Renault Winery

Renault Winery is a historic American winery and hospitality destination in southern New Jersey, with property in Egg Harbor City and Galloway Township in Atlantic County. It is recognized as the oldest active winery in New Jersey and is among the state's larger winegrowers. The business combines vineyard cultivation and wine production with restaurants, hotel accommodation, golf, and visitor-oriented experiences. The vineyard traces its origins to 1864, when Louis Nicolas Renault, a French immigrant from Mareuil-sur-Ay, planted vines using vinifera material brought from France. Renault opened the operation to the public in 1870. During its earlier history, the winery became particularly associated with sparkling wine and was described as one of the largest champagne producers in the United States. The name Renault Winery derives from its founder rather than from the automobile company or another similarly named business. The winery's history also reflects the regulatory and commercial pressures faced by American alcohol producers. During Prohibition, Renault maintained operations through licenses allowing it to make sacramental wine and medicinal products. One such product, Renault Wine Tonic, was distributed through pharmacists in the United States. The winery also has a connection to New Jersey social history through Mildred Norman, later known as Peace Pilgrim, who worked there as a secretary before beginning her well-known travels. After the Second World War, Atlantic City political figure and racketeer Enoch Johnson was employed by the winery. At its historical peak, Renault reportedly cultivated approximately 600 acres of grapes and sold about 500,000 cases of wine annually. In later decades, vineyard acreage and production declined substantially. The business responded by developing its land as a broader resort and events destination. A restaurant opened in 1983, followed by a hotel and a second restaurant in 2000. An 18-hole golf course was added in 2004. The wider site is described as encompassing approximately 1,400 acres, including the vineyard, golf course, hotel, and dining facilities. Renault is located in New Jersey's Outer Coastal Plain American Viticultural Area. Its wine portfolio includes conventional grape wines made from varieties such as Baco noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cayuga White, Chardonnay, Merlot, Noah, Norton, Petit Verdot, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, and Vidal blanc. It also makes fruit wines, including blueberry-based products. A distinctive specialty is its blueberry champagne, described as the only blueberry champagne made by a winery in the United States. The business experienced serious financial pressure in the 2010s. Renault Winery filed for bankruptcy in 2014. OceanFirst Bank, its primary creditor, acquired the property in 2015. In late 2018, the bank announced a sale to the newly formed Renault Properties LLC. In 2019, Galloway Township agreed to support a planned rehabilitation through a tax-abatement arrangement. These events marked a transition from financial distress toward redevelopment of the winery and its hospitality assets. Renault holds a plenary winery license issued by the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The license permits unrestricted wine production, operation of up to 15 off-premises sales rooms, and shipment of up to 12 cases annually to consumers in or outside New Jersey, subject to applicable law. The winery is associated with the Garden State Wine Growers Association and the Outer Coastal Plain Vineyard Association. Its current identity is therefore broader than that of a packaged-wine label: Renault functions as a regional winery, agricultural property, resort, dining venue, and event destination.

Renault Winery was established in southern New Jersey during the nineteenth-century development of American viticulture. In 1864, Louis Nicolas Renault, an immigrant from Mareuil-sur-Ay in France, planted the first vineyard. He brought original vinifera grape material from France, connecting the new enterprise with European winemaking traditions. The winery began receiving visitors in 1870 and subsequently developed a reputation for producing sparkling wine. For a period in its history, it was regarded as one of the largest champagne producers in the United States. The winery's longevity was tested during Prohibition. Rather than cease all production, Renault secured licenses for sacramental wine and medicinal wines. Its Renault Wine Tonic was sold through pharmacists around the country, providing a legal commercial route during a period when ordinary wine sales were heavily restricted. The property also appears in accounts of New Jersey cultural and political history. Mildred Norman, who later became known as Peace Pilgrim, worked at the winery as a secretary. After the Second World War, Enoch Johnson, the Atlantic City political boss and racketeer, was employed by Renault. Renault eventually became a very substantial agricultural operation. Historical accounts describe a peak of about 600 acres under grape cultivation and annual sales of roughly 500,000 cases. Production and vineyard acreage later contracted, reflecting changing market conditions and the broader challenges of maintaining large traditional wineries. Instead of relying only on wine sales, Renault increasingly developed its land and buildings as a destination property. The hospitality transition occurred in stages. The first restaurant opened in 1983. A hotel and a second restaurant followed in 2000, and an 18-hole golf course was added in 2004. The resulting property extended across approximately 1,400 acres and incorporated vineyards, dining, lodging, golf, and visitor facilities. This diversified model made Renault both a wine producer and a regional resort and events venue. The winery operates in the Outer Coastal Plain AVA, a designated wine-growing region covering part of southern New Jersey. Its plantings and production have included a broad group of European, American, and hybrid varieties, including Baco noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cayuga White, Chardonnay, Merlot, Noah, Norton, Petit Verdot, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, and Vidal blanc. In addition to grape wines, Renault produces fruit wines, notably blueberry products. Its blueberry champagne is a distinctive specialty and has been described as unique among United States winery offerings. The business encountered major financial difficulties in the 2010s and filed for bankruptcy in 2014. OceanFirst Bank, the primary creditor, purchased the property in 2015. In late 2018, the bank announced that the property would be sold to Renault Properties LLC, a newly formed entity. In 2019, Galloway Township agreed to support a rehabilitation plan through a tax-abatement arrangement. These ownership and redevelopment events were important turning points in the modern history of the property. Renault holds a plenary winery license from the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The license framework permits the winery to produce wine without a stated production ceiling, operate as many as 15 off-premises sales rooms, and ship up to 12 cases per year to consumers in New Jersey or other states, subject to governing requirements. Renault is also associated with the Garden State Wine Growers Association and the Outer Coastal Plain Vineyard Association. Its continuing significance rests on the combination of a long-lived New Jersey wine brand, agricultural land, specialty products, and a hospitality complex.

