose with a hint of dried flowers. In the mouth, it is savory with a palate cleaning finish. Take an adventure and give this best seller a taste!
Avalon Brew Pub
125 79th St., Avalon
609-967-2116 | avalonbrewpub.com
Welcome to the East Coast’s only beachfront microbrewery. Since opening in August 2017, Avalon Brew Pub has been serving up a rotating selection of in-house brews the locals can be proud of. Avalon Brew Pub’s best-selling “We Don’t Play” IPA is a true West Coast-style IPA built around a very deep malt base that is jam-packed with hop flavor and features a citrus aftertaste. Not a beer fan? Avalon Brew Pub features a menu full of signature cocktails for you to try.
Named the top restaurant in Avalon by TripAdvisor, it seems Avalon’s visitors are fans as well, the gastropub having also received a 2021 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award. Its menu really hits it out of the park. Try some of the delicious Mahi Mahi fish tacos, one of its mouthwatering Avalon burgers, and you can’t leave without trying one of the famous giant Bavarian pretzels.
Slack Tide Brewing Co.
1072 Route 83, Unit 3, Cape May Court House
609-478-2343 | slacktidebrewingco.com
Started by two brothers who grew up in Cape May County, Slack Tide Brewing Co. was founded in 2015. Their philosophy is simple: create a diverse and high-quality line of beers made with all natural ingredients sourced locally whenever possible as well as make Slack Tide Brewing Company a destination where locals feel at home and visitors look forward to returning. Since opening, Slack Tide has continued to grow and increase the amount of beer it can produce.
Slack Tide Brewing Co. currently has 16 beers on tap, including several that have won regional awards. One of its customer favorites is the “Avalon Amber Ale,” which won a bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2018. This seasonal offering features six malts and is modestly hopped to create an easy-drinking ale. It is the perfect beer to unwind with after a long summer day!
Ludlam Island Brewery
9 Stoney Court, Unit C, Ocean View
609-263-6969 | ludlamisland.com
Just a short drive from Sea Isle City sits Ludlam Island Brewery. Since it opened back in 2016, it has grown exponentially with its brews available in restaurants and stores all over the state. The team at Ludlam Island Brewery really prides itself on its experimental beers and the constant development of craft-beer making with their small test batches. The ever-changing menu at the brew house is always full of unique brews you won’t be able to find elsewhere. At Ludlam Island Brewery, you’ll find beer lovers with a passion for their craft, and you’ll taste the results of hard work.
Welcome the season with its pumpkin-spiced latte ale, Becky. This beer is inspired by the favorite fall coffee. Becky starts as a pumpkin ale, brewed with pumpkin puree and lot of spices, which is then boosted with lactose and freshly roasted organic coffee from Ludlam Island Brewery’s neighbors at Harry and Beans coffee, and finally conditioned on vanilla beans.
