Wines Produced

Through sustained use of traditional winemaking concepts combined with some of the most advanced tools and equipment, Unionville Vineyards produces world recognized wines. Its viticulture and winemaking approaches assure incorporation of viable techniques that reduce sues of resources and enhance agricultural activity productivity. This attention to traditional and modern practices enables production of excellent fruit and its transformation into excellent wine.
 

Wines produced by Unionville Vineyards are considered by many to the best east of the Mississippi, and has won over 500 medals since our first vintage in 1992.

• The Hunter Series

• The Traditional Vinifera.

The Hunter Series is comprised of both white and red French hybrid varietal grapes, including Vidal, Chambourcin and Cayuga. Creating fruity, everyday drinking wines, these wines boast the full fruit flavor of these grapes. The reserves are aged in small oak casks and have a more elegant dry taste. International wine critic Hugh Johnson in his annual Pocket Wine Book describes Unionville Vineyards hybrid wines as follows “…one of New Jersey’s best wineries…lovely Rielsing, French-American hybrids elevated to near - vinifera status.” The label of the Hunter Series features members of the Amwell Valley Hounds. 

Traditional viniferas are Unionville Vineyards premium wines consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Riesling. The wine is aged in small oak casks. The reserves have been made from hand-selected grapes and aged in oak for over a year. These wines will continue age well and produce robust flavors. 

Our dessert wines consist of our ice wine called "Cool Foxy Lady" and a Port. These wines frequently sell out soon after their release.

About the Winery

Using the theme of fox hunting, a sport practiced in the Amwell Valley, Kris Nielsen and Pat Galloway, owners of Unionville Vineyards, constructed the main winery building in 1992 by renovating the historic former peach, apple and then dairy barn. The barn had been built in 1858 and expanded in 1900 and 1947. The original pegged, mortise and tendon joints connect the hand-hewed, post and beam structure and have been maintained throughout the winery building. All field stone used in the winery is from original foundations. The wishing well at the entrance is the original cistern used for livestock in the barn.

Located on the upper level, the glass wall provides visitors an opportunity to view the complete winemaking operation from the tasting room. In addition to selling our award-winning wines, the wine shop offers a gift area to browse through and discover some great local artisan products. New wine shop hours are from 12:00 Noon - 5:00 pm seven days a week.
 

Contact us

For comments and suggestions, please use our Feedback Form.  Or, e-mail us at uvineyard@aol.com.

(*We do not sell or rent our mailing list. You will receive information only relating to Unionville Vineyard festivals, special events and our quarterly newsletter.)

Private Wine Tasting/Tours/Education

Looking for something new and exciting to do for your next business affair or family gathering? How about a wine tasting and tour with a little wine education thrown in for good measure? You can sample some of New Jersey wines that have a world class reputation and learn about how wine is made. We can accommodate up to 25 people indoors and up to 50 outdoors for custom tasting and tours. For more information, pricing and availability, please contact the winery at (908) 788-0400. More info...

The winery opened to the public on April 1, 1993. Since its opening, the wines have consistently won prestigious medals in competitions around the world and domestically.

The New York Times voted Unionville Vineyards Best New Jersey Winery. New Jersey television aired a special on New Jersey wine featuring Unionville  Vineyards as the State's premier winery. Hugh Johnson's annual Pocket Wine Guide has featured Unionville Vineyards as New Jersey's Best Winery since 1997.

History of the Vineyards

Kris and Pat began preparation of the first block of vines in 1987 and the vines were planted in 1988. The 90-acre farm had originally been part of the largest peach orchard in the United States. The farm was split off as a dowry present when one of the owner’s daughters was married in 1856. The main house and the oldest section of the winery building were built in 1858. When a “rust” blight hit the peach industry in Hunterdon County after the Civil War, the orchards here and throughout the County converted to apples. In 1900 the farm was sold and became a successful dairy farm. In 1965 the farm was sold to developers who originally had it planted in grains.

When the developers were unsuccessful and sold the property in the late 1960s, it remained in grains and was used for raising horses. Pat and Kris purchased the property in 1980 with the goal of saving the farm, returning the land to its fruit growing tradition and starting the Unionville Vineyards. With the purchase, Pat and Kris began a journey of preserving one of the most picturesque and potentially viable farming properties in the Amwell Valley. They achieved their desire to see viable agriculture maintained in the community and allow their family and the community to enjoy the traditional benefits of growing up in an agriculture environment.

Today, Unionville Vineyards is an example of New Jersey’s commitment to enabling farmland to exist in the “Garden State,” the most densely populated State in our country. The property is part of New Jersey’s Farmland Preservation Program through the efforts of Pat and Kris, the State, the County and East Amwell Township. The preservation has enabled continued investment in maintaining a viable agriculture family enterprise in one of New Jersey’s most historic agricultural areas.

Through careful selection of varieties of grapes and research on clones and rootstock, the agricultural tradition, soils and climate unique to the Amwell Valley has enabled production of nearly perfect fruit that flourish here. Currently we have 34 acres under cultivation and an equal acreage from the best grows in other parts of New Jersey.

Today the vineyards add to the beauty of Amwell Valley when it bursts into view from the top of Unionville Hill, a demonstration that sound agriculture can flourish in New Jersey when it has the opportunity to be viable.