Tomasello Winery

Tomasello Winery 75th Anniversary History

In the 1930's, Frank Tomasello was a berry farmer in Hammonton, New Jersey growing raspberries, strawberries, peaches and sweet potatoes. He also had a knack for growing grapes and a passion for wine.

In February 1933, when Frank heard the federal government was repealing Prohibition and was ready to once again issue winery licenses, he jumped into his truck and drove through a snow storm to Washington, DC to be one of the first in line for a license. (He succeeded, Tomasello Winery's license is 68.) In June of that year, New Jersey passed the 21st amendment repealing prohibition and Tomasello Winery was officially in business.

Frank knew the soil and climate in this area was perfect for grapes for several reasons. First, native grape vines were so common in the area that the Vikings named the area just down the street from him " Vineland " after the grapes that grew so profusely in the area. Second, prior to prohibition there had been as many as 100 wineries in the area. Finally, the area produced outstanding produce - corn, tomatoes, etc., which made it easy to believe that this same soil and climate would also produce excellent grapes.

The first wines that Frank made - Ranier Red, Ranier White and Ranier Rose (named after his wife's maiden name) were a huge success and, in fact, are still being made today.

In the 1940s, Frank brought his sons Charles and Joseph into the business. They grew their father's business into a commercial winery. They also began producing sparking wines (Champagne) in the classical French method - methode champenoise -- which involves a secondary fermentation in the bottle as opposed to adding carbonation. These sparkling wines were very popular and by the 1960s accounted for half of all the wines produced at Tomasello Winery.

Joseph Tomasello passed away in 1971. Charles, then 48, expanded his vineyards to add the first generation of French American hybrids. Many of these varieties were in the experimental stages coming out of Cornell University's Extension Station. Today, many of these varieties are planted throughout the United States. Many of the successful varieties were first planted in New Jersey by Charles Tomasello.

In the 1980s, a third generation of Tomasello's joined the business when Charles' sons Charles, Jr. and Jack came on board. Together they worked to expand the winery and revamp the vineyard. In the vineyard they planted Vinifera vines, adding Chardonnay first, than Cabernet Sauvignon three years later. They now grow 24 different varieties including Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir and Shiraz to name just a few.

Today Tomasello Winery produces approximately 30 still wines and eight sparkling wines, almost all made from estate-grown fruit or fruit from local farmers including the new Sparkling Blueberry, made in the classical methode champenoise. Tomasello Winery uses only the top blueberries from the top growers from Hammonton (the Blueberry Capital of the World) in this wine.

In 2008, 75 years after its inception, Tomasello Winery farms more than 65 acres of vines, is the only third generation winery in New Jersey and is distributed in 31 states as well as Canada and Asia.

Tomasello Winery is well-known for its premium wines - Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, -- and has also had great success with French Hybrids varieties including Chambourcin, Villard Noir and Vidal Blanc. With close to 40 wines produced, Tomasello has a wine for every wine drinker, including obscure wines like its award-winning Rkatsiteli, a Russian variety.

The winery has also won wide acclaim and legions of fans for its high-end desert wines. These wines - Raspberry, Cranberry, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry and Pomegranate; along with their Fruit Forte wines (fruit wines fortified with the corresponding fruit eau de vie) and their sparkling wines (including the newly released Blueberry Sparkling wine), have earned the winery numerous prestigious national and international awards, as well as the praise of wine critics, dessert chefs and wine drinkers.

"Quality in wine making is a function of quality fruit," explains Charlie. "To that end we use only the finest fruit from around the country to make our wines. We use Montmorency Cherries from Michigan, Cranberries from Massachusetts, Blueberries from New Jersey and Maine, Raspberries from Oregon and Marion Blackberries from the Pacific Northwest for our wines. The quality shows in the finished product.

"We are very serious about the production of our fruit wines," he added. "The six fruit wines in our portfolio are fermented in small lots under very cold conditions to maximize fruit character extraction. We select fruit from specific growers whose passion in fruit growing matches our passion in wine making. You will find these wines to be intense in their fruit character with layers of fruit on the palette and yet balanced in their relative acidity and sweetness. They have remarkable diversity in their use as a wine to drink as an aperitif, with a meal, with desert, or for use in recipes."

Wine drinkers can sample and buy these outstanding wines at Tomasello Winery in Hammonton, New Jersey; as well as in their outlets in Lambertville, Freehold and the Towne of Historic Smithville. Their wines can also be found throughout New Jersey in better wine shops and at independent wine shops and grocery stores in the 31 states they are currently distributing to across the country.

The main location in Hammonton also features an elegant Vintners Room which provides an elegant backdrop for special events. In conjunction with gorgeous French country style, crystal chandeliers and marble floors; the Vintners Room also offers outstanding cuisine and, of course, Tomasello award-winning wines. The winery also hosts numerous events including seasonal Opera Galas at this location. The Vintners Room is also perfect for wedding celebrations and private parties.

The future holds even more for this winery - distribution in more states across the country, more international sales, and even more fans. For more information on the winery and its wines, call 800-MMM-WINE.