OUR PROPRIETORS
Brock Vinton
Brock is a successful real estate developer whose exposure to wine dates back to the late 1960’s. After his service in the US Navy, he began to explore the fine wines of France, with a particular interest in Burgundy and Bordeaux. By the mid 1970’s he began to focus on California wines, a time during which he became friends with many prominent winery owners and vintners. In the late 1980's and 1990’s he invested in wineries and vineyards in Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder and Paso Robles. Brock’s wife Yvonne is a native Californian, whose family farms extensive vineyard holdings in the Lodi area.
In 2012 he tasted wines from New Jersey for the first time. Based upon his experience with fine wines, he realized the potential for making wines in New Jersey which could compare favorably with anything from Europe and California. This led to his 2013 purchase of 40 acres near Hammonton, in Camden county. He and his son B.J. have built a complete modern wine making facility, initially planting 18 acres of grapes. Currently 19 acres have been planted in 10 different grape varieties (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc, Chambourcin, Albarino...) . Having acquired additional land, they plan to ultimately have vineyards covering 60 acres. They will produce several varietal-specific New Jersey wines, as well as special blends made with grapes from their Lodi, California family connection.
Brock is convinced that New Jersey grapes can yield world class-wines. He is dedicated to selecting the optimal grape varietals for our terroir, along with giving the utmost attention to their cultivation, fermentation, blending and aging in French, Hungarian, and American oak barrels.
Brock J. Vinton II
BJ’s passion for wine began before he was old enough to drink in the US. As a young man he had wanted to start a boutique wine importing business. At the age of 16, he worked in the vineyards and cellars in Cognac, France. He later studied in Bordeaux and worked in Beaujolais.
Still searching for an entree, he completed an undergraduate thesis on the future of the micro-brewing segment of the brewing industry. But as they say, “life set in” and after college he went to work in manufacturing R&D, eventually started an engineering company and among other projects developed and patented a wind turbine. When the opportunity finally arose to start a winery, he seized it.
