If it hadn’t been for Top Shelf Mobile Cuisine, I might never have stumbled upon Kennedy Cellars. I was longing for Top Shelf’s famous Brie Burger one June afternoon and when I looked up their location on Facebook, it was listed as Kennedy Cellars. Where? Why, it’s practically in my backyard, how come I had never heard of this winery before? Turns out that Kennedy Cellars opened on June 11, 2021 but has been keeping a low profile. Upon arrival we were welcomed by the sight of cozy cabanas and a dog-friendly patio where the staff lavishes your pup with treats and a large water bowl. The stonework inside the tasting room is reminiscent of a wine cellar and the staff is attentive and knowledgeable. In fact, education is at the forefront of Kennedy Cellars, which also hosts a School of Wine Making right next door.
After chowing down on Brie Burgers, it was time to taste and I was delighted to see that Kennedy Cellars has quite an expansive wine list for a winery that has only been open for a year. We started with the Pinot Grigio which was a semi-dry white made from Chilean grapes that finished with a hint of spiciness. A blend of Pinot Grigio and Moscato wine, the Aloha was a delightful combination of sweet and spicy. The Sauvignon Blanc was everything a Sauvignon Blanc should be – crisp and refreshing with a subtly sweet finish. Both dry and sweet wine lovers will embrace the peppery tart complexity of Sweet P. Although named Sweet Strawberry, it was not the usual sugary syrup like most strawberry wines but rather a lightly acidic, semi-sweet surprise.
Now that Kennedy Cellars has joined the Garden State Wine Growers’ Association, it won’t be long before wine lovers everywhere discover this this treasure hidden among Hammonton’s blueberry farms.