A Day in the Life of a New Jersey Winemaker. Imagine waking up before sunrise. You get a head start on a day filled with nature, hard work, and a little bit of science. That’s what a typical day is like for a winemaker here in New Jersey.
Morning in the Vineyard
The day starts early in the vineyard. The winemaker and their team head out to check on the grape vines. They walk among the rows. They look at the plants to see if they’re healthy. They also check if the grapes are growing well. They keep an eye out for pests or any signs that something is wrong. It’s all about making sure the grapes are on track to become good wine later on.
Harvesting and Crushing
When the grapes are just right—not too green and not too ripe—it’s time to pick them. Depending on the vineyard, they pick by hand or use small machines. Once the grapes are gathered, they’re taken back to the winery. Here, the winemaker oversees the crushing process. Think of it as making a fresh fruit smoothie. Start with great fruit, and you are to end up with something delicious.
Fermentation and Aging
After crushing, the grape juice begins to change into wine through a process called fermentation. The winemaker closely watches things like temperature and time because even small changes can affect how the wine tastes. Later, they check on the barrels where the wine is aging, making sure everything is just right.
The Personal Touch
What makes this process special is the winemaker’s care and passion. It’s not just about following a recipe—it’s about telling a story with each bottle. Knowing about the journey from farm to bottle can add depth to every sip of wine. This is true even if you’re not a wine expert yourself.
Have you ever had the experience of walking through a New Jersey vineyard? If so, comment below and share what it was like. Did you ever realize the hard work and craftsmanship that goes into every bottle?
You can watch the process here. I belong to a group of local hobbyists known as the Carriage House Winemakers. We make our wine.