Tomasello Winery

Tomasello Winery is a family-owned winery in Hammonton, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Its vineyard history reaches back to 1888, when the first vines associated with the operation were planted. The winery opened to the public in 1933, following the repeal of Prohibition, and is described as New Jersey’s second-oldest active winery after Renault Winery. The business takes its name from the Tomasello family, which owns and operates it. The winery is located within New Jersey’s Outer Coastal Plain American Viticultural Area. Although its principal winery and public-facing identity are associated with Hammonton, most of its grapes are cultivated at three vineyards in nearby Winslow Township in Camden County. The operation is among the larger winegrowers in New Jersey, with approximately 70 acres under grape cultivation and reported production of about 65,000 cases annually. These figures describe the scale reported in the reference material and are not treated here as a current financial disclosure. Tomasello produces both grape-based wines and wines made from other fruits. The available reference material does not provide a complete current catalog of varietals, labels, or product names, so the brand is best characterized by its broad New Jersey wine portfolio rather than by a single flagship bottle. Its location in the Outer Coastal Plain gives it a strong regional identity tied to South Jersey agriculture, local vineyards, and farm-linked retail. The winery has also participated in the Judgment of Princeton, a tasting organized by the American Association of Wine Economists that compared New Jersey wines with premium French wines. This participation placed Tomasello within broader efforts to evaluate and promote the quality of wines produced in the state. Beyond production, Tomasello has advocated direct-to-consumer wine shipping. It holds a plenary winery license from the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Under the license framework described in the reference material, the winery may produce wine without a stated production cap, operate as many as 15 off-premises sales rooms, and ship up to 12 cases annually to individual consumers in New Jersey or other states, subject to applicable law. Tomasello is associated with the Garden State Wine Growers Association and the Outer Coastal Plain Vineyard Association. The business has operated outlet stores in several New Jersey communities, including Chester, Freehold, Lambertville, Smithville, Cranford, and Wyckoff. These outlets are associated with local farms and extend the winery’s retail presence beyond Hammonton. Overall, Tomasello Winery combines historic family ownership, vineyard cultivation, wine production, direct retail, and regional agricultural tourism within New Jersey’s wine industry.

Tomasello Winery traces its vineyard roots to 1888, when the first grapes connected with the operation were planted in the Hammonton area of southern New Jersey. The business later became identified with the Tomasello family, which owns the winery and provides its name. Its public opening came in 1933, after the end of Prohibition, placing the winery among the early post-Prohibition commercial wine operations in New Jersey. The winery developed within the Outer Coastal Plain, a South Jersey wine-growing region characterized by sandy coastal-plain soils and a local agricultural economy. While Hammonton remains the location associated with the winery, most of its grapes are grown at three vineyards in neighboring Winslow Township, in Camden County. The operation expanded into one of the larger winegrowing businesses in the state, with approximately 70 acres under cultivation and reported annual production of roughly 65,000 cases. Tomasello’s portfolio includes both conventional grape wines and wines made from other fruits. The available reference material does not establish a full chronology of individual labels or product launches. Instead, it presents the winery as a diversified regional producer whose identity rests on its family ownership, South Jersey vineyards, and long operating history. The winery has participated in the Judgment of Princeton, an American Association of Wine Economists tasting that set New Jersey wines alongside premium French vintages. The event connected Tomasello with wider assessments of New Jersey wine quality and with efforts to increase recognition for the state’s producers. Retail and regulatory activity have been important parts of the business. Tomasello has advocated direct shipping from wineries to consumers and holds a plenary winery license issued through the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The license framework described in the reference material permits unrestricted wine production, up to 15 off-premises sales rooms, and shipment of up to 12 cases per year to consumers in or outside New Jersey, subject to legal requirements. The winery is affiliated with the Garden State Wine Growers Association and the Outer Coastal Plain Vineyard Association. It has also operated outlet stores in multiple New Jersey towns, including Chester, Freehold, Lambertville, Smithville, Cranford, and Wyckoff. These locations are connected with local farms, reinforcing the winery’s role in regional agricultural tourism and direct retail. Tomasello is therefore best understood as a continuing family winery with integrated vineyard, production, tasting, retail, and advocacy activities.

• 1933

  Winery opens to the public

  [1]Tomasello Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Tomasello Winery opened to the public after Prohibition ended, beginning its modern public-facing winery operations.

• 1888

  First vineyard planting

  [1]Tomasello Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The first vines associated with Tomasello Winery were planted, establishing the operation’s reported vineyard roots.

A historic, family-owned South Jersey winery emphasizing local vineyard production, regional wine culture, farm-linked retail, and direct-to-consumer access.

• Wine

  Grape wines

  Tomasello produces wines made from grapes cultivated primarily at vineyards in South Jersey. The portfolio is associated with the Outer Coastal Plain American Viticultural Area and forms the core of the winery’s traditional wine business. The available reference material does not identify a complete list of grape varieties, labels, or current releases.

• Fruit wine

  Non-grape fruit wines

  In addition to grape wine, Tomasello makes wines from other fruits. These products broaden the winery’s offering beyond conventional vineyard varietals and reflect the agricultural and farm-oriented character of its South Jersey retail presence. Specific fruit types and label names are not established by the supplied reference material.

• Advocacy for direct-to-consumer wine shippingStrategy

  Background

  Tomasello has supported direct shipment of wine from wineries to consumers as part of its broader retail and regulatory position.

  Action taken

  The winery advocated direct shipping and operated under a New Jersey plenary winery license that permits specified production, retail-room, and consumer-shipping activities.

  Aftermath

  The policy position supports a business model combining winery production, direct sales, off-premises outlets, and shipment to consumers where permitted by law.

  Source

• Expansion of farm-linked outlet retailStrategy

  Background

  The winery extended its retail presence beyond Hammonton through outlets connected with local farms in several New Jersey communities.

  Action taken

  Tomasello operated outlet stores in Chester, Freehold, Lambertville, Smithville, Cranford, and Wyckoff.

  Aftermath

  The outlet network gave the winery additional direct customer access and tied its brand to New Jersey farm retail and agricultural tourism.

  Source

1. 1Tomasello Wineryen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Tomasello Winery official websitetomasellowinery.com