Basking Ridge Fans Hang With Teresa Giudice

Gary's Wine & Marketplace welcomed "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" and "Celebrity Apprentice" star Teresa Giudice to its Madison store Thursday evening, drawing fans from Madison, Fairleigh Dickinson University, elsewhere in Morris County and beyond — including a contingent from Basking Ridge.

Giudice, a Montville Township resident, introduced her sparkling wine, Fabellini, and signed autographs of the bottles and her cookbook, "Fabulicious." Approximately 100 fans came by during the two-hour event. While the Basking Ridge fans were warmly greeted, they wouldn't win a prize for fan who had traveled furthest to see the star — that honor would have gone to an admirer from Brooklyn, N.Y.

A constant stream of fans patiently waited their turn to visit with the celebrity, many of whom appeared excited and nervous about what was to come. Giudice engaged each person she met, spoke about the shows, her family, and anything else they wanted to talk about, giving each of them her full attention for conversations that sometimes lasted upwards of 10 minutes.

Her husband, "Real Housewives" cast member Joe Giudice, also was on hand and posed for photos, spoke with fans and helped dispense the wines. in Basking Ridge. Guidice was promoting a tooth whitening product as well as highlighting the opening of a new spa at located in The Hills'

In Madison, many conversations during Teresa Giudice's appearance involved her support of NephCure, a foundation that helps fund research to fight Nephrotic Syndrome. Gary's donated $2 from each sale of the bottles of Fabellini wine to the organization.

"This is a great event and a great cause," store owner Gary Fisch said.