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New Jersey - the Garden State - is known for its tomatoes, peaches, cranberries and tomatoes. No surprise, then, that Garden State is also becoming well-known for its award-winning wines.

Actually, winemaking has been a tradition in New Jersey for well over 200 years. Local wines began receiving awards as early as 1767 when London's Royal Society of the Arts recognized two colonial New Jersey vintners.

Today, more than two dozen wineries flourish in New Jersey. The oldest, dating back to 1864, is Renault Winery in southern New Jersey.

In total, New Jersey wineries produce over 40 different varieties of wines ranging from dry to semi-dry table wines to sparkling, fruit and dessert wines.

Warmer southern New Jersey wineries make up the majority of homegrown wine tasting locations within the state. Other designated New Jersey viticultural areas include the western Warren Hills, and Central Delaware Valley near neighboring Pennsylvania.

(Photo above, the Alba Vineyard in Milford, New Jersey).

More information about NJ wineries around the Web:

Garden State Wine Growers Association - The complete background history of New Jersey winemaking, with a directory of NJ wineries and suggested tours of New Jersey wine trails, a festival and event calendar, wind and food tips, related links, downloadable photos and more.

Sunlight into Wine - A story article and online tour of wineries in northwest New Jersey featuring the Alba Vineyard, Four Sisters Winery, Kings Road and Westfall wineries with a link to more Winemaking in New Jersey.