Working Dog Winery

Working Dog Winery is a New Jersey winery and vineyard located on the border of Robbinsville Township and East Windsor in Mercer County. The business was originally established under the name Silver Decoy Winery, the name supplied for this dossier, and changed to Working Dog Winery in 2013. Its vineyard was first planted in 2001, and the winery opened to the public in 2003. The winery farms approximately 17 acres of grapes and produces about 4,000 cases of wine annually. Its production is centered on wines made from a broad selection of estate and regional grape varieties suited to New Jersey's growing conditions. The varieties associated with the winery include Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sangiovese, Chambourcin, Marechal Foch, Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Traminette. In addition to grape wine, Working Dog makes fruit wine from blueberries. Working Dog's portfolio spans red, white, and fruit-oriented styles rather than being limited to a single signature varietal. The use of both familiar international grapes and hybrid or regionally adapted varieties reflects the diversity of New Jersey viticulture. Its public-facing winery model combines agricultural production with visitor access and direct sales, positioning the business as a local destination and a participant in the state's expanding wine tourism sector. The winery holds a plenary winery license issued by the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. This type of license permits the winery to produce an unrestricted amount of wine and to operate as many as 15 off-premises sales rooms, subject to applicable state rules. Working Dog is also a member of the Garden State Wine Growers Association, linking it to New Jersey's organized wine industry. The winery participated in the Judgment of Princeton, a tasting organized by the American Association of Wine Economists that compared New Jersey wines with premium French vintages. The event placed Working Dog within a broader effort to evaluate and promote the quality of wines made in New Jersey. Today, the brand is best understood as an active small-to-mid-sized New Jersey winery whose identity combines vineyard production, local wine tourism, a varied varietal program, and the legacy of its former Silver Decoy name.

Working Dog Winery traces its physical and commercial origins to a vineyard planted in 2001 in Mercer County, New Jersey. The property sits across the border of Robbinsville Township and East Windsor, placing it in a region where agricultural land, suburban communities, and the state's developing wine-tourism network intersect. After the initial vineyard development, the winery opened to the public in 2003. The operation was originally known as Silver Decoy Winery. During its early period, that name identified the vineyard and winery as it established a presence in the New Jersey wine market. In 2013, the business changed its name to Working Dog Winery. The change created the current brand identity while leaving Silver Decoy as an important former name and historical alias. Working Dog developed a diversified vineyard program rather than relying on one grape variety. Its reported plantings and production include Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sangiovese, Chambourcin, Marechal Foch, Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Traminette. These varieties include internationally recognized grapes, French-American hybrids, and grapes used in regional or cool-climate wine production. The winery also produces fruit wine from blueberries, extending its range beyond conventional grape-based products. The vineyard covers approximately 17 acres under cultivation, and the winery produces around 4,000 cases per year. This scale places the business among New Jersey's established small winery operations, with enough production to maintain a broad portfolio while retaining a strong local and property-based identity. Its public opening and direct relationship with visitors are central to its role as both a producer and a winery destination. Working Dog's regulatory position is supported by a plenary winery license from the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The license permits unrestricted wine production and allows the winery to operate up to 15 off-premises sales rooms under the state's licensing framework. The winery is also a member of the Garden State Wine Growers Association, a trade association representing the state's wine-growing and winery community. The business has participated in the Judgment of Princeton, a wine tasting organized by the American Association of Wine Economists. The event compared New Jersey wines with premium French wines and served as a platform for assessing the quality and competitive standing of wines from the state. Working Dog's participation connected the winery with wider efforts to give New Jersey wine greater visibility and to test local products against internationally recognized benchmarks. The available record does not identify a founder, individual proprietor, corporate parent, or named executives. It also does not provide a detailed account of ownership changes, financial performance, distribution arrangements, or awards. On the documented evidence, Working Dog Winery remains an active New Jersey winery operating under the Working Dog name, with Silver Decoy Winery retained as its former identity.

• 2013

  Name changes from Silver Decoy Winery to Working Dog Winery

  [1]Working Dog Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The business adopted the Working Dog Winery name, replacing its original Silver Decoy Winery identity.

• 2003

  Winery opens to the public

  [1]Working Dog Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The winery began receiving the public two years after the first vineyard plantings.

• 2001

  Vineyard plantings begin

  [1]Working Dog Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The vineyard that would become Working Dog Winery was first planted in Mercer County, New Jersey.

• Participation in the Judgment of Princeton

  [1]Working Dog Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The winery took part in a comparative tasting organized by the American Association of Wine Economists, featuring New Jersey wines and premium French vintages.

Regional New Jersey winery combining estate vineyard production, visitor-oriented wine tourism, and a broad portfolio of grape and fruit wines.

• Wine

  Red wines

  Working Dog's red-wine production includes wines associated with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sangiovese, Chambourcin, and Marechal Foch. The range combines internationally established red grapes with varieties suited to regional and cool-climate cultivation. Specific cuvée names, release schedules, and blend compositions are not identified in the available reference material.

• Wine

  White wines

  The winery produces white wines from Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Traminette. This selection covers both familiar international varieties and grapes commonly associated with aromatic or cool-climate wine styles. The available sources do not specify individual product names, tasting profiles, or current vintage availability.

• Fruit wine

  Blueberry wine

  Working Dog also makes wine from blueberries, extending its offering beyond conventional grape-based wines. The product reflects the winery's use of locally oriented fruit-wine production alongside its vineyard program. Detailed information about formulation, sweetness, packaging, and release dates is not available in the supplied sources.

• 2013

  Adoption of the Working Dog Winery nameStrategy

  Background

  The winery had operated under the Silver Decoy Winery name since its early public period.

  Action taken

  The business changed its name to Working Dog Winery.

  Aftermath

  Working Dog Winery became the current public identity, while Silver Decoy Winery remained a historical alias. The sources do not explain the business rationale or any associated rebranding campaign.

  Source

• 2013

  Silver Decoy Winery changes its name to Working Dog Winery[1]Working Dog Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The New Jersey winery formerly operating as Silver Decoy Winery adopted the Working Dog Winery name.

• Working Dog Winery participates in the Judgment of Princeton[1]Working Dog Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Working Dog Winery was among the participants in a tasting organized by the American Association of Wine Economists comparing New Jersey wines with premium French vintages.

1. 1Working Dog Wineryen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Working Dog Winery official websiteworkingdogwinerynj.com