Wine Festival With Only NJ Wines March 23 In Carteret

CARTERET, NJ — Do you like wine? 11 vineyards from New Jersey will showcase 125 wines at a first-of-its-kind event March 23 at the Carteret Performing Arts Center.

The expo is called the UNCORK Spring! Wine and Food Experience, held from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 23 at the URSB Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center (46 Washington Ave. in Carteret).

Eleven prize-winning Garden State wineries will sample 125 wines, some of which will be paired with food. Only New Jersey wines and vineyards will be at this event.

Tickets are $35 in advance; patrons will be able to sample and purchase approximately 125 wines with selected food pairings. Patrons will have the chance to meet many of local NJ winemakers and learn firsthand about their wines and how they are made.

There are more than 50 licensed wineries in New Jersey. Eleven of them will be participating, and five of those 11 were ranked among the "Top 14 New Jersey Wineries," according to Tasting Table magazine.

Participating wineries are:

• Tomasello Winery, multiple locations
• Plagido’s Winery, Hammonton
• Valenzano Family Winery, Shamong
• Villari Vineyards, Sewell
• Wagonhouse Winery, Swedesboro
• DiMatteo Vineyards, Hammonton
• Angelico Winery, Lambertville
• The Vintner’s Wife, Swedesboro
• Bellview Winery, Landisville
• Salem Oak Vineyard, Pedricktown
• Autumn Lake Winery, Williamstown

Tomasello Winery, Valenzano Winery, Bellview Winery, Salem Oak Vineyards and Autumn Lake Winery were among those voted the 14 Best NJ Wineries.

Wine samples will be paired with tastings of the following dishes:

• Sweet and Savory Mini Meatballs with Scallions
• Thai Chicken Satay Skewers
• Mojo Marinated Grilled Shrimp
• Roasted Red Grapes on Herbed Ricotta Crostini
• Dessert sampler

UNCORK Spring! was organized by Carteret PAC Director Diana St. John and produced by Kathy Bullock, vice president of Ocean County-based GPS Inc., an events producer for more than 20 years, including more than 150 wine-related festivals.

“Supporting the New Jersey wine industry is extremely important to our state’s vibrant agri-tourism industry," Bullock said. "New Jersey wineries play a major role in agri-tourism. The fact that the event is at a beautiful indoor venue means it will be quite different from nearly all wine events throughout the state, as they are almost exclusively held outdoors."

To purchase tickets: carteretpac.com/events/uncork-spring-wine-and-food-experience

Advance tickets also are available at the CPAC box office at 877-849-2722 or 46 Washington Ave. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Tickets are $40 at the door.