Cape May Winery

“Wine is like cooking and I do not want Fast Food!” (Darren Hesington)

Cape May Winery is a young vineyard/winery of South Jersey (New Jersey), located in the Outer Coastal Plain AVA. It was created in 2002 by Toby Craig. Toby Craig was initially a restorer in the area. Having desired to create his own wine since a long time ago in his life, he began to realize his dream of winemaking some grapes in his garage. Encouraged by winning many wine prices in 2002 he bought three acres of vineyards and a building on the current site of the winery and into the operations building. Gradually the buildings of the wineyard grew. In 2008 Cape May Winery gets a shop, a room (and terraces) as well as tasting cellars equipped with temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and oak barrels for aging wine.

Currently Cape May Winery is one of the most famous wine properties in the region and one of the most popular destinations for people on vacation on the coast of New Jersey.

Meeting with Darren Hesington, winemaker Cape May Winery

Initially Darren Hesington did not work in a vineyard but in a nursery. He acquired all the knowledge necessary for the vinification of the grapes with different experiences vineyards (Virginia, New York and Australia). In his experience in Unionville Vineyards, he met Keith Bow, Australian winemaker and vineyard. He quickly became his mentor, allowing Darren Hesington acquire all the knowledge necessary to viticulture and the winemaking and aging of wine. A few years later in 2003, responding to a proposition of Toby Craig, joined Cape May Winery as an agricultural worker. Gradually he improved his knowledge of viticulture / wine allowing it to make its way to Cape May. Today D. Hesington serves as winemaker of the property.

What do they look for each year when creating wines of Cape May?

“We are focusing on quality, even sacrificing quantity. Wine is a gift of nature. Before being in the cellar, the wine is made in the vineyard, we must pay close attention to the quality of fruit and do everything to have the best quality but also be constant therein. Cape May was fortunate to have a micro-climate that allows us to be protected from hail, frost and too large temperature differences during the spring. Indeed, it is located on a plateau protected also allows us to benefit from oceanic influences / ocean air. “(Darren Hesington)

What allows us to recognize Cape May’ wines?

The Cape May Winery wines are characterized by a good balance, good structure but also an expression of sand / gravel in the wine.

Side anecdote:

One of Cape May Winery’ room has a private wine cellar (wine library) aiming to retain copies of each vintage. This allows observing the evolution of the wine over the long term. An important factor given the fact that Cape May Winery does not have much in the back because it is a relatively young field.

Thanks to Darren Hesington for his hospitality.

Jonathan Choukroun Chicheportiche

Cape May Winery