• 2019

  Township rehabilitation support

  [1]Renault Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Galloway Township agreed to support planned rehabilitation through a tax-abatement plan.

• 2018

  Sale to Renault Properties LLC announced

  [1]Renault Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  OceanFirst Bank announced a sale of the property to Renault Properties LLC.

• 2015

  Creditor acquisition

  [1]Renault Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  OceanFirst Bank purchased the property as its primary creditor.

• 2014

  Bankruptcy filing

  [1]Renault Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The winery filed for bankruptcy during a period of financial difficulty.

• 2004

  Golf course opens

  [1]Renault Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  An 18-hole golf course became part of the winery's resort offering.

• 2000

  Hotel and second restaurant added

  [1]Renault Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Renault expanded its hospitality operations with a hotel and another restaurant.

• 1983

  First restaurant opens

  [1]Renault Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The winery expanded beyond production and retail by opening a restaurant.

• 1870

  Winery opens to the public

  [1]Renault Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Renault began receiving visitors and operating as a public winery.

• 1864

  First vineyard planted

  [1]Renault Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Louis Nicolas Renault planted the first vines at the future winery using vinifera grape material brought from France.

A heritage New Jersey winery positioned around local wine production, historic identity, and an integrated resort and events destination.

• Wine

  Renault grape wines

  The winery produces a broad range of still and sparkling wines from grapes grown in New Jersey's Outer Coastal Plain region. Reported varieties include Baco noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cayuga White, Chardonnay, Merlot, Noah, Norton, Petit Verdot, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, and Vidal blanc. The range reflects a mixture of European varieties and American or hybrid grapes suited to the local growing environment.

• Fruit wine

  Blueberry wines

  Renault makes fruit wines using blueberries, extending its product range beyond conventional grape-based wine. The products connect the winery's portfolio with agricultural ingredients associated with the broader southern New Jersey region.

• Sparkling fruit wine

  Blueberry champagne

  Blueberry champagne is Renault's most distinctive specialty offering. Reference material describes Renault as the only winery in the United States producing a blueberry champagne, making the product an important point of differentiation in the winery's visitor and retail identity.

• 2019

  Rehabilitation supported through tax abatementStrategy

  Background

  Following the ownership transition, the property required rehabilitation and redevelopment support.

  Action taken

  Galloway Township agreed to assist the planned rehabilitation through a tax-abatement plan.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement provided municipal support for the property's redevelopment plans.

  Source

• 2018

  Sale to Renault Properties LLCM&A

  Background

  After acquiring the property following the bankruptcy, OceanFirst Bank sought a new ownership arrangement.

  Action taken

  The bank announced the sale of the property to newly formed Renault Properties LLC.

  Aftermath

  The transaction established a new ownership vehicle for the winery and its planned rehabilitation.

  Source

• 2014

  Bankruptcy filingOther

  Background

  The winery experienced substantial financial difficulties after a long-term decline from its historical peak in vineyard acreage and case sales.

  Action taken

  Renault Winery filed for bankruptcy.

  Aftermath

  OceanFirst Bank, the primary creditor, acquired the property in 2015.

  Source

• 2004

  Golf resort expansionStrategy

  Background

  Renault continued diversifying its land-based hospitality offer.

  Action taken

  The winery added an 18-hole golf course.

  Aftermath

  Golf became another component of the property's resort and events proposition.

  Source

• 2000

  Addition of hotel and second restaurantStrategy

  Background

  The winery continued developing its large property as a resort and visitor destination.

  Action taken

  Renault added a hotel and a second restaurant.

  Aftermath

  The property expanded its lodging and dining capacity alongside wine production.

  Source

• 1983

  Expansion into restaurant hospitalityStrategy

  Background

  Renault faced the long-term limits of operating solely as a wine producer and began broadening the visitor proposition.

  Action taken

  The winery opened its first restaurant, beginning the transformation into a combined winery and destination property.

  Aftermath

  Restaurant operations became part of Renault's diversified hospitality model.

  Source

1. 1Renault Wineryen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Renault Winery official websiterenaultwinery.com
3. 3Garden State Wine Growers Associationgswinemakers.com
4. 4Outer Coastal Plain Vineyard Associationoutercoastalplain.com