Alba Vineyard
American winery located in New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alba Vineyard is an American winery in the Finesville section of Pohatcong Township in Warren County, New Jersey.[3][4] Formerly a dairy farm, the vineyard was first planted in 1980, and opened to the public in 1982.[5][6] Alba is one of the larger winegrowers in New Jersey, having 42 acres of grapes under cultivation, and producing 11,000 cases of wine per year.[7][8] The winery is named for the Italian word alba which means "dawn," the time of day when the original owner first conceived of producing wine.[5][9]
| Alba Vineyard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | 269 Route 627, Finesville, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 40.614637 N, 75.165496 W |
| Appellation | Warren Hills AVA |
| First vines planted | 1980 |
| Opened to the public | 1982 |
| Key people | Rudolph Marchesi (founder) Tom Sharko (owner) John Altmaier (winemaker)[1][2] |
| Area cultivated | 42 |
| Cases/yr | 11,000 (2011) |
| Other attractions | Picnicking permitted |
| Distribution | On-site, NJ liquor stores, home shipment |
| Tasting | Daily tastings, tours on weekends |
| Website | http://www.albavineyard.com/ |
Wines
Alba Vineyard is in the Warren Hills AVA, and produces wine from Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cayuga White, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot noir, Riesling, Syrah, and Vidal blanc grapes.[8][10][11]
Advocacy, licensing, and associations
The winery is an advocate of New Jersey's three-tier alcohol distribution system, wherein wineries sell to wholesalers and retailers rather than directly to consumers.[12][13] Alba has a plenary winery license from the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which allows it to produce an unrestricted amount of wine, operate up to 15 off-premises sales rooms, and ship up to 12 cases per year to consumers in-state or out-of-state.[14][15] Alba is not a member of the Garden State Wine Growers Association.[16]
Controversy
Alba has had conflicts with nearby residents regarding noise from the use of cannons. The cannons are discharged regularly during the autumn in order to keep birds away from the crops.[17][18] The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has attempted to mediate a resolution between Alba and its neighbors.[18]