Old York Cellars Winery: A Little Slice of Heaven in Hunterdon County

It's no secret that Hunterdon County is a beautiful place. Hunterdon was ranked the healthiest county in New Jersey based on a study conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute in 2023. But did you know it's also home to some beautiful wineries, including Old York Cellars Winery in Ringoes? I had a chance to visit Old York Cellars on a gorgeous sunny day in February. Read on to learn more about this special gem right here in Central New Jersey.

Disclosure: I was invited to visit Old York Cellars to experience their Wine and Chocolate Sampling as part of the Wine & Chocolate Trail Weekends promoted by the Garden State Wine Grower's Association. All opinions are my own, and I promise you I would never recommend something to you if I didn't totally love it myself!

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About Old York Cellars Winery

Old York Cellars is a beautiful winery with a serene view of the Sourland Mountains. Visitors can dine on delicious house-made food from their chef, experience wine sampling and specialized cocktails, enjoy live music, comedy shows, and so much more. Old York offers reservations near toasty fire pits, cabanas, indoor seating, and even private events. You can also stop in to shop or purchase wines in their store. They have specialized wine bottles for gifts and fundraising, too, so be sure to check out their website or ask about this when you visit.

Where is Old York Cellars Winery Located?

Old York Cellars is located in Ringoes, right in the heart of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. It's a quiet, peaceful area- the perfect place to visit if you just want to chill and enjoy time with the people you love. We visited on a 'warm' day in February, but I can imagine that there will be more people and music during a busy summer afternoon, so choose your season to your liking!

What Can You Do at Old York Cellars Winery?

Old York Cellars offers a variety of sampling opportunities, a full food menu, brunch during designated days of the week, delicious desserts, charcuterie, cheese boards, special events, cabana rentals, indoor and outdoor seating, and of course...wine! Visit their website for reservation requirements and what to expect during your visit.

Our Visit to Old York Cellars

During our visit, we checked in with the concierge, then walked over to try the Wine & Chocolate Sampling, which was a Valentine's Day inspired event (offered select weekends in February). We sampled INCREDIBLE truffles from The Fudge Shoppe paired with Old York's delicious wines. We were able to choose from sparkling or dry, and were given three suggested wines along with the beautiful truffles (note here: if you've never been to or tried The Fudge Shoppe chocolates in Flemington, I can't recommend them enough! Their chocolate is amazing).

After the sampling, we walked over to our cabana on the deck for some food and more wine. Keep in mind that reservations must be made for cabanas or their wine village (which is an outdoor area with cabanas, firepits, adirondack chairs, etc). They also offer indoor seating (with reservations). All of the staff was extremely friendly and attentive. We loved that they made helpful suggestions and answered all of our questions about what wines to try or pair with our meal. They also offered suggestions for dessert wines and specialty wine cocktails (like the Riesling Sangria that I tried- it was delicious). I know it sounds cliche to say 'everything was delicious,' but it really was! Their chef cooks right on premises and the food was fresh and good quality. Many of the menu items are Spanish dishes, since their chef, Jose, is from Spain. We tried empanadas, paella and churros that were outstanding. I can also highly recommend the Brunch Tapas Pairing (if it's available when you visit- this was a Sunday Brunch choice) and the Three Course Pairing (which is available daily).

Is Old York Cellars Child and Dog Friendly?

Old York is family friendly and dog friendly in designated areas (check their website for guidelines about bringing your furry friend). And this tip is coming from The Jersey Momma here: just remember that you're responsible for both your dogs and your kids- there's no picnicking allowed and kids shouldn't be running rampant through the vineyard. But I don't have to tell you that, right?

Anything Else?

-You can reserve space at Old York Winery for special events. Contact them for details about small events, parties and catering.

-Their wines are available for purchase on site as well as in Wegmans and other restaurants around the state.

-They can make special occasion labels for wine bottles and there are also fundraising options.

-Darryl DMC McDaniels, legendary Hip Hop icon and founding member of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Run-DMC has partnered with Old York Cellars to create a collection of wines and gifts under the label Darryl Mack Cellars.

-Old York offers special events, comedy nights, live music, and more throughout the year. Check their calendar or sign up for their newsletter.

-They offer a Vintner's Club (a loyalty club) which would make a great gift for the wine fanatic in your life (or for yourself if you plan on visiting or purchasing their wines often).

-You can also take a ride on the Hunterdon Wine Express! Purchase a ticket for the Hunterdon Wine Express from Black River and Western Railroad. This is an excursion that usually happens on multiple dates. You can ride an authentic diesel powered train and then board a special shuttle to take you to the winery to enjoy wine tasting and pairings. More details here.

What Sets Old York Cellars Apart from Other Wineries?

One of the things I have to add here is that Old York really went above and beyond to make this a relaxing and enjoyable experience for us. Every staff member we spoke to really knew their wines. This seems silly to say, but we have visited some wineries where the staff doesn't seem to know anything about pairing, nor did they recommend wines to us (crazy at a winery, right?). But that was not the case at all at Old York. They knew their stuff! We loved the location - the fun cabanas and village area, as well as the beautiful Sourland Mountains in the distance.

My personal wine recommendations: I loved the Vidal Blanc, the Sauvignon Blanc and the Sparkling Rose. The Ice Style Wine was very unique as a 'dessert' after dinner, especially if you like a very sweet wine. The Blueberry sweet wine was also delicious. But everyone has their favorites, so try a few and see what suits you, or ask your server to suggest something.