Willow Creek Winery

Willow Creek Winery is a farm-based winery in West Cape May, Cape May County, New Jersey. The property was formerly operated as a produce farm, and its vineyard was first planted in 2005. The winery opened to the public in 2012, becoming part of the Cape May area’s agricultural and tourism economy. Its name refers to a large willow tree near the owner’s residence and to the Pond Creek, a stream bordering the farm. The winery is located within New Jersey’s Outer Coastal Plain American Viticultural Area. Its vineyard program includes a broad range of European and hybrid wine grapes, including Albariño, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Malbec, Malvasia bianca, Merlot, Muscat blanc, Pinot noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Seyval blanc, and Syrah. The winery has been described as cultivating approximately 40 acres of grapes and producing about 6,000 cases of wine annually. It has also purchased Legates Farm Market and has been developing an additional 68 acres for vines, although the timing and final operating scale of that expansion are not specified in the available reference material. Willow Creek’s offering extends beyond conventional grape wine. The farm produces wine from New Jersey apples and pumpkins and maintains agricultural operations involving eggs, flowers, fruit, honey, poultry, vegetables, and wormwood. Its non-estate wines are sold under the separate Wilde Cock label, a name associated with the owner and the roosters kept on the farm. The winery has also expressed interest in producing absinthe, but the available material does not establish that such a product was launched. A notable feature of the winery’s grape portfolio is Malvasia bianca. The winery has been identified as the only New Jersey winery producing wine from that variety, a white vinifera grape associated with northwestern Italy. The precise current status of that distinction is not independently confirmed here. Willow Creek operates under a New Jersey farm winery license issued through the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The license framework allows qualifying farm wineries to produce wine, maintain a limited number of off-premises sales rooms, and ship wine to consumers subject to statutory limits. Willow Creek is a member of the Garden State Wine Growers Association, though it is not identified as a member of the Outer Coastal Plain Vineyard Association. The business is connected to other hospitality and agricultural activities. In 1996, the owner of Willow Creek founded The Southern Mansion, a 24-suite bed-and-breakfast in nearby Cape May. Food grown or produced at the farm is served at that property, linking the winery’s agricultural identity with lodging and local tourism. The winery has also been involved in a prolonged dispute over whether weddings and similar celebrations could be held on preserved farmland. Municipal, county, and state officials raised concerns about traffic, noise, land-use compliance, and the description of the site’s intended activities. Willow Creek argued that the preservation easement did not prohibit celebratory events. The dispute led to federal litigation against the mayor of West Cape May, and in June 2016 the borough agreed to settle for $550,000 rather than proceed to trial. The available reference also states that the borough made payments connected with violations of New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act. These disputes are part of the winery’s public history but do not by themselves establish the current status of its events business.

Willow Creek Winery developed from a produce farm in West Cape May, New Jersey. The farm’s agricultural identity remains central to the business: in addition to grapes, it produces or has produced eggs, flowers, fruit, honey, poultry, vegetables, and wormwood. The property is associated with the Pond Creek and with a large willow tree near the owner’s residence, both of which contributed to the winery’s name. Vines were first planted in 2005. The vineyard was subsequently developed within the Outer Coastal Plain American Viticultural Area, a coastal New Jersey wine-growing region. Willow Creek opened to the public in 2012. Its portfolio has included both familiar vinifera varieties and hybrid grapes, allowing it to produce red, white, rosé, and fruit-oriented wines suited to the regional market. The reported vineyard area is approximately 40 acres, with annual production of roughly 6,000 cases. The winery’s agricultural model is broader than grape cultivation. It makes wine from New Jersey apples and pumpkins and markets wines made from grapes that are not necessarily estate-grown through the Wilde Cock label. The label name refers to the owner and the roosters on the farm. Willow Creek has also expressed interest in making absinthe from farm-related botanicals, although the available material does not confirm commercial production. Malvasia bianca has been an especially distinctive variety in its portfolio; the winery has been described as the only New Jersey producer making wine from that grape. Growth has included the acquisition of Legates Farm Market and plans to cultivate another 68 acres under vine. The available source does not provide the purchase date, the final planted acreage, or whether all planned expansion became operational. The business operates under a New Jersey farm winery license, which provides a regulated framework for wine production, off-premises sales rooms, and direct shipping within statutory limits. Willow Creek belongs to the Garden State Wine Growers Association but is not identified as a member of the Outer Coastal Plain Vineyard Association. The wider business context includes hospitality. In 1996, the owner founded The Southern Mansion, a 24-suite bed-and-breakfast in nearby Cape May. Farm products from Willow Creek are used at the lodging property, connecting the winery to local tourism, food service, and destination hospitality. A significant chapter in the winery’s history concerns the use of preserved farmland for weddings and other events. West Cape May officials expressed concern about traffic and noise and argued that Willow Creek had not accurately represented how its facilities would be used. In 2012, county and state agricultural bodies took the position that the preservation status of the land barred weddings and comparable non-agricultural events. Willow Creek disagreed, asserting that the deed of easement did not prohibit celebrations. The dispute escalated into federal litigation against the mayor of West Cape May. Willow Creek alleged that the mayor’s role in land-use decisions presented a conflict because she also served as a marriage officiant. In June 2016, the borough settled the case and agreed to pay $550,000, avoiding a trial. The available account also refers to separate payments by the borough associated with violations of the state Open Public Records Act involving requested public information. The dispute illustrates the tension between agritourism, event businesses, farmland-preservation rules, and municipal land-use regulation in New Jersey.

