Camden County and Visit South Jersey are hosting the inaugural Down and Derby Wine Festival on May 4 at Cooper River Park. The event will feature tastings and wines from various South Jersey wineries, as well as instructional sessions on how to bet on the Kentucky Derby.
“South Jersey has quickly become a hotbed for exciting, local winemakers and the region’s reputation for quality, delicious wine is spreading,” said Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. “The Down and Derby Wine Festival is a celebration of this fast-growing economy and we’re inviting the community to join us in support of these local entrepreneurs.”
Attendees will have the opportunity to sample wines from South Jersey’s finest wine producers while immersing themselves in Debry-themed fashion and festivities including: learning how to bet from on-site experts, dancing to live music and more.
These South Jersey wineries and many more will be participating including:
- William Heritage Winery
- Bellview Winery
- Auburn Road Vineyards
- White Horse Winery
- Villari Vineyards
- Wagonhouse Winery
- Sharrott Winery
- Cedar Rose Vineyards
- Amalthea Cellars Winery
- Tomasello Winery
Bottles of sample wines will be available to purchase at the event while supplies last.
“There are few places with the agricultural diversity of South Jersey, and the quality of both the local wine and cuisine really highlights that,” Cappelli said. “We’re hoping the festival provides an opportunity for our community to discover new wine, food, and entertainment that comes from Camden County and that supports local business.
The Freeholder Board is partnering with Visit South Jersey (VSJ) to host the event. Visit South Jersey is the official Destination Marketing Organization for Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties, and the Outer Coastal Plain Wine Region in South Jersey. VSJ is a non-profit organization supported in part by a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.
“Very often, we are surprised to find that even those within our immediate region aren’t aware of how bountiful our region truly is – the breadth of experience, environment and excellence that South Jersey offers in a compact footprint,” Larry Sharrott, Chairman of Visit South Jersey said. “Visit South Jersey is tremendously excited to showcase some of the best South Jersey wine and cuisine that we have to offer in such an engaging way – made possible by joining forces with our long-term partner, Camden County, and with the help and guidance of Entercom. The organization is excited to share our passion for local wine and cuisine with the public in this fun setting in the picturesque Cooper River waterfront park.”
Entercom, a leading media and entertainment company and one of the two largest radio broadcasters in the U.S., is a partner of the festival. Entercom’s six local Philadelphia radio stations: 96.5 TDY (WTDY-FM), 98.1 WOGL (WOGL-FM), B101.1 (WBEB-FM), KYW Newsradio (KYW-AM), SportsRadio 94WIP (WIP-FM) and Talk Radio 1210 WPHT (WPHT-AM) will take part in the day-long event. Confirmed talent in attendance include 98.1 WOGL’s Marilyn Russell and 1210 WPHT’s Rich Zeoli.
The Down and Derby Wine Festival will be held on May 4 rain or shine. All attendees must be 21 years of age or older. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting the following link. More information regarding ticketing and event entertainment, as well as general rules and guidelines regarding what guests are permitted to bring to the venue, can be found by visiting www.downandderbywinefest.com.
For more information, participants can follow updates and announcements on Instagram @DownandDerbyWineFest and on Facebook.
