Growing local

More than 5,000 pounds of Chambourcin grapes were harvested last month from the Camden County Vineyard in Blackwood.

This is the largest grape harvest yet to come from the vineyard, which was established in 2019 and is located at the 10-acre Camden County Sustainability Campus. The grapes will be used for creating hundreds of bottles of local, vintage wine (vintage meaning the wine was made with grapes harvested in a single year).

To celebrate the harvest, members of the county and wine community gathered at the vineyard on October 6 to acknowledge the monumental harvest before the grapes were transported to Amalthea Cellars Farm Winery in Atco to be used in its wine and later, likely within the year, sold with “Camden County” as part of the bottle’s label.

“Since this vineyard was established in 2019, it has produced more than 30,000 pounds of grapes, and it has become a great example of how Camden County can put open space to productive and sustainable use,” Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said during the event.

“This year’s harvest is particularly meaningful. The frost that took place earlier this year in the spring made it very, very difficult for many vineyards and farmers of all types throughout South Jersey,” he said. “South Jersey winemakers took a big hit with crop that is not usable to make wine this year, some even lost vines altogether, so we’re very happy that we survived this severe spring frost.”

The vineyard is maintained by VineTech, a South Jersey-based vineyard management company owned by Steven Becker. Becker and his team grow Chambourcin grapes, which are a dark, hybrid grape that is widely popular for winemaking.

Becker said that the vineyard was able to withstand the frost and cold weather this winter and spring because of a small slope on site, since it allowed cold air to drain off the property. Plus, he said, the vines themselves are healthy and well-cared for, which helps their strength during frosty weather.

“We’re so proud to be sustainable here in Camden County and to be able to produce something that is ready to (last a lifetime),” said Commissioner Jonathan Young, liaison to the Office of Sustainability. “And I can’t wait to taste some Camden County wine.”

“The wine industry creates jobs, supports local businesses, brings people together and contributes to the character of our communities,” Cappelli said.

The county celebrates this harvest not only for the wine industry, but for the entire agricultural industry in the Garden State. The county is committed to supporting farmers and growers across the South Jersey region, as well as winemakers.

In efforts to continue offering support to the agricultural industry across Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties, nonprofit tourism agency Visit South Jersey announced its new initiative, Keep It Growin’, at the end of the event. The new initiative is intended to encourage locals and tourists to support the agriculturalists in the region by opting for locally grown and crafted produce, wine and products from local farmers, growers and artisans.

“Our message is simple,” said Mike Snyder, the director of operations for Visit South Jersey. “Every visit matters, no matter what you get. When you stop at a farmers market, pick your own produce, enjoy a winery or bring your family to a farm event, you’re supporting the people that grow our food and keep South Jersey’s agricultural traditions alive.”