• 2016

  Federal event-use lawsuit is settled

  [1]Willow Creek Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  West Cape May agreed to a $550,000 settlement with Willow Creek Winery in litigation over weddings and celebratory events at the property.

• 2012

  Winery opens to the public

  [1]Willow Creek Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Willow Creek began public winery operations in West Cape May.

• 2012

  Preserved-farmland event dispute emerges

  [1]Willow Creek Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Agricultural authorities stated that weddings and other non-agricultural events were not permitted on the preserved farmland, while Willow Creek challenged that interpretation.

• 2005

  First vineyard plantings

  [1]Willow Creek Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The farm planted its first grapevines, beginning the transition toward its later public winery operation.

• 1996

  The Southern Mansion is founded

  [1]Willow Creek Wineryen.wikipedia.org

  The owner of Willow Creek founded The Southern Mansion, a 24-suite bed-and-breakfast in nearby Cape May. Willow Creek farm products are served at the property.

A New Jersey farm winery combining estate-grown and locally sourced wines with broader agricultural production and Cape May-area agritourism.

• Wine

  Estate grape wines

  Willow Creek produces wines from grapes grown in its Outer Coastal Plain vineyard. The reported grape portfolio spans varieties such as Albariño, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Malbec, Malvasia bianca, Merlot, Muscat blanc, Pinot noir, Riesling, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Seyval blanc, and Syrah. The range reflects both vinifera and hybrid varieties suited to New Jersey’s coastal growing conditions.

• Fruit wine

  Fruit and seasonal wines

  The farm makes wine from locally grown New Jersey apples and pumpkins in addition to grape-based products. These wines extend the winery’s agricultural proposition and connect its beverages to the seasonal produce associated with the farm. The available reference does not provide individual product names, vintages, or current availability.

• Non-estate wine label

  Wilde Cock

  Wilde Cock is a separate label used for wines made from grapes that are not presented as Willow Creek estate fruit. Its name refers to the owner and to the roosters kept on the farm. The label gives the winery a distinct identity for non-estate wines, although detailed product specifications are not provided in the available source.

• 2016

  Settlement of event-use litigation

  Willow Creek sued the West Cape May mayor in federal court, alleging a conflict of interest involving her municipal land-use role and work as a marriage officiant. The borough settled in June 2016 for $550,000. The source also reports separate Open Public Records Act-related payments by the borough.

  Source

• 2012

  Dispute over weddings on preserved farmland

  West Cape May, Cape May County, and New Jersey agricultural authorities questioned whether Willow Creek could host weddings and other non-agricultural events on preserved farmland. Officials cited concerns about land-use compliance, traffic, noise, and the winery’s representations about its facilities. Willow Creek maintained that its preservation easement did not prohibit celebratory events.

  Source

Read more

• 2012

  Open the winery to the publicOther

  Background

  Following the establishment of the vineyard, Willow Creek expanded from agricultural production into public-facing winery operations.

  Action taken

  The winery opened to visitors in West Cape May.

  Aftermath

  The property became part of the Cape May region’s winery and agritourism landscape, while its event-use plans generated regulatory opposition.

  Source

• 2005

  Begin vineyard developmentStrategy

  Background

  The former produce farm began moving into grape cultivation as part of its development as a farm winery.

  Action taken

  Willow Creek planted its first vineyard acreage and later developed a multi-variety grape program.

  Aftermath

  The vineyard became the foundation for the winery’s estate-wine offering and its reported annual production.

  Source

• Expand vineyard and agricultural operationsStrategy

  Background

  The winery sought to increase its agricultural footprint beyond the original vineyard.

  Action taken

  Willow Creek purchased Legates Farm Market and began cultivating an additional 68 acres under vine.

  Aftermath

  The available source describes the expansion but does not establish its completion date or final operating scale.

  Source

1. 1Willow Creek Wineryen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Willow Creek Winery official websitewillowcreekwinerycapemay.com