Looking for a day away from sunshine and sandy beaches? Or perhaps a night out with friends or a significant other? Maybe you’re looking for something to do on a gray day at the shore? We’ve got the perfect answer: experience Cape May County’s local hops, grapes and spirits! The Jersey Cape’s local breweries, wineries and distilleries each have their own unique flare, making for a one-of-a-kind experience at each. Tour the facilities and talk to the experts to learn how beer, wine, rum and vodka are made. Send your palate on a journey with tastings, and bring your favorite flavor home in a growler or bottle!
Containing over 70 acres with four different vineyards from which 16 different varieties of grapes are produced, Cape May Winery & Vineyard offers enticing spots to unwind, relax, linger and enjoy, both indoor and out. With multiple tasting rooms, a charming deck overlooking the vineyard and an outside patio with bonfire pits, guests are guaranteed to enjoy the ideal tasting treat. Cozy up in the brand new downstairs solarium, complete with a fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows for breathtaking views of vineyard. On a winery tour, novice and experienced wine drinkers learn from grapes to bottle how this local wine is made. Partake in a tasting and try a variety of whites and reds which range from dry to sweet. Be sure to grab a souvenir glass to remember your experience!
Willow Creek Winery produces premium sustainable wines that are grown and bottled on site on a 50-acre farm in Cape May – a combination of preserved and unpreserved farmland. Our unique climate allows Willow Creek Winery to produce some of the finest hand-crafted wines found this side of Europe. Willow Creek Winery offers vineyard vistas and gardens for strolling. Beyond the vineyards and the architecturally stunning villa is the winery, where you can participate in tours and tastings. On daily vineyard tours, guests can learn about the growth of Willow Creek’s vines and how to identify each specific grape. Post-tour, guests can take a seat at the beautiful wine bar or the outside brick patio with fireplace for tastings of the estate wines, signature sangria slushies and wine cocktails.
Located just 10 minutes from Sea Isle City, Ludlam Island Brewery brings a unique variety of craft beers to the Jersey Shore. Ludlam Island features a tasting room on the ground floor adjacent to the brewing facility, where patrons can learn about the eight-step process that produces its signature beers. The second floor features another tasting room available for private parties. The room is full of rustic charm and fits up to 35 people. Enjoy a private bar featuring eight rotating beers on tap, as well as windows overlooking the brewery below. Ludlam Island conducts tours and tastings daily. With names like “Fish Alley Ale” and “Harry’s Coffee Pale Ale,” named after local businesses and landmarks, you can’t resist visiting this spot to see how great beer is made!
Experience hand-crafted spirits from the Cape at Cape May Distillery. Our area’s first distillery, Cape May Distillery’s hands-on process uses locally grown raw ingredients sourced in the state of New Jersey. Learn all about the distilling process during a tour of the facility, then take a seat at the bar and taste one of Cape May Distillery’s varieties. Barrel Rum is perfect for sipping straight, with the inviting aromas of vanilla, oak and caramel. Beach Rum is extremely smooth yet bold, with complex flavors and a hint of vanilla. Honey Liqueur is made with locally sourced honey distilled to a silky consistency. Come try them all and leave with your favorite!
Slack Tide Brewing Co. operates on a simple philosophy: create a diverse and high-quality line of beers made with all natural ingredients sourced locally whenever possible. From classic beers such as pale ales and IPAs, to unique seasonal flavors such as sweet potato spiced ale and blackberry wheat, Slack Tide has something for everyone. There are always at least eight beers on tap, with a constant rotation to please everyone’s palate and keep them coming back for more. Come visit Slack Tide’s cozy atmosphere and see why locals feel at home and visitors look forward to returning!
1. Cape May Winery & Vineyard
711 Townbank Rd., Cape May
(609) 884-1169
capemaywinery.com
2. Willow Creek Winery
160-168 Stevens St., West Cape May
(609) 770-8782
willowcreekwinerycapemay.com
3. Ludlam Island Brewery
9 Stoney Ct., Ocean View
(609) 263-6969
ludlamisland.com
4. Cape May Distillery
371 Rt. 47 S., Cape May Court House
(609) 305-4853
capemay-distillery.com
5. Slack Tide Brewing Co.
1072 Rt. 83, Clermont
(609) 478-2343
slacktidebrewingco.com