There is no better way to commemorate the re-opening of New Jersey than to celebrate the rebirth of its oldest winery – Renault. When we last visited the Renault Resort back in August 2019, the winery was undergoing a major renovation and the tastings were being held inside of Joseph’s Restaurant. (full review here)
I’m happy to report that Renault’s face lift is nearing completion and it looks fantastic! The patio and lawn area is spacious, beautiful and welcoming with an outside bar and friendly wait staff. The food is delicious and best of all, Renault now offers live music Friday through Sunday. This week’s band was the Philly Keys, two very entertaining dueling pianists willing to tackle anything from Billy Joel to Snoop Dogg to Metallica.
When we ventured inside the winery complex (yes, it is that big), we found a large tasting room with marble-topped counters, a second bar area with a grand piano (maybe a coffee and/or snack bar?), a beautiful trellised walkway, and two huge ballrooms. Although the remodeling isn’t 100% finished, from what we have seen it promises to be breathtaking.
Now that Renault has revived its exterior, perhaps it can focus on expanding its wine selection in the future. Currently their wine offerings are: 2 dry reds, 2 dry whites, 3 semi-sweets and 2 selections of their famous champagne. They also offer beer, mixed drinks and sangria (I highly recommend the red). With the new renovations and the addition of live music, Renault has once again established itself as one of New Jersey’s must-visit wineries. Welcome back!
Update: Here's a video of the completed winery taken on 7/2/23, you can view it on my Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/B1yhCKS6jjE
