Press and invited dignitaries will join Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn at Unionville Vineyards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Jennifer Sherlock

Phone: (609) 369-3482

Email: jsherlock@jennacommunications.com

New Jersey’s Finest Homegrown Wines Take Center Stage at October 29 Grand Tasting

Press and invited dignitaries will join Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn at Unionville Vineyards to celebrate 63 Showcase selections

RINGOES, NJ: The Terroir New Jersey Wine Showcase 2026 Grand Tasting will bring together New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn, invited dignitaries, press, and participating wineries on Thursday, October 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Unionville Vineyards, 9 Rocktown Road, Ringoes, NJ 08551. Guests will have the opportunity to taste all 63 wines selected for this year’s Showcase, each made entirely from New Jersey-grown grapes or other fruit.

MEDIA INVITATION

Members of the press are invited to attend as guests of the Showcase.

What: The Terroir New Jersey Wine Showcase 2026 Grand Tasting
Who: Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn, invited dignitaries, press, and participating wineries
When: Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 6–8 p.m.
Where: Unionville Vineyards, 9 Rocktown Road, Ringoes, NJ 08551
Media inquiries and attendance: Sharyn Kervyn de Volkaersbeke at kdvwineservices@gmail.com or Jennifer Sherlock at jsherlock@jennacommunications.com.

Supported by the Hunterdon Office of Economic Development and Visit South Jersey, the Showcase rotates regionally throughout the state each year, highlighting New Jersey’s wineries, growers, and food-and-wine destinations.

The second annual Showcase selected 63 wines from 136 entries following a blind evaluation on August 1, 2026, by an international panel of 12 wine industry experts. The panel included three Masters of Wine—Chris Cree, Lisa Granik, and Rose Murray Brown—alongside winemakers and other industry professionals. Wengryn returned as a special guest judge.

“As New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture, it has been my pleasure to participate with the international panels evaluating New Jersey wines, their knowledge and experience as experts is demonstrated in their thoughtful and informative comments on the wines they have sampled,” said Ed Wengryn. “Globally, New Jersey, as a wine destination, is evolving. Our wineries and winemakers are relatively new to the scene with many of our wineries being less than 20 years old. Having experts evaluate and give notes are steps that will help our industry grow and evolve.”

The Showcase celebrates fine wines produced exclusively from New Jersey-grown fruit. Rather than ranking wines against one another in a traditional competition, it recognizes wines that meet a standard of excellence equivalent to platinum or double gold recognition.

All New Jersey wineries were encouraged to submit eligible wines. Evaluators tasted blind in panels of three during a nine-hour evaluation, assessing each wine against global quality standards. They also provided tasting notes and feedback for every entry, giving producers guidance to support continued improvement across the state’s wine industry.

Beyond the tasting room, the Showcase offered evaluators an immersive introduction to New Jersey’s food-and-wine scene. Judges and facilitators toured four wineries and attended a New Jersey-themed wine dinner and cocktail party at two restaurants.

Additional information and media resources:

• Terroir New Jersey Wine Showcase overview
• 2026 Showcase wine selections and participating wineries
• 2026 evaluator biographies

About the Terroir New Jersey Wine Showcase

Terroir New Jersey comprises wineries, growers, and supporters committed to producing quality wines from New Jersey-grown fruit. Its priorities include fine wine quality, integrity, transparency, adherence to national quality standards, and support for growers and fellow wineries through collective improvement. The Showcase is a platform for establishing standards and benchmarks for New Jersey wine quality, rather than a traditional competition. It is independently financed by participating wineries as a nonprofit venture.